Reddit mentions of The Military Guide to Financial Independence and Retirement

There is an old saying that the government doesn't change things for your benefit. Just like the REDUX fiasco, be very careful about the marketing that is being used to push this. While it will help the majority of members who do not stay for the full 20, and that is a good thing, especially if you plan on 20 but don't make it for whatever reason; but there is a reason why the full pension and benefits have been decreasing and dropping historically (healthcare for life?)

The biggest costs to the government are a retired member on a pension, not their salary while they are active; and even more is all the pork that congress critters give away to further their retirements. If we ever were to cut out that part, Congress wouldn't try to screw over veterans by stealing the COLA, like they did back in 2014 that was rescinded a couple months later (but those bastards will attempt it again).

Hope you've checked out Nord's book.

• Max out your TSP and IRA
  
• Don't buy stupid shit. (A car that costs more than $5k counts as "stupid shit.")
  
  Read this book. Ideally, borrow it from the library instead of buying it.

First off. Congrats on where you are. You and your wife have already done such a great job.

No debt? Awesome.

I started my whole experience about early FI with a simple question, "when do I want to retire?" This helped me crystalized a number of variables like how much money is enough per year to live on? How much do I need to have in the Bank to make this happen? How much do I needed to save to get from point A to B?

After I finished that part, the next is the how. First I would leverage anything special that you have access to. This would be all the military benefits. Find someone whose already tread that path. Also, I think there's a book on frugal living on a military salary, it may be this one http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/1570233195?pc_redir=1405444535&robot_redir=1

Personally I like to delay as much tax as possible and figure out ways to reduce paying later. Getting the money out of a 401k for a house it's pretty straight forward.

For a portfolio a 3 yr parking spot is tough because you'll need the money so soon. This is almost bond territory. Maybe a 50/50 stock bond mix? I'm not sure with all the news stuff going on if this year or next are going to be easy years.

Good luck with the journey.

If you want to try to save $100k by the end of your first 6 years, I would read Mr. Money Mustache's blog, and pick up a copy of The Military Guide to Financial Independence. The blog is all focusing on happiness, which the blog writer does a good job of differentiating from convenience, which is what your average middle class consumer "sukka" thinks of as happiness.

The book has more of a focus on retiring from the military, so you don't have to read it, but for $12, I think it's worth it just so you can consider the possibilities. If you did decide to retire from the military, you would be retiring at 42 or 43, assuming you went in at 22. Your retirement benefits would include: a pension that increases with the COLA index that pays out ~$25k in today's dollars, or $35k-40k in today's dollars, if you managed to commission as a prior-enlisted officer. You would also receive (nearly) free healthcare, and tons of other benefits like the continued use of Space-A.

Regardless of whether you decided to stay in for just 6 or retire, you should read the blog.

You're young, you're buying a muscle car, you're in the military.
It will be very expensive.

USAA will most likely be cheaper.

REad this book:
https://www.amazon.com/Military-Guide-Financial-Independence-Retirement/dp/1570233195