Mini-Retirements and Sabbaticals for Military Veterans or Retirees with Justin Peters #189

Are Mini Retirements, Optionality, and 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 (search on any podcast player) Episode 171: gifting and donations with Spencer Reese Episode 170: living a FI life without a FI bank account Episode 142: Jillian Johnsrud on mini retirements Toastmasters International: https://www.toastmasters.org Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor Over 19,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/ https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/ Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 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 or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. Want to be confident with your TSP investing? Check out the Confident TSP Investing course at militarymoneymanual.com/tsp 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.