Summary: <br> I asked Benjamin Brandt how deploying to a war zone prepared him to be a financial planner. He said in the military they learned to act without thinking. In his profession now, it’s important to think without acting.<br> He was a member of Task Force Trailblazer where he was a combat engineer. Their mission was to identify IED’s so US and coalition forces are assured mobility. While deployed in 2003-2005 for 15 months, he saw IED’s get more and more sophisticated.<br> Now 12 years later he has a successful business teaching people how to retire. He also gives us solid advice how to plan a vacation on a limited budget by:<br> <br> * have 30 daily (not monthly) budget meeting with spouse<br> * do not round numbers, be specific. You can save a few dollars here and there that will add up each month<br> * Press pause on what you can – cable, Netflix, lawn maintenance, etc<br> <br> We have a great talk about actionable steps we can take to put ourselves in better financial positions. And Benjamin is open about his PTSD and how he has no side effects now.<br> Retirement Starts Today<br> You can watch him on his weekly show “Money Monday” in a Gorilla suit here:<br> <a href="http://www.myndnow.com/news/bismarck-news/money-monday-trick-or-treat/603482833">http://www.myndnow.com/news/bismarck-news/money-monday-trick-or-treat/603482833</a><br> He’s an interesting guy with no secrets. He even hired a private investigator to find out everything about him and he published on his blog.<br> Learn more about Brandt here, including listening to his podcast:<br> <a href="http://retirementstartstoday.com/">http://retirementstartstoday.com/</a><br> <a href="http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/">Blog</a><br> <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/retirement-starts-today-radio/id1052378769?mt=2">Subscribe to his podcast</a><br> Benjamin created this link for our listeners:<br> <a href="http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/patriot/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">http://retirementstartstodayradio.com/patriot/<br><br> </a><br><br> Music courtesy of Soundroad – Believe.<br><br> Copyright 2017 Thad Forester<br><br> http://<a href="http://www.patriottothecore.com/">www.patriottothecore.com<br><br> </a>email questions to <a href="mailto:thad@patriottothecore.com">thad@patriottothecore.com</a><br>
