Weekly Spotlight
The One Question That Exposed My Transition Blind Spot
Where do you want to be in 5 years?
That was the question that made me pause and do that awkward head tilt. In my mind, I was thinking, “Oh, crap… where do I want to be in 5 years?” What came out of my mouth wasn’t exactly authentic, just some vague, non-specific jargon like, “In a successful role at a company that shares my values.”
Cringe. What does that even mean? I probably picked it up from some random LinkedIn headline.
Luckily, the person who asked me this saw right through the BS. She was a mentor I connected with through American Corporate Partners (great organization, by the way). She asked again, more directly: No really, where do you want to be in 5 years?
And that’s when I had to admit the truth...I wasn’t sure.
I knew I wanted stable employment that I actually enjoyed. I wanted to live in a certain area. And I wanted enough financial freedom to do things I never had the time or money for on active duty.
That’s when she honed in on a question many of us gloss over: How do you plan on being financially secure enough to do the things that are important to you?
And that’s when it hit me. Through all the transition prep, networking calls, mandatory briefings, and unsolicited peer advice, I had somehow skipped over one huge part: financial planning.
There was so much emphasis on resume writing, LinkedIn profiles, networking, job hunting, house hunting, and filing VA claims. Somewhere in all that noise, figuring out how to sustain myself got lost in the sauce.
Fortunately, there are ways to fix that.
You can hire a financial planner to help organize your future. If you go that route, it’s critical to understand how they get paid. That part alone can be confusing; some work on commission, others charge hourly or flat fees, and some take a percentage of your assets under management.
If this is the direction you want to go, you might consider choosing someone who specializes in military financial planning. Just like realtors, financial planners can focus on specific client groups. You’ll find military-affiliated planners at institutions like First Command, USAA, and Navy Federal Credit Union.
But working with a planner isn’t your only option.
New tools like Boldin are putting the power of financial planning right in your hands. Platforms like this often offer free tiers to help you get started. Even the paid options are usually more affordable than hiring someone in person.
So what is financial planning anyway? Is it just... budgeting?
Sort of. Yes, budgeting is part of it. But financial planning is bigger. It’s about long-term strategy (investments, savings, taxes, debt management) and bringing all of that together in a way that supports your goals.
Whether you want to buy a home, retire early, or just transition smoothly out of the military, having a plan ensures you can actually do those things. It also helps you make better decisions in other parts of the transition. Knowing what you need financially might influence what kinds of jobs you apply for, and whether or not you really need that six-figure corporate gig (and all that comes with it).
Bottom line: There are plenty of tools, tech and old-school, that can help you plan your financial future. Use them. Even if you're a junior member getting ready to separate, financial planning is essential. Don’t wait until you’re buried under all the other parts of transitioning to think about your finances.
