The Fiscal Foxhole – Episode 12: Financial Lessons in Christmas Movies

Hosts: Rob Moore & Omen Quelvog

Published: December 10, 2025

🎙️ Episode Highlights

• Opening Banter:
  • Reflections on service, military retirement, and the “advent calendar” of C&P appointments.
  • Home repair stories—drywall, plumbing, and the aches that come with DIY projects.
• Listener Shout-Out:
  • Thanks to listeners for recent reviews.
  • Call to action: Please leave a review and share the podcast!
• News Headline:
  • Kiplinger’s “Snowbirds: Avoid These Three Sneaky Insurance Issues.”
  • Key tip: If your home is left unoccupied for 30+ days, your insurance may not cover damage.
  • Practical advice: Have someone check your home regularly, insulate pipes, and consider smart home cameras for security.
• Top 10 Christmas Movies – Snake Draft Style:
  • Each host picks five movies with a financial lesson.
  • Highlights include:
    • It’s a Wonderful Life: Money means nothing without community; the power of the money multiplier.
    • The Grinch: Don’t confuse materialism with happiness; value experiences and service.
    • Elf: Family over career; be true to yourself.
    • Home Alone: Protect against financial “break-ins”—credit monitoring, cybersecurity, insurance, and emergency funds.
    • A Christmas Carol: Generosity and the true meaning of wealth.
    • The Santa Claus: Prepare for unexpected career transitions; importance of estate planning.
    • Die Hard: Physical and financial security; diversify where you keep assets.
    • National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation: Don’t rely on bonuses; plan for windfalls.
    • 8-Bit Christmas: Delayed gratification builds discipline; service over material gifts.
    • Arthur Christmas: Retirement transitions; adapt your financial plan to new technology.
• Trivia Segment:
  • Fun facts about holiday movies and their box office success.
• Off-Duty Story:
  • Scams and text message fraud—how to spot and avoid them.

Helpful links

• Email FiscalFoxhole@gmail.com with questions, feedback, or comments.
• Snowbirds: Avoid These 3 Sneaky Insurance Issues
• Book a meeting with Omen: https://www.4myndr.com/connect
• Book a meeting with Rob: https://www.prosperwitheverman.com/contact

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Consult a qualified professional for advice tailored to your situation.

Hosts: Rob Moore & Omen Quelvog

Release Date: December 3, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode kicks off with reflections on recent tax-focused episodes and a humorous “mea culpa” about financial jargon. The hosts then dive into a timely headline about federal employee health benefits, followed by a deep listener question on planning civilian income after military service. The show wraps up with a festive debate on the top Christmas movies.

Headlines

• FEHB Premium Spike Alert: Over 30,000 federal employees may face a >200% premium increase next year due to eight discontinued health plans. If affected, take action before open season ends December 8th to avoid auto-enrollment in a costly plan.

Listener Question: Planning Civilian Income After Military Service

Question from Traver: How can soon-to-be separating service members plan for civilian income that maintains or exceeds their current active duty military income, considering the loss of tax protections and entitlements?

Discussion Highlights:

• Military pay includes untaxed benefits (BAH, BAS) that boost net income.
• Civilian equivalents require higher gross pay to match military take-home.
• State taxes, cost of living, and VA disability can dramatically affect the calculation.
• Online calculators (like Charles Schwab’s) are a good starting point, but miss key variables.
• Track your expenses now to understand your true standard of living.
• Practice “retirement dry runs” to test your budget before separation.
• Use calculators, but sanity-check results and adjust for your unique situation.

Off Duty: Top 5 Christmas Movies (and Most Overrated)

Rob & Omen share their definitive Christmas movie rankings, including classics and new favorites, plus their picks for most overrated holiday film.

Connect & Subscribe

• Charles Schwab Military vs Civilian Pay Calculator
• Dinkytown tax calculator
• Send your questions: fiscalfoxhole@gmail.com
• Book a meeting with Omen
• Book a meeting with Rob
• Learn more about MFAA
• Subscribe & share: If you enjoyed the episode, please subscribe and share The Fiscal Foxhole with others!

Disclaimer: Rob Moore and Omen Quelvog are registered investment advisor representatives. This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Nothing here should be taken as specific investment, legal, or tax advice. Please consult a qualified professional for guidance tailored to your situation.

The Fiscal Foxhole – Roth Conversions: Tax Nerdery Finale

Hosts: Rob Moore & Omen Quelvog

Release Date: November 26th,, 2025

Episode Summary

In this jam-packed episode, Rob and Omen celebrate the Marine Corps birthday, share Thanksgiving plans, and dive deep into two hot financial topics: the proposed 50-year mortgage and Roth conversions. They break down the math, the myths, and the practical strategies for listeners navigating today’s housing market and retirement planning.

Key Topics & Segments

1. Celebrations & Listener Questions

• Marine Corps birthday shoutout.
• Thanksgiving plans and family traditions.
• Announcement: First listener question received! Tune in next episode for answers.

2. Headline: The 50-Year Mortgage Gambit

• The math behind longer-term loans: Lower monthly payments, but nearly double the lifetime interest.
• Why stretching loan terms doesn’t solve housing affordability—and could inflate prices further.

3. Roth Conversions:

• Roth vs. Tax-Deferred: Quick refresher on the differences..
• Roth conversions explained: Moving money from tax-deferred to Roth, paying taxes now for future tax-free growth.
• Timing matters: Low-income years, deployments, and the “retirement valley” are prime opportunities.
• Special considerations for military families and surviving spouses (“widow’s tax”).

4. Practical Roth Conversion Strategies

• Partial conversions: Fill up your tax bracket year by year.
• Planning for tax impacts: Always have cash on hand to pay conversion taxes—don’t use IRA funds if under 59½.

5. Fun Tax Facts

• Molasses Act of 1733: Rum trade and sneaky taxes.
• Townshend Act of 1767: 63 types of paper taxed!
• Estate tax for the Navy (1797–1802): Funding battleships with document stamps.

6. Trivia Challenge

• Mortgage history: What was the required down payment in 1782?

7. Off Duty: Dog Stories & Life Updates

• Rob and Omen share updates on their dogs, including surgery, recovery, and puppy growth.

Connect & Subscribe

• Questions for the show? Email: fiscalfoxhole@gmail.com
• Book an appointment with Omen
• Book and appointment with Rob
• Enjoyed the episode? Please subscribe, write a review, and share The Fiscal Foxhole with friends!

Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Rob Moore and Omen Quelvog are registered investment advisor representatives, but are not your advisors. Nothing in this episode should be taken as specific investment, legal, or tax advice. Please consult a qualified professional for guidance tailored to your individual circumstances.