Events · Example slides

A look inside the Lieutenant briefing

Three slides from the full briefing: where it starts, the gap most officers never plan for, and where it all adds up.

Slide 1 · Where it starts

The Briefing I Wish I'd Had as a Lieutenant

Your pay. Your 20%. What you can actually use at 45.

Vincent Mortara · Financial Advisor · U.S. Army, retired after 26 years

Slide 6 · The gap

14½ years

Between military retirement (~45) and penalty-free TSP access (59½).

All of the government match is in the TSP. The separation-at-55 rule doesn't apply at 45.

Slide 16 · Where it all adds up

Same Lieutenant. Same career. Same 20% saved.

$578K of your money + $145K government match, over 20 years

Strategy	Total at 45	Usable at 45	Yearly income 45–59½*	Yearly income 59½–90*
A · 20% TSP	$1.29M	$0	$0	$110,400
B · TSP + brokerage	$1.28M	$713K	$60,600	$45,000
C · TSP + Roth IRA + whole life	$1.16M	$471K	$31,200	$81,700 (tax-free) + whole life dividends
D · TSP + 4 properties	$2.05M	$0 · Equity: $1.53M (~$1.32M if all 4 sold)	−$36,900	$132,400

* Plus the BRS pension in every strategy: ~$95,000/year from 45 (O-5).

A model, not a promise.

Hypothetical illustration for educational purposes only. Assumes 20% of basic pay saved over a 20-year career, standard promotion timeline, 3% annual raises, 7% hypothetical annual return, and 2.5% inflation; income shown in age-45 dollars. Whole life values are hypothetical and not based on any policy illustration; dividends are not guaranteed. Property figures assume $500K purchases and illustrative rents, rates, and expenses; rental income shown before tax. Actual results will differ. Not individual tax, legal, or investment advice.

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