Kate Horrell

Kate Horrell is an Accredited Financial Counselor®, Chartered Financial Consultant®, and Military Qualified Financial Planner® who helps the military community make the most of their pay and benefits. With more than 15 years working with thousands of military families, she helps currently serving, retired and veteran families.

She has been married to a now-retired sailor for 32 years, corralling four girls and two cats across four OCONUS tours and a handful of homes in the U.S. She’s navigated landlording, Overseas Housing Allowances, the Post-9/11 GI Bill, the Survivor Benefit Plan decision, and transition to civilian life.

Latest Articles

Temporary signs in the window of a tax office.

When Do Military Service Members, Spouses Need to File Taxes in 2 States?

Protections Under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act can simplify your tax requirements and quite possibly save you money...

Understanding All the Deductions on Your 2026 Military Leave and Earnings Statements

Understanding what deductions are coming out of your pay is key to knowing where all your money is going. More importantly...

Should You Let the Military Set Aside Allotments from Your Pay?

Can a military allotment help you manage your money? Probably. Is it the right tool for you? That depends.

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Judah Rice, a honor guardsman assigned to the 628th Air Base Wing, gives a facing movement command during military honors simulation for an active-duty funeral, Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina.

Monthly Benefits for Survivors of Fallen Active-Duty Service Members

When combined, the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) and Dependency and Indemnity Compensation (DIC) can offer a steady stream of...

Airmen from the U.S. Air Force Honor Guard and a bugler from the U.S. Air Force Band’s Ceremonial Brass conduct military funeral honors for U.S. Air Force Capt. Wade Holmes in Section 57, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia.

Lump-Sum Benefits for Survivors of Active-Duty Military Members

Even military families often don’t know what benefits are available to the surviving family of an active-duty service member.

Two airmen carry a heavy dog crate between them.

The Military's New Pet Transportation Policy: What It Means to You

Military service members will be reimbursed for some of the costs of moving one dog or cat when moving on permanent change of...

4 Ways to Get Your Money Back When Military Orders Cancel Travel Plans

If military orders, or world events have canceled your travel plans, here's how you might be able to get a refund

US $100 bills, bent into four sections resembling paper airplanes or birds, fly in a V through the blue sky.

Should You Borrow from Your TSP Account?

Financial experts don’t recommend taking out loans against retirement accounts such as the military’s Thrift Savings Plan...

Six men and women, most in uniform, stand in a row in front of an American flag draped as a backdrop.

4 Things 'Gray Area' Reservists Need to Do When They Turn 60

Finally receiving that hard-earned military retirement pay at age 60 is a big deal, and you definitely want to get that...

MILITARY STAR Card Questions & Answers

The MILITARY STAR Card is an in-store credit card for qualified, authorized military exchange patrons.

A mans arms are pictured taping shut a cardboard moving box.

Personally Procured PCS Moves Are Changing. Here’s What You Need to Know.

If you’re considering a personally procured move (PPM) this year, how can you keep any potential out-of-pocket costs as low...

An orange and black lawn mower pictured from above crossing green grass.

Can I Pack This? The Items You Should and Shouldn't Ship with Your Household Goods This PCS Season

Knowing what can and can’t be shipped, and what probably shouldn't be shipped, can make your move easier.

How to Spend the Money Left in Your DoD Health FSA by Dec. 31

You have plenty of ways to spend DoD Health Care Flexible Spending Account money on eligible expenses. Here are some...

A commissary worker puts pasta on a shelf.

5 Spending Strategies to Fight Bill Creep From Inflation

How do you maintain a spending plan when your bills are creeping up each month?

An arm places a can of oatmeal on a shelf.

Start Preparing for the Next Government Shutdown Now, Before It’s Too Late

Having a plan can make a pay or benefits disruption an inconvenience instead of an emergency.

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Most Popular Military News

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer Eric Slover receives a Medal of Honor during the State of the Union Address, Feb. 24, 2026 (AP Photo/Alex Brandon).

Two Heroes, Two Medals of Honor: Inside Trump’s State of the Union Tribute

Trump awarded two Medals of Honor during his State of the Union — one to a wounded helicopter pilot, another to a 100-year...

An F/A-18E Super Hornet streaks across an aircraft carrier flight deck.

Amid Biggest US Military Buildup Since 2003, What Service Members and Families Need to Do Right Now

Nobody knows yet whether the current buildup will result in a strike, a deal or a prolonged standoff. What you can control is...

Repainted in USAF markings and insignia, the MiG-15b is under guard and awaiting flight-testing at Okinawa. (Wikimedia Commons)

The US Failed to Capture a MiG-15. Then a North Korean Defector Delivered One

A secret US operation spent months trying to obtain a Soviet MiG-15 during the Korean War. A North Korean defector who never...

Admiral William J. Fallon attending Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa Change of Command ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti 8 Feb., 2008 (U.S. Navy Photo)

25 Years After 9/11: Former CENTCOM Commander’s Strategic Warning on What America Still Gets Wrong

The only U.S. officer to lead PACOM and CENTCOM warns in his memoir that America chases short-term wins over strategy—risking...

Why You Didn’t Get the Job: Understanding How Companies Hire

In today’s turbulent, unpredictable and frustrating hiring market, job-seekers are seemingly doing everything right and...

Latest Military Videos

US Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Docked on Greek Island of Crete

US aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford docked at naval base on Greek island of Crete.

Trump Awards a Coast Guard Member with a Medal for Rescuing Flood Victims

Trump awards a U.S. Coast Guard member with a medal for rescuing Texas flood victims.

First Lady Presents Medal of Honor to 100-Year-Old Veteran

First lady presents Medal of Honor to 100-year-old veteran.

Trump Uses State of the Union to Convince Voters that US Is 'Winning So Much'

Trump uses longest-ever State of the Union to try to convince voters that US is 'winning so much'.

Investigations and Features

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

Marine Corps drill instructors are a national symbol of discipline. But for some, their imposing persona belies a dark...

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

Two Heroes, Two Medals of Honor: Inside Trump’s State of the Union Tribute

Trump awarded two Medals of Honor during his State of the Union — one to a wounded helicopter pilot, another to a 100-year...

Soldiers compete on the Best Operator Lane during the U.S. Army Best Drone Warfighter Competition in Huntsville, Ala. on Feb. 18, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Aaron Troutman)

Army's Inaugural Drone Awards Competition Draws 200-Plus Participants

"Unmanned systems are no longer experimental but decisive capabilities on today’s battlefield," a drone expert told Military...

Navy News

A cleric talks on his phone as he walks in front of domestically-built missiles during an annual rally marking 1979 Islamic Revolution at the Azadi, or Freedom, square in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Feb. 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iran Says Deal ‘Within Reach’ as Talks Resume and US, Israel Brace for Uncertainty

Iran says a nuclear deal with the United States is within reach as indirect talks resume in Oman and Geneva, even as...

Thanks But No Thanks: Trump’s Hospital Ship Plan Provokes Defense of Greenland Health Care System

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would deploy a hospital ship to Greenland, alleging that many people there are sick and...

Air Force News

Clouds form over a U.S. Air Force E-3 Sentry aircraft assigned to the 552nd Air Control Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, at Joint Base San Antonio-Kelly Field Annex, Texas, Aug. 29, 2022. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Preston Cherry)

NATO's Secret Aircraft Acquisition Process After Boeing E-7 Wedgetail Fallout

The U.S. pulled out of NATO negotiations. Documents may show NATO's new line of aircraft acquisition.

US Military Plane Hits Road Barrier During Philippine Training, Injuring 5 Personnel

A United States military plane carrying five U.S. personnel has hit a concrete fence while attempting to take off from a road...

Space Force News

A Vulcan rocket carrying the USSF-87 mission successfully launches from Space Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Feb. 12, 2026. (U.S. Space Force photo by Staff Sergeant Samuel Becker)

The Ultimate High Ground: Space in US Defense Strategy

The 2026 Defense Strategy elevates space as the new high ground. In an exclusive interview, Stephen Kitay explains how AI and...

POLARIS at NATO Exercise REPMUS 25 in October 2025. POLARIS is a small, gimballed free space optical communication solution for naval vessels and unmanned surface vessels. (Photo source: NATO DIANA, courtesy of Astrolight)

Russian Satellite Activity Exposes Gaps in Satellite Communications Security

Military.com spoke with Astrolight CEO Laurynas Mačiulis on why laser-based optical communications offer a resilient...

Marine Corps News

Ross F. Gray, a Marine from Alabama, earned the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions on Iwo Jima. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Marine Who Crossed a Minefield Unarmed to Wipe Out Japanese Defenses on Iwo Jima

Sgt. Ross F. Gray carried a satchel charge though a minefield while under heavy Japanese fire. What followed became one of...

Football exhibit at the National Museum of the Marine Corps (Photo by Robert Billard, Military.com)

Marine Corps Museum Unveils Football Exhibit: Honoring a Winning Legacy

From wartime roots to the gridiron: Uncover the hidden history of Marine Corps football, where Leathernecks produced 21 NFL...

Coast Guard News

The U.S. Coast Guard and Department of Homeland Security partner agencies interdict a suspected maritime smuggling vessel during coordinated operations south of San Clemente Island

Coast Guard Intercepts 6 Vessels, Apprehends 82 Suspected Migrants

Six vessels suspected of maritime smuggling and transporting a total of 82 migrants were intercepted in separate incidents, U...

A Department of Homeland Security building sign in Washington.

What to Know About the Homeland Security Shutdown

The vast majority of employees at the Secret Service and U.S. Coast Guard will continue their work, though they could also...