Military and Veterans Guide: Free Resources for Your Finances

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Here at Team Clark, we very much appreciate the sacrifices made by our all-volunteer military.

To the brave men and women who put on the uniform of our country to protect us, thank you.

We want you to know we’re here to support you.

To that end, we’ve compiled this handy guide to help you cut through the red tape and get your financial life in order.


If you’re serving our country or have previously, here are some free resources for military and veterans to make the most of their financial freedom and save.

Banking and Debt

  • Lower your interest rates. While you are on active duty, the law requires lenders to cap interest rates on your outstanding loans at 6%, among other things. But you must notify your lenders of your military status.
  • Consider setting up automatic bill pay at your bank or credit union so you can pay your bills and manage accounts remotely. And consider setting up overdraft protection if you and your spouse will be writing checks from different locations.

Housing

  • When it comes to home buying, there are special considerations that go along with wearing the uniform of our nation. One of the biggest questions is: does it even make sense to buy a home when you might have to move post in a few years? Checking a “Rent vs. Buy calculator” at sites like BankRate.com, or any other popular home pricing website can help. The answer can vary widely by region around the country!
  • If you decide you do want to buy, consider the VA loan program. You don’t need to be a veteran; you can be active duty military and still qualify. VA loans have several features designed with military men and women in mind. They require zero down payment, no mortgage insurance and there’s no minimum credit score requirement (though the bad news is that you’ll likely pay a higher interest if you have a credit score that’s lower than 620).

Wireless Service

  • T-Mobile offers military families savings of several hundred dollars a year on their wireless bill. The T-Mobile Go5G Military pricing plans reward the sacrifices of our brave men and women in uniform and their families with unlimited text and data, roaming, a free basic Netflix subscription, offers of free stuff every week during T-Mobile Tuesdays and more.
  • Verizon offers military, Veterans, and their family up to $25 off per month on myPlan. This discount is valid on 2 to 3 personal lines only.

Taxes

Insurance

  • Review your life insurance policy. Make sure it doesn’t contain a “war clause,” which means you would not be covered if you died in war or combat. Most active duty members receive $500,000 of coverage from the Service Members’ Group Life Insurance Program. If you don’t already know about it, find out more at Insurance.VA.gov.
  • You may want to put your vehicle in storage while you’re gone. If you do, call your auto insurer and ask about becoming a “non-operator,” which could lower your payments.
  • Veterans in suicidal crisis can go to any VA or non-VA healthcare facility for free emergency healthcare.

Wills and Estate Planning

Consumer Protection

  • The Service Members’ Civil Relief Act protects all active military families from foreclosures, evictions and other financial consequences of military service. The act also covers lapses in health and other insurance, default judgments in court cases and limits on the amount of interest service men and women must pay.
  • Military personnel can put a “military fraud alert” on their credit reports. Service people must request them, and the alerts ensure that credit reporting companies are taking additional steps to verify a person’s identity when applying for credit. The idea is to protect deployed persons from becoming victims of identity theft. The FTC has compiled a helpful guide that details the process of putting an active-duty alert on your credit records.
  • Active-duty personnel can see their real FICO score for free online by visiting SaveandInvest.org/Military.

Small Business

  • Small business help is available for you. The Veterans Pledge Initiative can help with obtaining loans to start or expand your business. Free veteran entrepreneurship training is also available.

Security Work

Discounted Vacation

  • Military members have special ways to save on Disney vacations. ShadesofGreen.org is a special program offered for military personnel and families in partnership with Disney. Discounted lodging at parks starts at $163 a night. Armed Forces Vacation Club is a similar service.
  • With the Waves of Honor program, military veterans, retirees and up to three dependents can get free or discounted admission to:
    • Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
    • Busch Gardens Williamsburg
    • SeaWorld Orlando
    • SeaWorld San Antonio
    • SeaWorld San Diego
    • Sesame Place Philadelphia
    • Sesame Place San Diego
    • Aquatica San Antonio
    • Aquatica Orlando
    • Discovery Cove Orlando

Free Financial Advice

  • The certified military counselors at Money Management International (MMI) can help you create a family budget, start a debt management plan, become a homeowner, avoid foreclosure or just get your finances in order. This service is free and confidential.

Donations and Gifts

More Resources

  • MilitaryOneSource.mil – DOD online and phone help 24 hours a day, seven days a week — stateside and overseas. Call 1-800-342-9647 in the States or 1-800-3429-6477 overseas.
  • Military.com – Comprehensive site offering information on benefits for military as well as news and information.
  • Clarkdeals.com– Discover special deals and discounts exclusively available for military members and Veterans.
  • 25+ Places That Offer Discounts to U.S. Veterans.
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