Category Archives: Financial Independence

Enough– and Abundance

Posted on October 1, 2026 by Doug Nordman

What are you doing with your abundant life? When you’re saving & investing for financial independence, you’re focused on accumulating enough without sacrificing your quality of life. And if you’re still in the military, then you’re hoping to salvage a … Continue reading →

Posted in Financial Independence, Investing & TSP, Military Charities, Military Life & Family, Military Retirement, Money Management & Personal Finance, Travel, What Do You DO All Day?!? | Leave a comment

Roth IRA Conversions: Before It’s Too Late?

Posted on September 17, 2026 by Doug Nordman

  Along your path to financial independence, have you ever contemplated doing Roth IRA conversions in your 32% income-tax bracket today— simply because (later in life) it’d save you money over taking Required Minimum Distributions in the 35% bracket? Yeah, … Continue reading →

Posted in Financial Independence, Investing & TSP, Military Charities, Money Management & Personal Finance | 2 Comments

40 years of danger: military specialty pay + bonus contracts

Posted on July 16, 2026 by Doug Nordman

While you’re pursuing your path to financial independence: are you ever tempted by the military’s specialty pay or bonus programs? One of our family’s (many) military-retention discussions reminded me of a sea story behind our financial independence. I was certainly … Continue reading →

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

The Lump-Sum Pension of the Blended Retirement System Is A Payday Loan.

Posted on May 28, 2026 by Doug Nordman

  When you’re saving and investing aggressively for financial independence, it’s possible to reach FI in less than 20 years— even when you don’t earn any sort of military pension or VA disability compensation. However life comes at us fast, … Continue reading →

Posted in Career, Entrepreneurship, Financial Independence, Investing & TSP, Military and Veterans Benefits, Military Life & Family, Military Retirement, Money Management & Personal Finance, Mortgage & Real Estate | 1 Comment

24 Years Of Military Retirement… And Surfing

Posted on March 12, 2026 by Doug Nordman

Yes, this is a website about reaching financial independence with or without the U.S. military– but it’s also a blog about living your financial independence lifestyle. After that major downer of my post on Alzheimer’s lessons learned, I thought I’d write … Continue reading →

Posted in Financial Independence, Military Life & Family, What Do You DO All Day?!? | 2 Comments