If you’re a military spouse, you understand the struggle better than anyone. You’ve dealt with deployments, the harrowing realities, the stress and worry, the long hours wondering when (or if) your loved one will return home.
With frequent moves, come frequent changes. Life, certainly, can be unexpected.
Truth be told, the military lifestyle can be extremely trying. It’s not for the faint of heart, and for every man and woman who defends our freedoms and puts it all on the line, they deserve the best.
At Pinto Capital Investments, we understand what military life is all about. Our intimate and prolonged experience with deployment makes us uniquely qualified to help military families, military spouses, and military veterans alike find a new meaningful career and life beyond service.
Whether you’re currently deployed on active-duty service or seeking fresh career paths post-military, you’re not alone. Our private investment firm is ready to arm you with the expertise, knowledge, and real-world experience to enjoy a lasting, secure passive income.
Investment Opportunities for the Military Spouse
Although many service members may not realize it, their service affords them various unique investment opportunities that civilian life does not. There are ample ways in which to use your money for both passive and active real estate investments.
Whereas civilians may utilize employment resources, military spouses can employ the military benefits and the networks of the military community to enjoy money-making ventures.
Building a passive income doesn’t have to be hard, and fortunately, the military makes it easier for military spouses and service members alike. Firstly, there are many ways in which a military spouse can help his or her partner during their deployment.
A spouse can enjoy the mutual benefits of service perks, such as:
- Tax-free Pay
- Family Separation Pay
- Hazardous Duty Incentive Pay
- Imminent Danger Pay
These increased and incentivized pay and benefits may be shared among a married military couple to open up new avenues for investment, military spouse careers, and other job opportunities.
Leveraging Your Spouse’s Military Career for Passive Income
As a military spouse, your life can constantly change. Many families, amid changing priorities, are forced through frequent moves, different federal government programs, and unexpected events that may make it difficult to achieve long-term career success.
Fortunately, savvy military spouses can leverage the benefits of service to use their money wisely. By taking advantage of various service programs, military couples can capitalize on the changing job market while embracing a strong and diversified workforce.
Before 2006, military members were eligible to receive pensions following 20 years of continuous active service.
Then, the system changed. Between 2006 and 2018, members of the military could choose the original pension system or what is called the blended retirement system.
Nowadays, all service members get enrolled in the blended retirement system automatically.
This system provides various benefits that both military members and their military spouses can plan to use for investments, bills, and other financial reasons. These benefits include:
- Annuity
This monthly annuity is calculated based on a percentage of your years of service and the average base salary of the three highest-paying years of that service. Thus, the formula is: 0.02 x years of service x average base salary of three highest-paying years. - Continuation Pay
This cash payout is for mid-career service members and requires an additional obligation of service. Eligibility and payout amount are determined based on the duration of service and military position. - Federal Thrift Savings Plan
This federal retirement plan is based on contributions made throughout one’s military service. Members also enjoy special tax benefits as well as investment opportunities, such as bonds and index funds.
Those members contributing to the Federal Thrift Savings Plan have two tax categories they can assume when contributing.
One, the traditional category, deposits pre-taxed income directly into your account, and then taxes are paid when the income is withdrawn for retirement. The other category provides no tax benefits up front, but then all withdrawals are tax-free upon retirement.
Aside from using the service benefits, military spouses can also take advantage of unique real estate investment opportunities. Generating passive income is crucial, especially when looking to create economic opportunity in an unpredictable economy.
If you want to be your own boss with your own business, real estate passive income is a great way to do so. This form of cash flow can help military spouses succeed in an exciting, profitable career path that they dictate.
Generating Wealth from Rental Property
Military spouses living near or on base can take advantage of real estate passive income in several ways. Many military service members have purchased investment properties to be rented out. This residual income stream can be managed by buying and holding properties close to the base.
Military spouses can share the workload of property management and upkeep responsibilities, providing tenants a safe and secure rental space throughout military service.
Although this may not keep military spouses employed in the traditional sense, it allows them to be their bosses while accumulating wealth. If military spouses desire the freedom to make their own choices without demands from a hierarchy, renting to tenants is a smart choice.
The Navy Federal Credit Union can assist with offsetting costs and fees and obtaining the necessary funds for financing the investment. You can also consult other professional development, career search, and investment experts if you’re struggling to map out your financial future.
Using Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs)
Real estate investment trusts are entities that can function in various ways. They may be organized as corporations, partnerships, associations, or trusts. Ultimately, they are yet one more way to stimulate passive income beyond military life.
Because so many military spouses seek supplemental income, REITs can be extremely useful. Essentially, REITs invest in real estate by purchasing property and mortgages. They typically own, manage, and finance wealth-generating properties.
REITs may trade as shares on major stock exchanges, making their shares the same as traditional stocks. With lower risks and steady returns, they are the ideal choice for military spouses who are risk-averse but need or want additional income.
Investing in Multifamily Syndication
You don’t need a massive nest egg to invest profitably. Real estate investments are historically some of the most reliable and durable investments due to diversification, appreciation, and hedges against inflation.
If you want to avoid the stress and time concerns of landlord duties, syndication can provide a healthy, profitable alternative. If you’re a military spouse, you can take advantage of many unique syndication offerings.
Benefits of Multifamily Syndication
Some realty firms specialize in syndicated investment deals, which encourage military spouses to focus on what matters to them while enjoying a healthy passive income stream.
Multifamily properties and commercial real estate can be lucrative. Through crowdsourced capital, investors may enjoy several benefits, including:
- Residual Income Streams
- Critical Tax Advantages
- Low-Risk, High Reward Scenarios
- Portfolio Diversification Opportunities
For any military spouse looking to minimize risk, maximize return on investment, and enjoy time spent outside of property management, multifamily syndication is a great vehicle.
These are just some of the important qualities military spouses want. Among the many military spouses’ desires, military spouses rank flexibility near the top.
Whether seeking creative or strategic opportunities, any military spouse can find it through sound, historically profitable real estate.
If you need help getting started or managing your finances, credit unions and realty specialists can assist.
With even more resources, Navy Federal Credit Union is probably the best option for helping military spouses through the banking, lending, and mortgaging process. Regulated and supervised by a federal government agency, the Navy Federal Credit Union supports military service members from all walks of life.
All active duty service members and retired and veteran service members can join Navy Federal’s current membership.
Overall Real Estate Advantages for Military Spouses
Before you begin looking into passive income opportunities, you should consult real estate experts, banks and credit unions, and especially the Department of Defense’s Financial Readiness Network.
This network, linked to the educational services industry, aligns military spouses with a full range of financial professionals, planning initiatives, and investment management opportunities.
This network is a great way to enter the real estate industry and markets with the proper understanding, social and human capital, and financing.
Through its various administrative support services, the Financial Readiness Network is a sound springboard for military spouse hiring initiatives.
Let’s face it, being a military spouse comes with numerous obstacles, difficulties, and unforeseen changes. Whether you’re the military spouse of an active duty member or married to a military veteran, your job may change and your entire career path may go off the deep end.
Real Estate Job Roles for Military Spouses
Moving around the country and world due to transfers and deployments can be difficult for anyone. That’s why real estate investments are so useful.
For those struggling to build viable careers, positions in real estate may be the best jobs for military spouses.
Because most military personnel receive housing once deployed, they can then use VA loans to purchase other homes as rental investments. Buying and selling such equity investments is a proactive way to roll equity over for another home.
Military spouses can play an active role in investments or work in various real estate roles, across cities, states, and countries. With endless markets, sectors, types, and locations of real estate, the demand is always going to be there.
It is a true, clear career advancement path. Military spouses can take on more than a few potential job functions in the industry. These include:
- Locating Potential Franchise Property
- Property Appraisals and Evaluations
- Aiding Real Estate Professionals (i.e., consultants, loan officers, or leasing agents)
- Listings and Sales of Commercial and Non-Commercial Properties
- Property Management and Upkeep
- Government Realty Positions & Functions
These jobs, roles, and functions can and do overlap. Furthermore, certain licensing and testing criteria may apply more broadly. If certain accreditations are obtained, a real estate professional may be able to transfer them across state lines, and even to other countries.
Even so, additional education, licensing, and accreditation may be required.
Other Military Spouse Employment Opportunities
The flexibility, durability, and versatility of military spouses make them capable of performing well in various jobs and careers. Even so, Navy Federal’s research and polls show that many military spouses are facing hiring challenges.
According to Navy Federal findings, the unemployment rate of military spouses has reached levels triple those of the average person. Currently, about 13% of military spouses are not employed.
Among the top reasons for difficulties with employment are relocation issues, childcare duties, and financial concerns stemming from the pandemic.
Fortunately, surveys and polls indicate various industries, career fields, and job positions that are military friendly.
In conjunction with the veteran employment non-profit, Hire Heroes USA, the Navy Federal published the following list of the 10 best jobs for military spouses:
- Government & Public Administration
These roles provide military spouses with stability and predictability. With almost half of the military spouses working in government and public administration, many will stay put until they retire.
The scheduling is accommodating and the benefits are military-friendly. Spouses in this industry are usually analysts, supervisors, workers, or lawyers. It is also much easier to transfer across this industry upon relocation. - Business & Human Resources
These positions are especially helpful in accommodating child care needs and relocation requirements. This industry flexibility of scheduling, transfer, and position changes is mostly supported across assistant, secretary, and analyst jobs.
As Hire Heroes USA and Navy Federal Credit Union note, the industry is also quite new to military spouses. Two-thirds of military spouses in human resource positions have been in them for less than two years.
This industry is also very friendly to remote jobs, giving military spouses many options when relocating. You can often work fully remotely or partially remotely as a virtual assistant or human resources manager. - Health Care
Whether you choose to be a dental hygienist, a nurse practitioner, or a pharmacy technician, you have numerous options when entering the healthcare field. According to Navy Federal and Hire Heroes USA statistics, roughly 10% of military spouses work in the healthcare industry. This is a highly preferred industry because it provides certain stability and can pay very well.
This career choice does not merely have to include medical professions or medical assisting personnel. It also features programs, jobs, and positions that cater to social assistance. Drug counselors, therapists, and psychiatrists also feature prominently in this field.
- Education
Military spouses are driven to education and education services for many reasons. Firstly, the industry prioritizes a balance between work, study, and extracurriculars. Moreover, educational services place a special emphasis on finding stable careers.
Military spouses may enjoy helping others pave their career trajectories, as well as cultivating potential social skills, job skills, and real-world proficiencies. Positions in this industry include teachers, counselors, auxiliary support staff, managers, and supervisors - Information Technology
We live in the digital age. That’s why information technology jobs are booming. Thanks to the digitized reliance on these jobs, the remote technology, and the social media platforms, it’s easy to work from numerous locations. A military spouse can be an information security personnel, a software or web developer, a programmer, an analyst, or an administrator.
There are many diverse options for IT professionals. - Financial Services
Due to the obvious career path and dependable income, financial services are alluring to many military spouses. More than half of military spouses in the financial services industry can see a clear path for upward mobility in their careers.
Jobs and roles in financial services typically encompass claims adjusting, credit analyzing, bank telling, accounting, project management, and other forms of financial and fiscal analysis.
Financial service professions are about statistical procedures, objective findings, and numerical data. This level of non-subjective analysis may be preferred among military minds who must often remove emotion and feeling in favor of reason and rationality.
Whether you’re a commercial banking lead or a small bank teller, the industry’s competitive compensation specifically attracts military spouses and members far and wide. - Defense Contracting
Defense contracting is a natural fit for individuals accustomed to the military lifestyle. With scheduling and hours that are flexible and compensation that is very competitive, defense contracting is a good choice for any military spouse. Defense contractors can be analysts, engineers, architects, and more. - Community Services
These services are the most popular among older military spouses. With less stress than other career fields and more options for work-life balance, community services may be the ideal choice for military spouses looking to help others in a relaxed, peaceful way.
Military spouses who engage in this profession must be motivated, inspired, and passionate about their work.
Career paths in this industry include administrative support, ecclesiastical and other religious services, instructional and teaching professions, management services, and other auxiliary support roles. - Retail & Customer-Centered Service
Customer service ranks in the top ten for a reason. Retail and customer service career paths are preferred among military spouses for their team-oriented work environment, strategic options, and flexible nature. In fact, more than one-third of military spouses rate flexibility as their top job concern.
Although the compensation is not always lucrative, a spouse in a customer service representative role may enjoy working alongside others, as well as having face-to-face interactions daily.
Roles in this industry include customer service representative jobs, cashier work, and sales positions. These are just a few potential job functions that may appeal to potential customer service workers. - Manufacturing
Manufacturing is a time-tested industry, long seen as forming the backbone of what makes this country unique. In this industry, the compensation can be strong, and the flexibility can be attractive. There are also many opportunities to create and innovate, making related jobs more than endless toil and elbow grease.
The jobs in the manufacturing industry may include welding, machine work, production management, operations, and quality control.
Overall, there are many jobs that military spouses can enjoy for full-time or part-time income. Although some of these jobs may be time-consuming, many spouses can design their distinct schedules, freeing up time to also invest in other opportunities.
This is where real estate passive income can come into play.
Passive Income for Military Families
Whether you’re seeking to invest through multifamily syndication, looking to buy and hold apartment rentals, or exploring other productive passive income streams, you deserve a professional at your side.
We understand the unique struggle of being in the military. We also understand the complexity, confusion, and overwhelming anxiety when considering potential jobs and careers.
Maybe you want to be a virtual assistant. Perhaps you’d like to work in software development or banking. Maybe you even have a particular interest in a career as a dental hygienist.
Whether you want to go into one career full-time or do it part-time while enjoying passive income investments, your preference is our priority.
At Pinto Capital Investments, we understand the unique struggle military spouses face every single day. The last thing military spouses want is to experience the same lack of mobility, onerous leadership, and pressing time constraints as those in the military do.
The truth is, you can change this, and you can change it in a much simpler way than you may think.
Our expertise has allowed us to bring many clients into profitable passive syndicate investments. By diversifying their portfolio with real estate assets, our clients have backed their retirement accounts with long-term, productive, and protective income streams.
The ex-military professionals of Pinto Capital have the strategy down pat.
Through a high-return, minimal-risk, low-management approach, we can help any military member or military family enjoy the generative, long-term income they deserve.
Contact our expert investment professionals today and let’s make you the next success story.
