Today we’d like to introduce you to Jen Amos.
Jen, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Holding Down the Fort by US VetWealth Podcast was inspired by my team’s desire to understand why there was a disconnect between military spouses and their understanding of the Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP).
“The Survivor Benefit Plan is a Department of Defense-sponsored and subsidized program that provides up to 55 percent of a service member’s retired pay to an eligible beneficiary upon the death of the member,” according to the Department of Defense website. At US VetWealth, we educate military retirees on alternative solutions that can potentially protect more than 55 percent of a service member’s retired pay, offer more outcomes (in addition to a death benefit), an opportunity to leave a legacy, and much more.
When military retirees are in search of an alternative that better aligns with their post-military financial goals, they often discover us online. Upon learning about the available solutions in the private market, they recognize it as a logical and sound decision. However, we have found this decision hard to translate to discussions at the kitchen table.
In standard cases, the eligible beneficiary to the SBP is the military spouse, in which it’s their responsibility to sign and notarize paperwork should they decline the benefit. But with little time to make a confident and informed decision in the busyness of military transition, we have found that most spouses prefer to keep the benefit. This is often disappointing for my team at US VetWealth because we believe that most of our career military families deserve better.
Before I could suggest to my team how we can speak to military spouses about the SBP, it was important for me to start by “seeking to understand before being understood.” I was especially curious as I had been removed from the military community for over 20 years.
I was born and raised as a military kid to immigrant parents until the age of 10 when my father passed away during his service. With my unique experience of being raised in a military household to becoming a Gold Star family member, I felt that I could share a different perspective in helping our team bridge the gap between military spouses and their understanding of the SBP. When I started podcasting in the summer of 2019, little did I know that I was going to discover more than I had hoped.
For four years and six seasons of Holding Down the Fort by US VetWealth, I primarily focused on learning how to podcast, conduct market research for my company, and overall, getting a pulse of the military community today. I kept an open mind. I listened to anyone’s story that was connected to the military community or supported it. I also learned so much about myself along the way. I discovered my voice, I made incredible connections, and I found a sense of purpose in serving the community that I grew up in.
Season Six ended in Fall 2022. Since then, I’ve spent a lot of time working with US VetWealth. We’re proud to now be offering our free resource, Military Retirement Blueprint, and Scott R. Tucker’s newest book, Don’t Forget Your War Chest, which is available for purchase on Amazon.com or for free when you join https://militaryretirementblueprint.com/
During the off-season, I kept an open mind about potential partnerships, opportunities, and ideas with the intent of maintaining a sustainable show. Ultimately, I recognized that whatever I was going to do next had to align with the podcaster I am today, the kinds of stories I’m most interested in listening to now, and US VetWealth’s mission to help military retirees increase positive outcomes for their post-military life and financial future.
Then, it dawned on my husband and me that we could reconnect with our favorite non-profit that shares a similar vision with us: The Rosie Network (TRN). The mission of TRN is to strengthen military families through entrepreneurial programs and support services, empowering military spouses, transitioning service members, and veteran entrepreneurs toward financial stability and self-sufficiency. Before you know it, we all agreed that it was the right partnership and made an agreement to welcome TRN’s highly recommended military-connected entrepreneurs as special guests for Season 7. Our partnership was officially announced in Military Entrepreneur Magazine’s July 2023 edition: https://issuu.com/therosienetwork/docs/me_mag_2023/16
The show returns for Fall 2023. I’m most excited to highlight stories encouraging personal growth and financial awareness for our military community. Despite the military culture of “following orders,” I hope to remind our community that we can give ourselves permission to shape our lives and financial future.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Initially, I didn’t see any obstacles when I started the show. I only saw opportunities. It was a joyful adventure for me to launch a podcast with limited resources and knowledge. Even though I felt the imposter syndrome early on, I built the show anyway. At this point, I had been self-employed for about a decade. So, I had the mindset to fail forward, fail fast, and build as I go.
As soon as I discovered my love for podcasting, I became committed. I became self-taught, joined online podcasting communities, attended podcasting conferences, hired an editor, sought out guests, and filled up my calendar with interviews. I enjoyed hosting – still do. With my experience running a social media business, I knew basic graphic design and how to market the show. Within a year of running the show, I was awarded Media Professional of the Year by The Rosie Networks’ National Veteran and Military Spouse Entrepreneur Awards. The show has received five more award nominations since. My former co-host, Jenny Lynne Stroup, was voted the 2022 Naval Station Norfolk Armed Forces Insurance Military Spouse of the Year. We’ve been featured in multiple media outlets, including Military Entrepreneur (M.E.) Magazine, MOAA’s Never Stop Learning Podcast, Legacy Magazine, and U.S. Veterans Magazine. But because I primarily ran my show remotely, it took an invitation to host the first Military Spouse Employment Panel at Disney Institute’s Veterans Institute Summit at Disney World to recognize the true impact of my work.
I proudly share my success to impress upon you that if you love what you do, you only see opportunities, not obstacles.
If anything, I noticed that others around me had expectations regarding audio quality, profitability, and the overall operation of a podcast. Most of the perceived obstacles and challenges came from avid podcast listeners with minimal experience in running their own podcasts. I also found that the partnerships I chose eventually were unable to share the same commitment and joy I had for podcasting. So, I learned how to give grace, receive and filter through ideas suggested to me. I also had to be mindful of my bandwidth and what I’d enjoy sustaining.
As my podcast continued, I found myself wanting new sources of inspiration to sustain the show. I had outgrown the original reasons that I started. It was in early 2023 that I was ready to align my podcast and the stories I cover with US VetWealth’s latest objectives and client resources. We also discovered that we can create a win-win situation by partnering with The Rosie Network.
Overall, I would say that the biggest obstacles I observed were other people’s perceptions of what podcasting should be and how it should be approached. The biggest misconception about podcasting is that it should be designed to be a standalone business. However, I always considered my podcast as a marketing tool for US VetWealth. The second obstacle – more so a lesson – is to be open to new sources of inspiration to maintain a sustainable show. With new sources of inspiration comes new strategic partnerships. We’re actively recording for Season 7 at the time I’m answering your questions. What I love about partnering with The Rosie Network is how they have the infrastructure to vet guests for our show, while US VetWealth has the infrastructure to run a show. Not only do we share the same objectives of leading our military community toward self-sufficiency and financial stability, but we also complement each other in achieving these objectives.
As you know, we’re big fans of Holding Down the Fort by US VetWealth Podcast. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about the brand?
I’m a Co-Owner of the award-winning financial firm, US VetWealth. I mainly work behind the scenes with marketing and operations. I also like to consider myself my husband’s No. 1 advisor. For Season 7 of Holding Down the Fort by US VetWealth, we are fortunate to be collaborating with a non-profit that builds up military-connected entrepreneurs, The Rosie Network.
We’re shifting our show’s focus towards promoting purposeful living and financial awareness within the military community. My hope is to inspire listeners to not just “follow orders” but to aspire for more, think outside the box, and, as corny as it may sound, manifest their dreams. I hope that the stories we share will provide inspiration, a sense of possibility, and a catalyst for our military community’s self-empowerment.
This next season aims to reflect the values of US VetWealth and The Rosie Network. Together, we aim to be a valuable resource that encourages our listeners to shape their active duty and post-military lives in line with their aspirations. Even if you can’t name it or see it just yet, have faith in yourself that you can attain something different and possibly better for you.
Holding Down the Fort by US VetWealth has published 150+ episodes since the show began in the summer of 2019. We became an award-winning show within our first year of existence and have received five more award nominations since then. We’ve also been featured in multiple media outlets, Disney Institute’s Veterans Institute Summit being the most notable.
Unlike most military-focused podcast shows that are hosted by service members or military spouses, I host the show from the perspective of a Gold Star family member and a Veteran Spouse. For four years, I’ve hosted the show with an openness and curiosity about the military community today while also sharing my perspective.
Brand-wise, I’m incredibly proud to be highlighting a segment of the military community that values self-empowerment, self-education, and financial independence. It’s my pleasure and blessing to amplify stories for our listeners that encourage exploring all their options to make well-informed and confident decisions about their lives. I’m proud to be part of a team that encourages the military community to give ourselves permission to pursue our dreams, or at the least, start exploring what “who you want to be when you grow up” could mean for us.
What would you say has been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I’d say, as of right now, the most important lesson I have learned is to continuously practice gratitude, to recognize that life is a gift, and anything or anyone, or any time that has been given to me is a gift. With that, I’m grateful for everyone who’s been involved with my show: past guests, my former co-host, and my team. Everything, everyone, and every moment that has been put into this show has been an absolute gift. There’s no better way to express my gratitude than to sustain and grow the show.
In operating from a place of gratitude, I can recognize that I’m not entitled to anything. No one owes me anything; the world doesn’t revolve around me. It’s a constant reminder to operate from a place of humility and humbleness.
Gratitude also reminds me to pursue purpose over happiness because I believe that happiness can be a byproduct of living a purposeful life. It’s like a two-for-one deal. Can you really sustain long-term happiness without pursuing a purposeful life?
Another reason why I can operate from a place of gratitude is that I am a Christian and have an active spiritual practice. I live my life knowing that I am undeserving of God’s love and how He sent down His only Son to die for my sins. In my current Bible studies, the following verse stands out to me, “He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy.’ Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful in order to fulfill the covenant; he confirmed to your ancestors with an oath.” Deuteronomy 8:16-18 NLT. The Book of Deuteronomy is reminding me today that I, alone, am not the reason for my success. For this, I am grateful, and I rejoice.
If there’s any final lesson I want to impart to your readers, it’s that your purpose is in the present. There is purpose for you right now. Your purpose is not a destination; it’s not the next milestone. It’s right now. Everything you’re doing today feeds into your overall purpose.
Also, I’ve heard before that “if you’re not growing, you’re dying.” One of my favorite old-time books, called The Slight Edge by Jeff Olson, states that it’s easy to do the things you need to do to be successful. It’s also easy not to do the things you need to do to be successful. My parting lesson is to recognize that all the little things you’re doing today, every single step, every single action, every single thought, will manifest into something. Who you are, in this very moment, is a culmination of all the decisions and actions that you took to get you to where you are today. But if you don’t like how you got here, you can do all of the consistent little things to take you to where you want to be. So, I’d say that my final lesson and reminder, especially in the military community, is that you are actively in control of your life. And if you’re not, you’re allowing someone else to dictate that. You’re either building toward your dreams or someone else’s.
Following orders is absolutely necessary for your service in the military. But you won’t be in the military forever. Eventually, and inevitably, you’ll have to call the shots. The real question is, will you wait for that time to happen? Or are you going to recognize that you have individual agency and control of your life in this very moment — right now? If it took reading this interview to recognize the blessings, gifts, and opportunities that you already have, then I’m glad, and I’m hopeful for you. Lastly, I hope you’ll tune into Season 7 of Holding Down the Fort by US VetWealth in Fall 2023!
Pricing:
- FREE – Military Retirement Blueprint: https://usvetwealth.com/war-chest-learning-center-access-the-military-retirement-blueprint/
- FREE – Digital Copy of Scott R. Tucker’s book, Don’t Forget Your War Chest https://usvetwealth.com/war-chest-learning-center-access-the-military-retirement-blueprint/
- $22.99 for a Hardcover of Scott R. Tucker’s book, Don’t Forget Your War Chest https://usvetwealth.com/dont-forget-your-war-chest-book-page/
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