Mini-Retirements and Sabbaticals for Military Veterans or Retirees with Justin Peters #189 | The Military Money Manual Video

Are Mini Retirements, Optionality, and Passionate Side Hustles Possible in the Military?

From seven-month sabbaticals to turning a hobby into a thriving side business, Justin Peters from the FI Minded Podcast shares how dialing back work can supercharge your career, creativity, and financial freedom.
Key Points & Topics

•

Part-time work and mini sabbaticals


• Recognizing burnout and funding a seven-month break

• Differentiating sabbatical versus mini retirement

• Logistics: nest egg size, remote options, healthcare planning


•

Optionality and financial independence mindset


• Dual-track strategy: accumulate wealth and improve life in tandem

• CoastFi and SlowFi as flavors of the 25x rule

• Pulling back on work without derailing long-term goals


•

Turning a podcast hobby into a side hustle


• Initial struggles with audio editing and finding a partner

• Leveraging serendipity, referrals, and niche communities

• Advising small business owners: start with five imperfect episodes


•

Intentional time off


• Avoiding passive downtime—set routines for hobby and health

• First two-week recovery period, then structured creative blocks

• Sharing your plan: scripts for family and friends


•

Networking and community building


• FinCon conference connections

• Toastmasters for public-speaking confidence and lasting bonds

• Online FI communities and Facebook groups for accountability


•

Military-friendly breaks


• Career Intermission Program: up to 36 months and healthcare continuity depending on your branch of service

• Guard and Reserve options to maintain benefits and part-time earnings

Links Mentioned

• Justin's FI Minded podcast (link (search on any podcast player)

• Episode 171: gifting and donations with Spencer Reese (link

• Episode 170: living a FI life without a FI bank account (link

• Episode 142: Jillian Johnsrud on mini retirements (link


• Toastmasters International: link

For a limited time, Spencer is offering one-on-one Military Money Mentor (link  sessions! Get your personal military money and investing questions answered in a confidential coaching call.

Our new TSP course is live! Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp (link  to learn all about the Thrift Savings Plan and strategies for growing your wealth while in the military. Use promo code "podcast24" for $50 off. Plus, for every course sold, we'll donate one course to an E-4 or below- for FREE!

If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual (link  or email [email protected].

If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon (link  or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com (link .

I also offer a 100% free course on military travel hacking and getting annual fee waived credit cards, like The Platinum Card® from American Express (link , the American Express® Gold Card (link , and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card (link  in my Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 (link .

Learn how to get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards from American Express in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 (link .

The Platinum Card® from American Express (link  and the American Express® Gold Card (link