JJ Montanaro

Joseph "JJ" Montanaro is a certified financial planner professional (CFP^®). He is a native of Kansas City, Missouri, and earned his bachelor’s degree from the United States Military Academy, West Point, New York. He also holds a master’s degree in personal financial planning from Kansas State. JJ is a director on the USAA Military Advocacy team.

Montanaro has more than 25 years of experience in the financial services industry. He is a regular contributor to Military.com and also writes monthly personal finance columns for American Legion and Military Spouse magazines. Before entering the financial services industry, he served in the Army for six years on active duty, and in 2009, he retired as a lieutenant colonel in the Army Reserve.

Latest Articles

4 Secrets to Retiring Happy from Military.com’s Longtime Financial Columnist JJ Montanaro

A great retirement isn’t just about having enough money. It’s about knowing what you’ll do with your time, who you’ll spend...

Illustration of the word RETIREMENT painted on a long road.

Ramp Up for Retirement Now – Because Later Never Comes

The key to a successful retirement isn’t just saving. Instead, setting up an income plan, planning for contingencies and...

Ominous dark coloring in an illustration of a downward chart suggests a negative trend.

Why September's Typical Stock Slump Shouldn't Scare You

The “September Effect” makes for catchy headlines, but it shouldn’t dictate your financial behavior.

School supplies surround a blue piggy bank.

Back to School Is a Good Time to Teach Kids Financial Readiness

The small, everyday choices you make teach your kids how to think about money, spend wisely, save for the future and talk...

4 Midyear Money Moves for a December to Remember

Whether your big goal is paying off debt, building your emergency fund or just surviving a few days of theme park madness...

A stack of U.S. $100 bills on top of a generic calendar page.

Midyear Financial Tuneup for Military Families: Your Money Needs Regular Care Too

If July had a motto, it could look something like this: "Still time to make this year awesome."

A US $100 bill and the US flag meld in a photo illustration.

Declare Your Financial Independence: A Fourth of July Guide to Freedom

Just like our nation's founders took bold action to secure a better future, we can take a few deliberate steps to build...

In an atrium with model airplanes and paratroopers hanging from a long skylight, military retirees talk to people at tables.

Here's How to Maximize VA Benefits over Your Lifetime

VA benefits can play a critical role in a veteran's financial plan. Here's a three-tiered look at how to make the most of...

Three US $100 bills stick up from the sand on a beach.

Be Financially Smarter by Fall with This Summer Reading List

Whether you're a seasoned investor or just getting started on your financial journey, these books provide valuable insights...

A mix of different U.S. bills are jumbled around a desktop with a brass-colored compass.

Understanding Military Pay: A Key to Building Your Financial Future

Let's take a look at how military pay works, the built-in advantages it offers and how you can use it to pay down debt, save...

house cutout under paper umbrella in sand

Summer Insurance Checkup: Protecting Your Fun (and Your Wallet)

Summer should be about fun, relaxation and making great memories, not financial stress. A little insurance review before the...

A toy moving truck is on top of scattered U.S. $100 bills.

PCS Season Survival Guide: Financial Tips for Military Families on the Move

Here are four steps to help make your PCS smoother, smarter and less financially frustrating.

Military Spouses: The Unsung CFOs of Military Families

Let’s face it: Behind nearly every financially sound military family is a military spouse juggling more spreadsheets (and...

The words "estate planning" appear in black letters sideways on lined notebook papers, on a wood desktop surrounded by office items and coffee.

Wills and More: These Are the Legal Documents Every Military Household Needs

Estate planning isn’t just about protecting your assets; it’s about protecting your family from unnecessary stress and...

A hand holding a pen appears to be checking items on a list amid graphic icons representing forms of insurance.

Preparing for the Worst: 5 Steps to Review and Update Insurance Policies for Financial Security

The key to staying protected is making insurance reviews a regular part of your financial routine -- because the last thing...

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Most Popular Military News

Rep. Michael Lawler, R-N.Y., left, confronts House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y.

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As the federal government shutdown enters a second week, there’s no discernible endgame in sight.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) questions U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi as she testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Hart Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C.

Trump Targets Blumenthal, Calling for Investigation into Senator's Vietnam Service Claims

President Donald Trump is targeting U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal again after Connecticut’s senior U.S. senator grilled U.S...

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At 50, He Survived Marine Boot Camp — Then Fought at Peleliu and Okinawa

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When The Government Can Afford Everything Except The Essentials

Every shutdown forces the government to decide what counts as “essential.” Air traffic controllers and TSA agents fall into...

Troops Will Miss Paychecks Next Week Without Action on the Government Shutdown

The federal government shutdown is raising anxiety levels among service members and their families, because those in uniform...

Latest Military Videos

Mothers and Wives of Fallen Ukrainian Soldiers Plant Trees to Remember Their Sacrifice

Wives and mothers of Ukrainian soldiers who died in the fight against Russia planted trees in a public park...

Destruction in Gaza Visible from Southern Israel

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Russia Targets Kyiv with Drones, Killing 3 and Wounding 29

Russia attacked Ukraine with 101 drones over Saturday night into Sunday, according to Ukraine’s air force, of which 90...

Master Class: Resume Writing Workshop for Military Members & Spouses

Learn how to translate your military experience into a results-driven resume that speaks to civilian employers. Walk away with...

Investigations and Features

In One of the Marines' Most Iconic Jobs, a Stunning Pattern of Suicide

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Army Capt. Jeremy Kuykendall and his wife Kate, cradle their daughter

Unsupervised: Military Child Care Centers Slow to Report Abuse with Little Oversight

A Military.com investigation into military day care centers revealed that service branch rules generally prioritize...

Army News

Florencio Davila. His family made sure that his final wish was honored with the help of the local community. (Submitted photo)

Fort Hood Steps In After Shutdown Halts WWII Veteran’s Military Funeral

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Lauri Törni served as an SS-Untersturmführer in the Waffen-SS near the end of World War II, after Finland's armistice with the Soviet Union forced him to seek other ways to continue fighting against Soviet forces. (Wikimedia Commons)

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A white granite headstone in Section 60 of Arlington National Cemetery bears a name that sounds American: Larry Allan Thorne...

Navy News

In this July 6, 2020, file photo provided by U.S. Navy, the USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76, front) and USS Nimitz (CVN 68, rear) Carrier Strike Groups sail together in formation, in the South China Sea. (Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Jason Tarleton/U.S. Navy via AP, File)

Crews Are Safe Following Two Navy Crashes

Two Navy aircraft from the USS Nimitz crashed minutes apart in the South China Sea.

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President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington.

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Shield AI's newly unveiled X-BAT autonomous fighter jets. The VTOL drones are designed to fly combat missions alongside crewed aircraft as part of the Air Force's Collaborative Combat Aircraft program. (Shield AI)

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U.S. Air Force U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Rachel Harmon and Master Sgt. Tom Anderson, weapons loaders assigned to the 174th Attack Wing, checks an inert GBU 12 laser guided missile on an MQ-9 Reaper at Springfield-Beckley Air National Guard Base in Springfield, Ohio.

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Marine Corps News

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Coast Guard News

Coast Guardsmen stand watch behind a barrier at Coast Guard Base Alameda.

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No Coast Guard personnel were hurt.

The East Oakland entrance to the military installation — which marks the only way on or off of the island by car or truck — became the site of protests Thursday when federal agents arrived in the Bay Area as part of the next phase of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. (Kyle Martin)

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