Practical guidance for veterans.
A year-end financial checklist for veterans
A short list of money tasks worth doing before December 31, from checking your credit reports to new charitable deduction rules and benefit deadlines.
Read →Your first civilian paycheck: what changes after you separate
A civilian salary that looks bigger than military pay can leave you with less. Here's what changes in your paycheck after separation and what to do first.
Read →Holiday spending without the January debt
The holidays are when a lot of new debt gets taken on, often in small pieces. Here's how to set a plan now and avoid the traps built for this season.
Read →Arizona resources every veteran should know about
From free claims help to a new full property tax exemption for 100% disabled veterans, here are the Arizona veteran benefits worth checking.
Read →Credit freezes, fraud alerts, and protecting yourself from identity theft
A credit freeze is free, does not hurt your score, and stops most new-account fraud. Here's how it works and when a fraud alert makes more sense.
Read →How debt-to-income works for a VA home loan
VA loans look at your debt-to-income ratio and your residual income. Here's how both are measured and what you can do to improve them before you apply.
Read →Building an emergency fund when money is already tight
An emergency fund is what keeps a car repair from turning into a payday loan. Here's how to start one, even a small one, and where to keep it.
Read →Open enrollment season: VA health care, the Marketplace, and Medicare
Medicare, Marketplace, and TRICARE enrollment windows all open this fall. Here's how each fits with VA health care and which deadlines apply to you.
Read →How to read a credit card agreement before you sign
The terms that decide what a credit card actually costs you are in the agreement. Here's where to find them and which ones to read first.
Read →Budgeting on a fixed VA disability income
VA disability compensation is steady and predictable, which makes it easier to budget around and easier for others to target. Here's how to build a plan on it.
Read →How credit scores work, and why you have more than one
Your credit score is a prediction built from your credit reports. Here's what goes into it, why the numbers differ, and what actually moves them.
Read →Scams that specifically target veterans
Veterans are deliberately targeted because benefits are predictable income and service is easy to look up. Here are the patterns worth recognizing.
Read →Free tax preparation for veterans and military families
Paid preparers charge for returns that several free programs will handle. Here's what's available and who qualifies.
Read →Building credit from a thin file
Not having credit history isn't the same as having bad credit — but lenders often treat it that way. Here's how to build a file from close to nothing.
Read →The Military Lending Act protects active duty — not veterans
A 36% rate cap covers you while you serve. It does not follow you out, and predatory lenders know exactly when it stops.
Read →Writing a business plan when you're coming out of service
Most business plan advice is written for MBA students. Here's the version for someone whose experience is operational rather than commercial.
Read →SBA programs built for veteran business owners
Several federal programs exist specifically for veterans starting or growing a business. Most go underused because nobody hears about them.
Read →Where to find mental health support as a veteran
Free, confidential help exists, including for veterans who aren't enrolled in VA health care. Here's what's available and how to reach it.
Read →Housing help for veterans: where to start
If you're facing housing instability, there is a single number to call, it's free, and it's staffed around the clock.
Read →The VA home loan: what makes it different
One of the strongest benefits earned through service, and one of the most misunderstood. Here's what it actually is.
Read →Disputing an error on your credit report, step by step
Filing a dispute is free and you can do it yourself. Here's exactly how, and what to expect afterward.
Read →What credit repair companies can and can't do for you
Some are legitimate. Many are not. Here's the law, the warning signs, and what you can do yourself for free.
Read →How to get your credit reports for free (and why you should)
You are entitled to free weekly reports from all three bureaus. Here's how to get them without hitting the sites that charge you.
Read →Know a veteran who needs help?
Credit4Vets connects veterans with business counseling, housing assistance, credit and financing support, and mental health resources. Reach out and we'll connect them with help.
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