Category Archives: Money Management & Personal Finance

In-service Roth Thrift Savings Plan Conversions

Posted on December 4, 2025 by Doug Nordman

A reader asks: When you’re in the Blended Retirement System, does it make sense to convert the traditional TSP’s agency & matching contributions to the Roth TSP? It looks like an interesting new feature with the 2026 changes to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Career, Financial Independence, Investing & TSP, Military and Veterans Benefits, Military Life & Family, Military Retirement, Money Management & Personal Finance | Leave a comment

Questions About Medicare + Tricare? We Have Answers.

Posted on October 2, 2025 by Doug Nordman

Have you thought about your Medicare supplemental insurance yet? Or even more challenging: will you have to help an elder work through their decisions? How will it affect your financial independence? I learned a lot about Medicare Part B and … Continue reading →

Posted in Insurance, Military and Veterans Benefits, Military Retirement, Money Management & Personal Finance | Leave a comment

Living your financial independence– by making a better workplace?!?

Posted on April 24, 2025 by Doug Nordman

This seems counterintuitive, doesn’t it?  Why would anyone want to celebrate their financial independence by making work better? Of course you could quit paid employment as soon as you reach FI, but you might also decide to keep working as … Continue reading →

Posted in Career, Financial Independence, Money Management & Personal Finance, Sea Stories | Leave a comment

“Why Do We Start Our Financial Independence With Two Years’ Expenses In Cash?”

Posted on April 10, 2025 by Doug Nordman

  Are you ready to launch into your new financially-independent life, but nervous about how the money’s going to work out? You’re not alone. I’m getting a lot of questions about Sequence Of Returns Risk. People are familiar with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Financial Independence, Money Management & Personal Finance | 2 Comments

Yet Another John Hancock Long-Term Care Insurance Update

Posted on March 27, 2025 by Doug Nordman

Me, a decade ago: “John Hancock made my father’s long-term care insurance claim the worst financial experience ever.” John Hancock LTC team, a decade later: “Hey Nords, hold our beer.” This letter claiming to be from John Hancock arrived in … Continue reading →

Posted in Insurance, Money Management & Personal Finance, What Do You DO All Day?!? | 2 Comments