It's Your Pension, Too
You helped earn it. You’re entitled to choose how it’s protected.
The Survivor Benefit Plan decision is one of the most significant choices your family will make at retirement. It can also be made entirely without your input.
The Military Spouse Benefit Plan is written for the military spouse who’s declaring, “It’s my turn now.” Choosing what your next chapter looks like starts with understanding the SBP and how your role can determine how your family’s hard-earned pension is protected.
I Never Thought I’d Write This Book
My path here was unconventional.
I grew up in a career military family. But my father passed before he finished his last duty station. It’s not uncommon for Gold Star families to feel invisible and forgotten after the military. Yet, the lack of closure kept me observant of military family life. Over the years, that distance gave me a unique perspective.
Fast-forward to today. I work alongside my husband at US VetWealth, our boutique firm that serves retiring senior military officers and NCOs. After a while, I noticed a pattern that became too consistent to ignore. Military retirees would often attend our Discovery Calls alone. If the spouse was present, she was usually off-camera or not on the call at all. This would continue, meeting after meeting, for months, until we were ready to help the retiree take the next steps with the Survivor Benefit Plan decision.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, the retiree would back out without explanation.
Eventually, we’d learn what happened. The military spouse, the plan’s intended beneficiary, made the final decision.
Rightfully so. But I wanted to understand whether the decision was fully informed. Did she know that her signature could affect how the pension is protected? Or was it simply easier to take no action than go out of her way during the rush of military retirement to get a notarized signature? Besides, she could have gone through military transition without ever knowing about the SBP.
I wanted to make sure I wasn’t misunderstanding or making assumptions. So I launched Holding Down the Fort by US VetWealth podcast in 2019 to find out.
Then came the book I thought I’d never write, in hopes it’ll add to the spouse’s decision-making process with how she decides to protect her family’s hard-earned pension, which starts with understanding the SBP.
What to Expect
In this book, you’ll follow Susan, a seasoned military spouse preparing for military retirement. She starts where most spouses start: overwhelmed and constantly asking herself, “How come nobody told me about this?”
Step by step, Susan slows down, runs her own numbers, seeks a second opinion, and explores her options. By the end, Susan isn’t just informed about the SBP. She has decided, on her own terms, what protecting her family’s pension looks like.
Table of Contents
Introduction, plus:
Consider a Different Perspective — Pause before you decide. Notice where you’ve been reacting instead of choosing, and give yourself permission to slow down.
Set a New Tone for Civilian Life — Learn what the SBP is, what it isn’t, and why your voice in this decision matters more than you think.
Be Informed About the SBP — Understand exactly what the SBP is, what your notarized signature means, and what happens if no decision is made before retirement.
Be Confident About the SBP — Run your own numbers. Calculate exactly how much the SBP protects, and how much it doesn’t.
Consider a Second Opinion — Seek a civilian perspective on the SBP before retirement. You wouldn’t buy a house without a second opinion. This is no different.
Consider Civilian Options — Explore what the private sector offers that the government doesn’t, and decide if it’s worth a closer look.
Explore Your Options — Research the private sector alternative the same way you researched the SBP with patience, questions, and an open mind.
Schedule the Call — Dream bigger than the decision. Reflect on what you want your civilian life to look like. Then, schedule the Discovery Call.
Be On The Call — Show up prepared, present, and ready to lead the conversation. You’ve done the work. Now, be on the call.
And a bonus chapter: Epilogue — What happens on the call?
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About the Author
Jen Amos is a Gold Star daughter and Veteran Spouse. She’s also the co-owner of US VetWealth and podcast host of Holding Down the Fort by US VetWealth. To learn more about Jen, visit our About page or connect with her on LinkedIn.
Bonus Book
Also included is the PDF download of Don’t Forget Your War Chest by Scott R. Tucker. E-9, O-5, and O-6 Editions are available. This is the military retirees’ guide to Survivor Benefit Plan alternatives, how to privatize, protect, and profit for your future.
Additional Resources
Sponsored by US VetWealth, check out our free additional guides covering the SBP decision, TSP strategy, and retirement income — each with built-in calculators, decision tools, and retirement analysis.