nunya

I follow the Lazy Portfolio theory (4 fund to be specific). Not very glamorous, but I'm a believer. You can do it with ETFs or mutual funds. Pros and cons to each method. With only $10K to invest, ETFs have a lot of benefits. https://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Lazy_portfolios As for brokerage, I'd say start with building your asset allocation in generic terms. X% small/mid/large cap, Y% bonds, Z% real estate, etc. Then go out in the ETF world and find the funds or stocks that you want to plug in to those niches. If two families offer the same fund (S&P 500, for example), then the lowest expense ratio wins. Finally, find the lowest cost brokerage to make those trades happen. TD Ameritrade has ~100 commission-free ETF options from several fund families. Fidelity offers iShares commission-free. Or just open a Vanguard account and use their ETFs. Other companies have a fund or two that are cheaper, but as a whole, the lowest expenses are at VG.

What do you want to do? Day trade penny stocks and make millions before you're 25? Or buy and hold ETFs like you would a mutual fund but you like the ETF construct?

As ya'll start doing your taxes, keep in mind the penalties start at 3 months uncovered. If you only have 1 two-month break, you'll be ok. If it's more than that, you need to get that fixed so you don't get hit with the obamacare tax, er, shared responsibility payment.

$10.50 isn't that outrageous for weights, BTW. I think I've paid as low as $7, but what's $3 in a PCS?

No, it's not reimbursed. Your expenses are in essence tax deductible in that the taxable portion of your PPM check is reduced by the amount of your expenses. Should have been spelled out in your PPM brief when you left your last base.

I couldn't max both until I was sr capt. Other guys with dual incomes were putting away their entire paychecks as Lts. The mindset/lifestyle choices are more important than the numbers. The Roth IRA has some benefit as an emergency fund in dire straits. The Roth TSP has the benefit of lower expense ratios. Which is better depends on your situation.

"You need to be maxing BOTH the TSP and an IRA when you're able."

You're right, I meant CFP... A guy who's earned this: https://www.cfp.net/about-cfp-board/cfp-certification-the-standard-of-excellence

TSP isn't a managed fund at all. TSP is a plan housing several index and target date funds. You could say the Lifecycle funds are "managed" because the weightings were set by a manager, but the underlying funds are index funds, so even that's a stretch. That's part of what keeps the expense ratios incredibly low. bluedevil, I think your question though is about asset allocation. We'll assume we're only talking about your retirement assets - more about that later on. You can google "asset allocation" and find months of reading if you desire. I'll give you my OPINION. I'm not a CFA or any other credentialed anything. As a 1Lt with a stable job and many, many more years left in your career, I'd be (and I was) very aggressive. 100% stocks. S or C fund is the only question, and I'd do a mix of both. (I get my international exposure via non-TSP funds because I want broader exposure than what you get in the I fund.) Maybe 70/30 C/S, maybe 50/50. The C is going to do better in some parts of the business cycle, the S is going to do better in others. You're better off not timing it. Read up, pick your allocation, and leave it alone. I don't like the Lifecycle funds because I think they waste space. L2050 right now has almost 10% in the G fund. In your mid-20s, I consider the G fund a waste. There's no reason to accept that low of a return when you can handle more risk. You need to be maxing BOTH the TSP and an IRA when you're able. Preferably both of the Roth persuasion, too, because your taxable income/AGI while in the military is about as low as it'll ever be. Now, as to your comprehensive financial strategy: Retirement is only one piece, under which you have your TSP, your IRA, eventually your 401K, etc. You also need an emergency fund, savings, checking, etc. Read up on those topics and decide how to allocate your assets across the entire spectrum. I love talking about this stuff, but again, I'm not your advisor. If you want professional help, look for a CFA that charges by the hour. Get them to make you a plan and go from there.

Statistically, you're better off maxing out your TSP as early as you can anyway, instead of trying to plan it so you put in your maximum dollar in December. (3.33, repeating, of course.) https://pressroom.vanguard.com/content/nonindexed/7.23.2012_Dollar-cost_Averaging.pdf And yes, TSP will take care of any overage. Just be careful if you have more than one account (i.e. airline and TSP). Neither knows the other exists and both will allow you to contribute up to the maximum, then it's on you to withdraw the overage.

Know your laws. follow them to the T, and don't sweat it. They're not going to risk a USERRA lawsuit.

Got it for my Moto X running 5.1. Overall I like it. I've been using a homemade spreadsheet with the same functions, but this one fits in my pocket. I did have one recurring crash and I sent a report to Google about it. It crashed if I used the back button while in the TDY TRACKER function. Of course I can't recreate it now. Will Google send you the crash report and log files?

A helo guy at AIS? You must be even more bored than the Herk guys! Make sure you brief that ALSF-2 on your next approach. For a real answer: https://armypubs.army.mil/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/fm3_04x240.pdf

I had to personally send my Navy medal to the Awards guy at MPF, then it shows up on vMPF and my 214. If you didn't do that, I don't think it's going to show up.

One of the loads: https://fox6now.com/2015/10/02/he-is-my-hero-u-s-air-force-member-with-wisconsin-roots-killed-in-c-130-crash-in-afghanistan/

That's a problem I hope to have sooner than later. Even then, since we're covered by employer sponsored retirement plans, we hit the traditional IRA deductible limits (118K) before we hit the Roth limits (183-193K) anyway.

Have we narrowed it down to it must be a Dyess crew? Or was that picture only meant to represent a generic J?

Thanks gents. For now, I'll use the Roth variety IRA and 401K, no matter which one I use. The TSP seems like the winner as long as I'm using Roths. When I switch to Traditional, state taxes make the airline 401K mo betta.

For the airline guys (or anybody with a decent 401K option): How do you practically handle your TSP alongside your 401K? I'm thinking about not contributing anything to my 401K (no match at my airline) and putting my entire Guard paycheck into the TSP. TSP has lower expense ratios and I'll invest in broad market index funds in the TSP or the 401K. What am I overlooking in my plan? Any other techniques?

Guard to Guard?

There are higher jumbo limits if you're in the one of these counties: https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Downloads/Documents/Conforming-Loan-Limits/Counties_with_increases_cy2015.pdf https://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/purchaseco_loan_limits.asp edit: If your NY location is accurate, looks like you're stuck with the $417K if you don't want to make a down payment. I'm surprised no NY counties made the 2015 list.

100 to 150.

As of January, AFFSA was saying it's a standoff between FAA and DOD. DOD expects waivers, FAA says not this time.

E for Situational Awareness/Headwork.

So what if it's a lesbian couple? They're both "military mothers," right?