I was thrilled to have my longtime friend and colleague Kate Horrell join me on the podcast. We’ve known each other for years—through mastermind groups and the broader military financial community—and I’ve always admired the work she does to support military families through education and advocacy.

In this episode, Kate shares her incredible journey from being a new military spouse struggling with bills and benefits to becoming a trusted voice in the world of military personal finance. What started with checking out library books and reading Military Times columns turned into a career filled with purpose, creativity, and impact. She talks about reinventing herself with each PCS move, the moment she realized she was running an actual business, and how volunteering and community-building helped her gain clarity and confidence along the way.

We also dig into her personal experience with military transition and retirement, and what she learned through her husband’s retirement—even as someone who spent years preparing, Kate was surprised by how hard it really was. Lastly, we talk about her new book, College Planning for Military Families, which brings together everything she’s learned about navigating education benefits and financial aid in the military world—especially helpful if, like her, you're trying to send multiple kids to college on a tight budget.

This conversation is packed with honest reflections, laughs, and wisdom for anyone walking the line between military life and financial clarity. Whether you’re a spouse, service member, or fellow financial professional, I know you’ll walk away inspired by Kate’s story and encouraged to carve your own path.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katehorrell/

https://www.katehorrell.com/books/