Knight A. Kiplinger, Editor in Chief, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and Kiplinger.com
Steven J. Cole, President and CEO, Council of Better BusinessBureaus
We are pleased to present youwith a personal-finance guidecreated especially for militaryfamilies. While our troops carry out their difficult and dangerous missions, we know that they and their families are not immune to the financial turmoil that isimpacting every household in America.Times are tough and it is harder thanever to make ends meet, let alone savemoney for future expenses such as collegeand retirement.
From just $107.88 $24.99 for Kiplinger Personal Finance
Become a smarter, better informed investor. Subscribe from just $107.88 $24.99, plus get up to 4 Special Issues
Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
That's where the Kiplinger-BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families comes in. On these pages you will find practical, easy-to-understand information about being financially prepared for deployment, buying a home, minimizing taxes, holding down insurance costs and avoiding financial schemes that too often target military families.
This guide is a collaboration between two organizations that have been helpingconsumers -- including members of the military -- for a long time. When the Kiplinger Magazine (now called Kiplinger's Personal Finance) was launched in 1947, a driving motivation was to provide sound, unbiased personal-finance advice to military personnel returning to the workforce after World War II.
Better Business Bureau, established in 1912, is the nation’s oldest nonprofit organization in the field of advancing marketplace trust, and specializes in providing consumers with information that helps them make wise choices. It has long worked on behalf of military families, and BBB Military Line® specializes in consumer education and advocacy for them.
As you read the guide, you'll realize that two people spearheading this project have deep personal interest in the topic. Kimberly Lankford has been providing solid advice to readers of Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and Kiplinger.com for more than a decade.
Since 2004, Holly Petraeus has headed up the Council of Better Business Bureaus'BBB Military Line® program, where she provides financial education to military families.
In addition to their expertise in personal finance, they have a very special credential: They’re both military spouses. They know firsthand that the financial strategies, rules and resources for military families are often very different from those for civilians.
PERSONAL FINANCE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES
You can download these PDF files or go to our online Military Guide to read on the Web.
Savings Strategies
Investing for Yourself and Your Future
Financial Fraud
Avoiding Scams That Target the Military
Be Prepared
Strategies Before and After Deployment
Home Sweet Home
Transition
At Your Service
Financial Resources for Military Families
Organize Yourself
Download Here: The Complete Personal Finance Guide for Military Families
We hope you find this guide useful. Thank you for all you do in the service of our nation!
VISIT OUR VIRTUAL GUIDE FOR MILITARY FAMILIES for videos, tools and more information.
-
Stocks Chop as the Unemployment Rate Jumps: Stock Market TodayNovember job growth was stronger than expected, but sharp losses in October and a rising unemployment rate are worrying market participants.
-
Should You Renew Your CD?With rate cuts impacting earnings, we examine if now is a wise time to renew CDs.
-
7 Ways to Plan Now to Save on Medicare IRMAA Surcharges LaterUnderstand the critical two-year lookback period and why aggressive planning before you enroll in Medicare is the most effective way to minimize IRMAA.
-
Money for Your Kids? Three Ways Trump's ‘Big Beautiful Bill’ Impacts Your Child's FinancesTax Tips The Trump tax bill could help your child with future education and homebuying costs. Here’s how.
-
Key 2025 Tax Changes for Parents in Trump's MegabillTax Changes Are you a parent? The so-called ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ (OBBB) impacts several key tax incentives that can affect your family this year and beyond.
-
Amazon Resale: Where Amazon Prime Returns Become Your Online BargainsFeature Amazon Resale products may have some imperfections, but that often leads to wildly discounted prices.
-
What Does Medicare Not Cover? Eight Things You Should KnowMedicare Part A and Part B leave gaps in your healthcare coverage. But Medicare Advantage has problems, too.
-
Roth IRA Contribution Limits for 2026Roth IRAs Roth IRAs allow you to save for retirement with after-tax dollars while you're working, and then withdraw those contributions and earnings tax-free when you retire. Here's a look at 2026 limits and income-based phaseouts.
-
Four Tips for Renting Out Your Home on Airbnbreal estate Here's what you should know before listing your home on Airbnb.
-
Five Ways to a Cheap Last-Minute VacationTravel It is possible to pull off a cheap last-minute vacation. Here are some tips to make it happen.
-
How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?insurance When assessing how much life insurance you need, take a systematic approach instead of relying on rules of thumb.
