MILMO Show

Hosted by Lacey Langford

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Episodes

393

Latest episode

Jun 2026

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About the show

The MILMO® Show is all about military money and entrepreneurship. It's everything you need to know about making, saving, and investing money wisely. Lacey Langford, AFC®, interviews inspiring guests about personal finance, entrepreneurship, investing, life in the military, and more.

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60 recent

June 15, 2026Episode 39346 min

Annuities Explained Without the Sales Pitch

Annuities are among the financial products that can spark a lot of strong opinions. Some people love them, while some people warn everyone to stay far away from them. A lot of people are stuck somewhere in the middle, trying to figure out what an annuity actually is, what it does, and whether it makes sense for their situation. The hard part is that annuities come with a lot of jargon, fees, surrender charges, and sales language that can make them hard to understand. And when you're making decisions with retirement money, your TSP, a pension, or other savings, confusion can get expensive fast. In this episode, Tracy Lownsberry, founder of Annuity Giants, Army veteran, and annuity expert, breaks down annuities in plain English. We talk about what annuities are, the problems they're designed to solve, who they may or may not be right for, what military families should consider, and the red flags to watch for before buying one. For more information, visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/annuities-explained-without-the-sales-pitch For more MILMO, follow at: https://MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook

June 8, 2026Episode 39211 min

You're Not Broke, You Need Financial Discipline

Sometimes, the reason money feels tight is not that you're bad with money. Sometimes your money just needs more structure. In this solo episode, I'm talking about financial discipline and why it is not about shame, perfection, or taking all the joy out of your life. It is about giving your money direction, keeping small promises to your future self, and creating enough structure so your paycheck does not disappear before you know it. I also share simple ways to build more discipline with your money, For more information, visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/youre-not-broke-you-need-financial-discipline For more MILMO, follow at: https://MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook

June 1, 2026Episode 39136 min

SBP vs. Term Insurance for Military Retirement

Military retirement comes with some big financial decisions, but few create stronger opinions than the Survivor Benefit Plan. Some people believe SBP is essential protection for military spouses. Others say you're better off declining it and buying term life insurance instead. In this episode, retired Army officer and Certified Financial Planner™ Kyle Packard breaks down the Survivor Benefit Plan, how it compares to term life insurance, and why this decision is about more than just cost. We're talking about the true value of a military pension, the protection gaps families often overlook, how military marriage and retirement transitions can impact this decision, and practical ways couples can think through what level of protection is right for their family. For more MILMO, follow at: https://MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook For more information, visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/sbp-vs-term-insurance-military-retirement

May 25, 2026Episode 3907 min

A Day Too Important to Rush Past: A Memorial Day Reflection

Memorial Day is one of those days I never want to rush past, but I also never feel like I have the right words for it. In this special solo episode of the MILMO Show, I'm taking a moment to reflect on the meaning of Memorial Day, the men and women who died in service to our country, and the families who carry that loss every day. This isn't about having a perfect message. It's about remembering well, honoring the cost of freedom, and carrying the day with gratitude, humility, and respect.

May 18, 2026Episode 38937 min

The Hidden Financial Risks of Guard and Reserve Life

People often assume Guard and Reserve finances work the same way as active duty, but they don't. The income can be inconsistent, benefits can be confusing, and transitions on and off orders can create financial stress that catches families off guard. In this episode, Accredited Financial Counselor® and military spouse Terri Bailey shares real-world insight into the financial realities Guard and Reserve families face and what service members can do to better prepare for the unexpected. We're talking about the hidden financial risks of Guard and Reserve life, the most common money mistakes service members and spouses make during transitions, and practical ways to build a stronger financial foundation in the middle of uncertainty. For more information, visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/guard-and-reserve-finances For more MILMO, follow at: https://MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook

May 11, 2026Episode 38832 min

How Life Transitions Quietly Derail Your Finances

Life in the military is full of change. PCS moves, deployments, and leaving the service can all come with a long list of decisions and a lot of pressure to make them quickly. In those moments, even smart, disciplined people can make financial choices that quietly set them back. In this episode, I talk with Stacy Miller about why money mistakes tend to happen during life transitions and how to navigate those moments with more clarity and confidence. We get into what's really going on behind those decisions, the most common traps to watch for, and simple ways to slow down and make better choices, even when life feels overwhelming. Visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/life-transitions-derail-your-finances For more MILMO, follow at: MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook

May 4, 2026Episode 38745 min

What the Financial Industry Gets Wrong About Serving Veterans

A lot of financial advice is built for people with steady careers, predictable income, and easy access to financial services. That's not the reality for many service members and veterans. And it creates gaps that can lead to costly mistakes and missed opportunities. In this episode, Dr. Chet Bennetts, Department Chair and Associate Provost at The American College of Financial Services and Marine veteran, shares where the system falls short and how it impacts the military community. We get into why access to quality advice is still a challenge, how stress and life transitions shape financial decisions, and what both professionals and service members need to understand to navigate it better. The show notes can be found here: https://milmo.co/podcast/financial-industry-gets-wrong-about-veterans For more MILMO, follow at: MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook

April 27, 2026Episode 3867 min

{Encore} Finding Your Financial Yin and Yang

Money can start to feel like an either-or decision. Either you're doing the "right" thing and saving, or you're enjoying your life and spending. And for a lot of people, that tension never really goes away, especially when everything feels more expensive right now. That's why I wanted to bring this episode back. Here is the encore airing of Finding Your Financial Yin and Yang, a solo episode that's all about finding balance with your money, without guilt, extremes, and without feeling like you're always getting it wrong. It's a basic idea, but one that can completely change how you think about saving, spending, and what "doing well" with money actually looks like.

April 20, 2026Episode 38538 min

Why Money Feels So Emotional in Military Life

Money decisions can feel a lot heavier in military life. Between deployments, PCS moves, and the uncertainty that often comes with service, it's easy for stress, fear, and past experiences to shape how you spend, save, or avoid money altogether. In this episode, Tyler West and I discuss why money feels so emotional and how financial therapy can help. We get into how past experiences influence money habits, how stress can show up in financial decisions, and ways military families can start having healthier conversations about money. Tyler is an Army veteran, financial planner, and financial therapist who works with military and veteran families. Tyler brings both professional expertise and lived military experience to this conversation, helping break down the emotional side of money in a practical, relatable way. https://milmo.co/podcast/financial-therapy-military-life

April 13, 2026Episode 38446 min

Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service Explained

There's a VA benefit available to eligible SGLI and VGLI survivors that almost no one seems to know about. It's the Beneficiary Financial Counseling Service. It gives free financial planning during one of the hardest times a military family can face, yet too many people miss it entirely. In this episode, Certified Financial Planner Brian O'Neill and I, are talking about what this benefit is, who it's for, where the process is breaking down, and why better awareness could help protect survivors from costly mistakes and predatory financial products. Brian is a retired Air Force Colonel, former F-16 and F-35 pilot, and founder of Winged Wealth Management and Financial Planning. He has worked directly with this program for years, helping survivors navigate major financial decisions. Today, he's sharing what families need to know and how we can help spread the word. For more information, visit the full show notes at https://milmo.co/podcast/beneficiary-financial-counseling-service For more MILMO, follow at: MILMO.co ItsMILMO on YouTube @itsmilmo on X @itsmilmo Instagram @itsmilmo LinkedIn @itsmilmo Facebook