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

George Foster and a soldier examining Hideki Tojo for his new set of dentures.

This Navy Dentist Engraved 'Remember Pearl Harbor' on Hideki Tojo's Dentures

For roughly three months in 1946 and 1947, the man who approved the attack on Pearl Harbor walked around Sugamo Prison with...

President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama host Tuskegee Airmen at a showing of the movie “Red Tails” at the White House. Cicero Satterfield is in the second row, far right. White House photo. Source: DVIDS

Black History Month Turns 100

Black History Month highlights Black servicemembers whose courage shaped the military despite segregation and discrimination.

Navy Chaplain Cmdr. Jason M. Constantine leads a prayer during Easter vigil in the chapel of amphibious assault ship USS Makin Island (LHD 8), April 16, 2022. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class Nadia Lund)

DoW Christian Service Draws Dozens of Complaints from Members, Contractors

One contractor told Military.com that the email invite was "stark, depressing, almost threatening."

Official U.S.M.C. portrait of PFC. Dan Bullock. He altered his birth certificate to appear older and enlisted in the Marines at 14 -years-old. he died in combat at the age of 15 while acting as an ammunition runner for his unit which was under attack. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Youngest American Killed in Vietnam Enlisted in the Marines at 14

PFC Dan Bullock became the youngest American service member killed in the Vietnam War after forging his birth certificate to...

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 Troops Evacuate Major Military Base in Northeast Syria

US troops evacuate major military base in northeast Syria.

Photos Show Aircraft Carrier USS Gerald R. Ford Docked on Greek Island

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

Ukrainians in Kyiv Mourn Four Years of War

Ukrainians in Kyiv mourn four years of war on the anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.

North Korea Congress Reelects Kim Jong Un as Party Chief, Again

North Korea congress reelects Kim Jong Un as party chief, again.

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

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...

The 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) color guard presents the colors during the official ceremony of the 78th year commemoration of Operation Market Garden at Sint-Oedenrode, Netherlands, Sept. 18, 2022. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Angelo Mejia)

Did Color Guard Appearance at National Religious Conference Break Protocol?

An Army spokesperson told Military.com the event was "nonpartisan," though Defense Secretary Hegseth attacked previous...

Navy News

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...

Naval Education and Training Command (NETC) honors its 2025 Military Instructors of the Year (Austen McClain/NETC).

Military Instructors of the Year Recognized for ‘Highest Standards of Leadership’

NETC honored its 2025 Military Instructors of the Year in Pensacola, recognizing five Navy and Marine Corps leaders chosen...

Air Force News

Energy Secretary Chris Wright, center, and Under Secretary of Defense Michael Duffey,

US Military Airlifts Small Reactor as Trump Pushes to Quickly Deploy Nuclear Power

The nearly 700-mile flight was hailed as a breakthrough for U.S. efforts to fast-track commercial licensing for microreactors...

DoW Christian Service Draws Dozens of Complaints from Members, Contractors

One contractor told Military.com that the email invite was "stark, depressing, almost threatening."

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

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...

More than 12,750 pounds of cocaine and marijuana are stacked on pallets aboard USCGC Seneca (WMEC 906) to be offloaded at Port Everglades in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Sept. 30, 2025. Seneca is a Famous Class medium endurance cutter homeported in Portsmouth, Virginia. (U.S Coast Guard photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Diana Sherbs)

Coast Guard Seizes 200,000 Pounds of Cocaine in Six Months in Pacific Ocean

Operation Pacific Viper, which began in August, is getting rave reviews from federal officials.