The Briefing
Retirement intel, pay news, and how-to guides
Weekly finance roundups and deep dives on pay, TSP, taxes, and benefits.
The week in military money
weekly roundups, newest first
July 27, 2026
Military Financial News Roundup: 20 Jul - 27 Jul 2026
This week's biggest story is the widening gap between the House and Senate on the 2027 military pay raise — 5%–7% tiered versus 3.6% flat — which will directly shape High-3 averages and BRS calculatio
July 16, 2026
Military Financial News Roundup: 09 Jul - 16 Jul 2026
This was a pivotal week for veterans benefits legislation. The Major Richard Star Act — which would end the retirement pay offset for approximately 54,000 combat-wounded veterans — is closer to passag
July 8, 2026
Military Financial News Roundup: 01 Jul - 08 Jul 2026
This week's biggest story is the escalating battle over the Take Care of America's Veterans Act — the Major Richard Star Act's long-awaited concurrent receipt fix is bundled with controversial provisi
June 27, 2026
Military Financial News Roundup: 20 Jun - 27 Jun 2026
This week's news was dominated by a single piece of legislation — the Take Care of America's Veterans Act — and for good reason: it would deliver the biggest expansion of veterans' benefits in a decad
May 31, 2026
Military Financial News Roundup: 24 May - 31 May 2026
This was a big week for military compensation. The FY27 NDAA draft proposes the most aggressive tiered pay raise structure in recent memory — 7% for junior enlisted, 6% for mid-career, 5% for senior l
Guides & deep dives
evergreen — dig deeper
The COLA Trap, Revisited: New Data on the Most Expensive Month to Retire
Col. Fowler showed the month you retire under High-3 can permanently shrink your pension. We updated his research with 2019–2025 inflation data, including the largest pay inversion on record.
Read article →BRS Lump Sum Election: Should You Take the 25% or 50%?
Understand the BRS lump sum election, how the 25% and 50% options work, tax implications, and use our calculator to find the right choice for you.
Read article →How to Calculate Your VA Disability Offset and CRDP
Learn how VA disability offsets work, what CRDP means for your retirement pay, and how to use our calculator to maximize your total military benefits.
Read article →Complete Guide to the Life Insurance Calculator: SBP vs Term Life vs Permanent Insurance
One of the most important financial decisions military retirees face is how to protect their families after they're gone. The **Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP)** offers guaranteed income for your spouse, but is it the best option? Our Life Insurance Calculator helps you compare SBP against Term Life Insurance, Indexed Universal Life (IUL), Whole Life Insurance, and even an ETF investment strategy—all in one powerful tool.
Read article →The Complete Guide to the BAH Calculator: Find Your Housing Allowance
Learn how BAH is calculated, what MHA codes mean, and how to use our BAH calculator to plan your housing budget for any duty station or PCS move.
Read article →2026 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Rates Released
The Department of War has released the 2026 BAH rates, effective January 1, 2026, with an average nationwide increase of 4.2%.
Read article →Introducing the U.S. State Military Benefits Map
I'm thrilled to announce a significant update to [www.militaryretirementplanner.com](https://www.militaryretirementplanner.com), featuring the new U.S. State Military Benefits Map! This interactive tool is designed to empower military retirees and veterans by providing comprehensive data on state-specific benefits across all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Whether you're planning your retirement location or optimizing your financial strategy, this resource is here to help.
Read article →President Biden Signs the Service Member Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization 2025 Act
On December 23, 2024, President Biden signed into law the Service Member Quality of Life Improvement and National Defense Authorization Act for 2025, marking a significant boost for the military community.
Read article →2025 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) Rates Released
The Department of Defense (DoD) has released the 2025 Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates. These rates are used to determine the amount of housing allowance that service members and their families receive. The BAH rates are based on the cost of living in different areas of the country and are updated annually.
Read article →Military Retirement Systems
Planning for retirement is one of the most important financial steps you’ll take in your career. For military service members, retirement benefits are robust but complex, with various systems depending on when you joined and your career path. In this article, we’ll walk through the main military retirement systems, their benefits, and how you can make the most of them.
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