J.J. Montanaro, USAA Certified Financial Planner

Latest Articles

Computer keyboard with "insurance" written on a key

Five Insurance Assumptions You Don't Want to Make

'Be ready for anything. Expect the unexpected.' Those phrases may sound like lessons from basic training, but they apply just...

You can have your burial pre-approved by the Department of Veterans Affairs

VA Offers Pre-Approval Process for Burials

Pile of money set amongst Christmas presents

This COVID Holiday Season Calls for Budgeting Your Spending and Eating

Start 2021 without extra weight or debt

How to Cope with a Lingering Payroll Tax Holiday Hangover

Many people are seeing their pay decrease in the new year. Here are some coping strategies.

4 Things to Consider When Trying to Choose a Credit Card Right for You

You need a credit card for many situations. Just choose the best one to fit your lifestyle and finances.

Graphic of highway with "Financial Freedom" superimposed on pavement.

These Financial Behaviors Can Remove Roadblocks to Secure Future

Gaining a foothold on your finances is an ongoing process, take the long view and succeed.

Mother watching daughter put coins into piggy bank

Stop Saving Your Leftover Money

The long recommended plan of saving your leftover money is backward. You should make saving a priority.

Smartly dressed man amid cash falling from sky

6 Lessons That You Can Learn from ‘Affluent Investors'

Learn how to invest by watching the ones with all the money

computer screen with "fraud Alert" warning on screen

10 Moves to Protect Yourself from Fraud

While there is plenty of danger from fraud out there, it’s easy to protect yourself

Roth IRA or Roth TSP?

The Roth IRA and the Roth TSP, while similar, have many differences. Which is right for you?

Eggs in a nest labeled with retirement savings plans indicating a nest egg of savings

Should You Diversify Your Retirement Income?

Don't put all your nest eggs into one basket.

Keeping Pace With the Thrift Savings Plan

Are you up to date on recent changes to the savings plan?

5 Tips to Lessen the Financial Impact of a Divorce

These five tips can help you mitigate a divorce's negative effects

5 Things Not to Forget as You Revamp Your Retirement Plan

With the economic shock of COVID wearing down, it’s time to review your retirement nest egg.

5 Money Mistakes to Avoid

It’s always better to learn from other people’s mistakes. Here are five to help you get started.

Military News

Get the Military Insider Newsletter

Get the latest on pay updates, benefit changes and award-winning military content. Right in your inbox.

By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Notice.

Thank you for subscribing!

View more newsletters on our Subscriptions page.

One last step.

Verify your free subscription by following the instructions in the email sent to:

Most Popular Military News

Marchers with the Alt-Right Neo-Nazi group "Reclaim America"

Dozens of Troops Suspected of Advocating Overthrow of US Government, New Pentagon Extremism Report Says

The report released by the Defense Department inspector general revealed that in fiscal 2023 there were 183 allegations of...

Cavalry Soldiers at Fort Carson Can't See Doctors in the Early Morning Under New Rules

An armor officer at Fort Carson, Colorado, this week issued a new set of policies to his formation effectively banning...

U.S. Marine recruits stand in line to do pullups

A Marine Recruiter's 'Grooming' of a Teenage Recruit Led to an Investigation. The Family Says He's Still Terrorizing Them.

Thirty-six-year-old Gunnery Sgt. Christopher Champagne is now under investigation by military authorities after self...

physical training uniform prototype at Marine Corps University

The Marine Corps Tried to Redesign Its Physical Training Uniform. After 3 Years, It's Abandoning the Project.

The Marine Corps has ended a plan to revamp its physical fitness uniform, according to the service. The initiative lasted...

No More Late Night Alcohol Sales: Army and Air Force Exchange Stores to Ban the Practice Next Month

The change on Army and Air Force bases is meant to support the Pentagon's suicide prevention initiative, which said that...

USS Carney is an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer.

Ships Face Houthi-Claimed Attack in Red Sea as Officials Say a US Warship Also Fires in Self-Defense

The USS Carney wasn't damaged in the attack and no injuries were reported on board.

Latest Military Videos

Gaza Truce Extended and More Hostages to Be Released, AP Explains

The Associated Press' Correspondent in Jerusalem Sam Mednick explains the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, which was due to...

US Navy Removes Fuel From Plane in Hawaii Bay

The U.S. Navy said Monday that it has removed nearly all of the fuel from a large plane that...

White House Hails Extension of Truce Between Israel and Hamas

The White House on Monday hailed the extension of the Israel-Hamas truce for another two days, which will result...

Buildings in City in Northern Gaza Strip Bear Horrific Scars of Intensity of Israel's Offensive

Almost every building in Beit Hanoun has been left destroyed by the intensity of the latest war between Israel...

Investigations and Features

What the Pentagon Has, Hasn't and Could Do to Stop Veterans and Troops from Joining Extremist Groups

The military and its transition programs have largely failed to provide what experts say is necessary to steer troops and...

Poisoned Water: How a Navy Ship Dumped Fuel and Sickened Its Own Crew

A years-long investigation reveals that the Boxer unintentionally compromised its own water supply in 2016.

Army News

Army Warns Recruiting Efforts Could Take a Hit if Congress Doesn't Pass Ukraine and Israel Funding

Army Under Secretary Gabe Camarillo said efforts to solve the military recruiting crisis are "absolutely ... hamstrung" by...

An Army Kiowa helicopter flies over a convoy of U.S. soldiers at the Makua Military Reservation in Hawaii

Live-Fire Training in Makua Valley Not Needed, Army Says

The military has officially committed to never resuming live-fire training at Makua Valley, one of its most controversial...

Navy News

Incidents with Navy Ships and Rising Tensions in the Red Sea Test Pentagon's Deterrence Claims

The uptick in attacks, and the apparent targeting of merchant shipping, appears to be part of a concerted campaign by the...

Philippines BRP Jose Rizal (FF150), right, and USS Gabrielle Giffords (LCS 10)

China Says a US Navy Ship 'Illegally Intruded' into Waters in the South China Sea

The Chinese military said that an American naval ship had “illegally intruded” into waters near the Second Thomas Shoal, the...

Air Force News

A CV-22 Osprey flies over Hokkaido, Japan

Remains Found of 5 More Air Force Crew Members Recovered After Osprey Crash Off Japan Coast

Dive teams located the missing crew as well as the main fuselage of the aircraft, which went down in the ocean during...

Missile handling team training exercise at Minot Air Force Base

Air Force’s Missileer Cancer Study Now Looking at 14 Different Cancers and Environmental Risks at Other Bases

Carcinogens that likely cause cancer -- such as polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs -- were detected and cleaned up at three...

Space Force News

Space Force Reports 2 Suicides This Year, Marking the First in the Service's Short History

Until this year, the relatively tiny and new Space Force had been an outlier among the other services as they have struggled...

U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., speaks to reporters in the Capitol building on Sept. 21, 2023, in Washington, D.C.

Tommy Tuberville Is Just the Face of a 'Broken' Confirmation Process, Critics Say

Anger over Sen. Tommy Tuberville's blockade of high-ranking military promotions may have hit a boiling point as a handful of...

Marine Corps News

Former Marine Pleads Guilty to Firebombing Planned Parenthood While on Active Duty

Alec Baldwin speaks at the Ripple of Hope Award Gala at New York Hilton Midtown

Family of Marine Killed in Afghanistan Fails to Win Lawsuit Against Alec Baldwin

A lawsuit against Alec Baldwin filed by relatives of a U.S. Marine killed in Afghanistan has been resolved in the actor's...

Coast Guard News

No One Was Injured when a US Navy Plane Landed in a Hawaii Bay, but Some Fear Environmental Damage

Concerns about environmental damage are looming a day after a large U.S. Navy plane overshot a runway and landed in a Hawaii...

Navy Plane Overshoots Runway and Ends Up in Ocean, but All 9 Aboard Escape Unharmed

A Navy plane flying in rainy weather overshot a runway Monday at a military base in Hawaii and splashed into Kaneohe Bay, but...