Welcome to Part 3 of our Financial Readiness series on MilSpouse Transition Conversations!
In this episode, host Anna Larson sits down with Sarah Roder, CFEI®, Director of Partnerships and Member Engagement at Armed Forces Mutual, to tackle two of the most important (and often most confusing) decisions in military transition—life insurance and the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).
Sarah explains what happens when SGLI coverage ends, the differences between term and whole life insurance, how VGLI fits in, and what spouses need to know about SBP before signing.
This conversation gives you the foundational knowledge and key questions to ask so you can make confident choices that protect your family long after active duty.
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Meet our Guest
Sarah Roder, Director of Partnerships and Member Engagement, Armed Forces Mutual
Sarah Roder is a Certified Financial Educator Instructor and the Director of Partnerships and Member Engagement at AFM. Sarah previously served AFM as the Senior Veterans Affairs Coordinator in Reston, VA., as the SpouseLink ambassador for the Camp Lejeune area, and as a Relationship Manager for AFM Wealth Management and Trust.
Sarah is a military spouse and enjoys spending her time outdoors and helping others.
Graduating from Auburn University with a Health and Hospital Administration degree and minor in business, she loves first and foremost helping others.
The Conversation Topics
- What happens to SGLI when you leave active duty
- Basics of life insurance: term vs whole life
- VGLI: what it is, who it’s for, and why it can get expensive
- Why military spouses also need their own life insurance
- How VA disability ratings connect to life insurance and financial planning
- TRICARE changes at retirement or separation
- Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP): how it works, costs, and benefits
- Pros and cons of SBP compared to life insurance
- Key considerations for families when deciding on SBP or other coverage
- Why both spouses must sign off on SBP elections
Things We Talked About in This Episode
Get the details on the Veterans Group Life Insurance (VGLI) available only for the servicemember. Learn about the eligibility requirements, insurance benefits, cost, and beneficiaries so you can compare it with other life insurance providers to see what is the best option for your family.
Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) is one of the most important decisions for military families. From here, you can get information about the base amount, costs and benefits, stopping, starting, or paid up SBP, how it integrates with VA benefits and DIC, as well as a worksheet to help calculate.
You can find all the Survivor Benefit Plan financial analysis tools here.
Connect with our Guests
Here is how to contact our guest:
Website: https://life.aafmaa.com/financial-readiness
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-bumgardner-roder/
