Doug Nordman

We’re military veterans, not financial advisors. We’re trying to share what we’ve learned and to pay it forward – but you have to make your own decisions.

Doug Nordman served for 20 years of active duty in the U.S. Navy’s submarine force and retired in 2002 at the age of 41.  He and his spouse, a retired Navy Reservist, reached financial independence in 1999 on a high savings rate.

They’ve lived in Hawaii for over 29 years, and their daughter was born & raised on Oahu. These days Doug enjoys surfing, slow travel, writing, reading, home improvement, and more surfing.  

Doug is the author of “The Military Guide To Financial Independence And Retirement” and founder of The-Military-Guide.com.  (He donates all of his writing revenues to military-friendly charities.)  Their daughter and her spouse are both active-duty Navy, so military personal finance is an important family topic… almost as important as surfing.

In 2020, he published a second book, Raising Your Money-Savvy Family For Next Generation Financial Independence, with his daughter, Carol Pittner, as co-author.

watch playing with fire

A documentary about the FIRE movement and one families quest to achieve financial independence and retire early. Available on the following:

Get your copy of the

book

A perfect follow up on the film to dive deeper into the philosophies and "how-tos of the FIRE movement"
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Reading material

We have assembled the foundational information to get your start on the right foot down the FIRE path to financial independence.

The Importance of Savings Rate in FIRE

Explore the essential role of savings rate in the FIRE movement for achieving financial independence and early retirement. Learn how to balance frugality, investment strategies, and lifestyle to accelerate your journey towards financial freedom.

Trust vs. Living Will: Setting Up Your Estate Plan

Estate Planning is an often overlooked, yet incredibly important step in your path to Financial Independence. Let's dive into the world of Trusts and Wills, and why you need to create one as soon as you can.

Achieving Financial Independence: A Step-by-Step Guide

Explore a step-by-step guide to achieving financial independence. Understand the core principles of the FIRE movement and strategies for early retirement.