Business
Jeff Rose was in the National Guard for nine years. He also was deployed to Baghdad during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He was also a financial planner for 16 years, before he struck out on his own with his Good Financial Cents blog. He also has a YouTube channel called Wealth Hacker Labs. He is also a Certified Financial Planner, the CEO of his own wealth management firm, and he wrote a best-selling book on personal finance. He is fortunate to share wealth building advice online, although sometimes his advice goes against conventional wisdom. He is also a huge proponent of Roth IRAs. Jeff and I talk about being in the National Guard, his transition to civilian life, and some benefits the Guard offers. We also touch on how counseling is a positive thing and how adjusting after military life can be a struggle. We also talk about military finances, and Jeff shares tons of advice and personal stories. Highlights from this Episode [00:45] Jeff was a financial planner for 16 years. Now he is fortunate to run a blog called Good Financial Cents. He also runs the Wealth Hacker Labs YouTube channel. [01:42] Jeff has been having a great time sharing lessons on wealth-building online. [01:52] He was also in the National Guard for nine years. He was in the guard for six years and got his education paid for. He became a financial advisor but spent one weekend a month in the guard after reenlisting for three years. [03:23] His unit was activated and he was sent to Baghdad in 2005 to support Operation Iraqi Freedom. [03:43] When he got back from Iraq, his wife gave him the ultimatum of the military or her. He thinks he made the better choice. [04:33] Jeff found transitioning from the military to being a civilian one of the top five transitions in his life. [05:46] After getting back, Jeff was just trying to remember who it was. [06:28] When Jeff got back, his buddies had graduated. His wife had bought a house. She got a new job. He had a new dog because his old dog got killed. He was like where am I. [07:39] He and his wife got into a huge argument, and he passed out in his friend's backyard. He knew something had to change and he went to counseling and went on to do some amazing things. He also gave himself grace. [14:05] Jeff shares some of the benefits of being in the National Guard like health care. [15:56] It's a big deal for a National Guard unit to be deployed. He received tons of care packages. He even got boots and a case of Red Bull sent to him. [18:33] Jeff did his best to get as many soldiers as possible to sign up for a Roth IRA or a TSP. He saw guys spend their money before they even got home. [19:24] Investing $100 a month when you're young is about the potential of the money not the $100. [20:54] Blowing bonuses is like watching a train wreck happen. [21:48] Jeff looks at the TSP the same way he looks at a 401k. If you know nothing about investing and you need to do something, this is the perfect thing to sign up for. [22:30] Jeff argues starting with a Roth IRA that forces you to learn about investing and what you're putting your money into. [24:48] The latest thing won't make you a millionaire overnight. Learn about where you’re putting your money and let it grow. Links and Resources Good Financial Cents Wealth Hacker Labs on YouTube Good Financial Cents Podcast Good Financial Cents on Facebook Jeff Rose on Twitter Soldier of Finance