The Veteran Finance Podcast

Hosted by Erik Baskin, CFP®, CEPA®, MBA

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Mar 2026

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About the show

The Veteran Finance Podcast delivers actionable weekly financial planning strategies to help Veterans optimize their money to build purpose past the 9-5. Host Erik Baskin, CFP®, CEPA®, MBA is an Air Force Academy Graduate turned financial planner and the founder of Baskin Financial Planning.

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60 recent

March 25, 202612 min

Impacts of the Iran War on Markets and Personal Finance | E79

In this episode, I talk about the Iran War and its' implications on markets and personal finance.‍Key Timestamps:00:00 Introduction 01:47 How Markets React to Wars04:20 Oil, Inflation, and Interest Rates8:01 Personal Finance Takeaways11:40 Wrap Up and DisclaimerResources Mentioned: Investopedia article on the impact of war on markets across timeInflation Adjusted Barrel of Oil History Price ChartU.S. Gas Per Gallon Price over historyMortgage Rate Chart‍More of Baskin Financial Planning:Think you might be a good fit form my firm? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here!Questions or comments, drop me a note at: ⁠⁠erik@baskinfp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠www.baskinfp.com/post/79

January 21, 20269 min

The Top 5 Most Impactful Personal Finance Books I've Ever Read | E78

In this episode, I talk about the top 5 most impactful personal finance books I've ever read that I would recommend you check out in the new year!‍Key Timestamps:00:00 Intro and Top 5 Personal Finance Books Overview00:51 Book 1: The Psychology of Money02:05 Book 2: Your Money or Your Life03:25 Book 3: Die With Zero05:29 Book 4: A Random Walk Down Wall Street06:37 Book 5: The Millionaire Next Door07:57 Conclusion and Additional Resources ‍Resources Mentioned: Psychology of Money- Morgan HouselYour Money or Your Life - Vicki RobinDie With Zero- Bill PerkinsRandom Walk Down Wallstreet- Burton MalkielThe Millionare Nextdoor- Dr. Thomas StanleyFollow me on GoodreadsMore of Baskin Financial Planning:Think you might be a good fit form my firm? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here!⁠⁠Questions or comments, drop me a note at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠erik@baskinfp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.baskinfp.com/post/78

November 19, 202511 min

Investments That are Too Good to be True | E77

‍In this episode, I talk about red flags to look for in investments that are too good to be true, including three real life examples I've seen in my financial planning practice.Key Timestamps:00:00 Introduction and Announcements01:20 Core Principles of Sound Investing02:20 Identifying Red Flags in Investment Opportunities04:34 Real-World Examples of Investment Scams09:02 Protecting Yourself from Investment Scams09:50 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsResources Mentioned: Bernie Madoff FBI CasePaul Regan Fraud Scheme 2024‍More of Baskin Financial Planning:Think you might be a good fit form my firm? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here!⁠⁠Questions or comments, drop me a note at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠erik@baskinfp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.baskinfp.com/post/77

November 5, 202510 min

The Most Tax-Efficient Ways to Give to Charity |E76

‍In this episode, I go through the three tax-efficient strategies for maximizing the value of your charitable giving. ‍Key Timestamps:00:00 – Intro01:25 – Standard deduction explained04:40 – Strategy 1: Bunching05:46 – Strategy 2: Donor-Advised Funds07:04 – Strategy 3: QCDs08:41 – Recap & final thoughtsResources Mentioned: Episode 37 on Donor Advised Funds (DAFs)‍More of Baskin Financial Planning:Think you might be a good fit form my firm? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here!⁠⁠Questions or comments, drop me a note at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠erik@baskinfp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.baskinfp.com/post/76

October 22, 202511 min

3 Things That Need to be True to Keep Your House as a Rental | E75

In this episode, I go through the three things that need to be true for it to make sense to keep your house as a rental property. ‍Key Timestamps:00:00 – Introduction00:49 – 1. The Math03:31 – 2. Qualitative Fit05:21 – 3. Long-Term Fit09:06 – Recap & Final ThoughtsMore of Baskin Financial Planning:Think you might be a good fit form my firm? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here!⁠⁠Questions or comments, drop me a note at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠erik@baskinfp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.baskinfp.com/post/75

October 8, 202513 min

The Power of Term Life Insurance: Why It Beats Whole, SBP, and VGLI for Veterans |E74

‍In this episode, I discuss the basic principles of term insurance and why for most families it is the preferred method of life insurance over permanent insurance, SBP, and VGLI. Key Timestamps:00:00 Introduction & why term life insurance01:10 Principles of Term Insurance03:35 How much term insurance do you need?05:35 Calculating your coverage07:10 Comparing Term vs. Permanent, VGLI, and SBP12:09 Final thoughts & summary‍Resources Mentioned:Episode 22: Whole vs. Term Life InsuranceVGLI Costs‍More of Baskin Financial Planning:Think you might be a good fit form my firm? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here!⁠⁠Questions or comments, drop me a note at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠erik@baskinfp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.baskinfp.com/post/74

September 24, 202511 min

The Art of the Backdoor Roth IRA for High Earners | E73

In this episode, I discuss the art of the backdoor Roth IRA for high income earners. We walk through what it is, how to do it, and key mistakes to look out for. ‍Key Timestamps:00:00 Introduction to the Backdoor Roth IRA02:21 Step-by-Step Guide to Backdoor Roth IRA04:51 Key Caveats and Pro-Rata Rule07:26 Fixing Past Contribution Mistakes10:06 Conclusion and Final Tips10:47 Additional Resources and Disclaimer‍‍More of Baskin Financial Planning:Think you might be a good fit form my firm? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here!⁠⁠Questions or comments, drop me a note at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠erik@baskinfp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.baskinfp.com/post/73‍

September 10, 202511 min

When Does it Make Sense to Refinance the Mortgage? | E72

In this episode, I dive into when it makes sense and does not make sense to refinance your mortgage when rates are falling. Key Timestamps:00:00 Introduction: Is Now a Good Time to Refinance?00:55 Understanding Refinancing Basics02:03 VA Loan Refinancing: Uncle Earl Explained03:12 When Refinancing Makes Sense06:06 When Refinancing Doesn't Make Sense08:02 Veteran-Specific Provisions for Refinancing09:50 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsResources Mentioned: Episode 16: VA Loans with Evan KaufmanEpisode 50: Refinancing VA Loans with Evan KaufmanMore of Baskin Financial Planning:Think you might be a good fit form my firm? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here!⁠⁠Questions or comments, drop me a note at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠erik@baskinfp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.baskinfp.com/post/72

August 27, 202521 min

Unpacking Unpacking the New Tax Bill the OBBBA: What it Means for Your Taxes | E71

In this episode, I dive into the provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) passed on July 4, 2025 and how it is likely to impact your tax bill this year and for the years to come. Key Timestamps:00:00-Introduction to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act01:22- Understanding the Tax Rate Extensions and Standard Deductions02:43- Charitable Giving and Itemized Deductions04:53- State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction Changes06:45- Child Tax Credit and Senior Deduction08:55- Tax Exemptions on Tips, Overtime, and Business Provisions11:16- Estate and Lifetime Gift Tax Exemptions12:55- Vehicle-Related Tax Provisions15:40- Education and Trump Accounts17:31- Actionable Takeaways and ConclusionMore of Baskin Financial Planning:Think you might be a good fit form my firm? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here!⁠⁠Questions or comments, drop me a note at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠erik@baskinfp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠www.baskinfp.com/post/71

August 13, 202517 min

529 Plans Demystified: A Smarter Way to Save for College | E70

In this episode, I dive into the essentials of college savings, focusing on 529 plans and how to decide the best approach for your family. I cover the pros and cons, recent rule changes, and practical tips for making smart education funding decisions.‍Key Timestamps:00:00 - Introduction and Personal Update01:56 - Philosophy of Education Savings04:12 - 529 Accounts Overview06:48 - What 529 Plans Cover08:27 - Pros of 529 Plans11:54 - Cons of 529 Plans14:09 - Making the Right Decision16:41 - Outro and Resources‍‍More of Baskin Financial Planning:Think you might be a good fit form my firm? ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Join the waitlist here!⁠⁠Questions or comments, drop me a note at: ⁠⁠⁠⁠erik@baskinfp.com⁠⁠⁠⁠www.baskinfp.com/post/70