In this episode, we step away from our usual financial discussions to share personal stories from our military service. Why? To give listeners a glimpse of who we are beyond our roles as financial advisors—so we opened up about how our time in the service shaped our lives.

Bret shares his experience working in logistics and on the flight line in the Air Force, while I discuss my years as a combat engineer in the Army National Guard. We both reflect on how those experiences influenced our paths and continue to impact our work today.

Bret talks about his five years of active duty and four years in the reserves, highlighting memorable assignments from Korea, Guam, and Germany, and sharing humorous tales about managing logistics and hazardous materials.

I share stories of my time in Iraq, from conducting mine detection patrols to the lessons learned during long days in a tent. Our service stories illustrate how those years instilled lessons that we now apply to our roles as financial planners.

We close the episode with some actual advice on how to give financial gifts to loved ones in a tax-smart way. This special Veterans Day episode honors the holiday by sharing how our military experiences have shaped us and reminding listeners of the lasting impact service can have.

• [0:32] Why are we pausing our financial talk to share our military stories?
• [1:36] What was Bret’s role in the Air Force, and how did it shape his journey?
• [3:40] Which memorable places did Bret serve, and what did he learn?
• [7:00] How did my role as a combat engineer lead to unexpected experiences?
• [8:50] What connections can we draw between military service and advising?
• [14:17] How can you give cash or assets to loved ones in a tax-efficient way?
• [19:10] Final thoughts on recognizing veterans and what their service means

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