As a fiduciary financial advisor in Evans, Holland Capital helps Army officers retiring after 20 or more years decide on the Survivor Benefit Plan and fit retired pay into the rest of their household savings. Most planning happens by video and phone, and we meet in person by appointment at a Regus office in downtown Augusta, about 20 minutes away.
Twenty years of service. One survivor decision.
Evans is a Columbia County suburb of Augusta, a short drive from Fort Gordon. About 16% of adults in Evans are veterans, and more than a third of households have retirement income.
If you are retiring from the Army and settling in Evans, you make your initial Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) election as part of the retirement process, before retired pay begins. SBP can continue part of your retired pay to a surviving spouse. It also has a monthly cost, and the election generally cannot be changed freely after retirement.
Before you decide, ask two questions of anyone advising you: are you a fiduciary, and how are you paid?
How the Survivor Benefit Plan Works
SBP pays a monthly annuity to a surviving spouse, generally 55% of the base amount you choose. You pay for it through a deduction from your retired pay. If you are married and choose less than full spouse coverage, your spouse generally must give written, notarized consent.
We compare SBP with other ways to protect your spouse, such as life insurance and your savings.
Fitting Retired Pay into the Plan
Military retired pay generally receives annual cost of living adjustments. We start with what it covers, then decide how your TSP and other savings fill the rest.
For a broader overview, read our military retirement financial planning guide.
Health Coverage After Active Duty
Retiring from active duty changes your TRICARE options, and you generally need to enroll in a retiree plan to keep coverage. If you or your spouse take a civilian job, that employer’s health plan could be another choice. Its premiums go into your monthly budget.
Taxes and Investments
How Georgia taxes military retired pay is part of the plan. We check the current state rule before your pay starts.
Your TSP, IRAs and any taxable accounts are then managed together. Our investment management handles the accounts you choose to move to us.
How We Work with Clients in Evans
Holland Capital Management is an independent registered investment adviser and a fiduciary. M. Chad Holland, CFA, CFP® works directly with clients and is responsible for the planning and advice.
Bring a recent LES, the retired pay estimate from the Army, your TSP balance and details on any life insurance either of you holds.
You leave with a written plan that compares your SBP choices and shows how retired pay and savings cover your spending.
The first conversation is free. If there is work worth doing after that, we will define the scope and cost before you decide whether to move forward.
Our offices are in Charlotte, North Carolina and Winter Park, Florida. We work with clients in Evans primarily by video or phone. When an in-person meeting makes sense, we meet by appointment at the Regus center at 823 Broad Street in downtown Augusta.
We work with clients throughout Georgia. You can see the other Georgia communities we serve here.
Our what we do page explains how a planning engagement works.
RETIREMENT ENGINEERING™
The Order Matters
Five retirement decisions and why timing matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I Elect the Survivor Benefit Plan?
It depends on your spouse’s age and health, your other savings and any life insurance you hold. We compare the options with your numbers so you can decide.
Why Should a Retiring Army Officer Use a Fiduciary Financial Advisor?
Holland Capital acts as a fiduciary when providing financial planning and investment advice. For a retiring officer, that means advice on SBP, retired pay and savings together, with your interests first.
If your TSP moves to an account we manage, our fee increases. We tell you that before you decide.
Is There a Place to Meet Near Evans?
Yes. We meet by appointment at the Regus office on Broad Street in downtown Augusta.
A video call saves the drive for shorter check-ins.
Photo: Abdura99 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped.
