Free Military Finance Tools You Can Share With Confidence
Your audience has real military money questions — what their pay is actually worth, what BAH covers, whether their VA decision is right, what transition actually costs. These tools answer those questions using official DoD and VA data, with no account required, no ads, and nothing to sell. Free to share, every time.
Most service members don't know what their compensation is really worth. These tools show them — and the number is almost always higher than they expected.
Why this is safe to share
Who built this — and why
MilPayTools was built by Dan Stevens, an NMLS-licensed mortgage professional and the son of a 20-year Air Force veteran who grew up on bases from Offutt to Eielson to Lajes Field. Military advisor Lt. Col. Ryan Durand, USAF/USSF (Ret.)provides military-insider guidance and review. Dan and Ryan have been friends since age 14 and college roommates — this project grew out of a shared belief that military families deserve clearer financial tools than what's currently available.
The goal is simple: make confusing military financial decisions easier to understand before they become expensive mistakes. Every tool uses official published data from DFAS, VA, TSP, and DTMO. We don't sell loans, capture leads, or recommend products. We just build the clearest tools we can and make them free.
Dan Stevens
Founder · NMLS-Licensed Mortgage Professional
Lt. Col. Ryan Durand, USAF/USSF (Ret.)
Military Advisor
Flagship tools by life stage
The most-used tools, organized by when they matter most.
Understand your real military compensation
Base pay alone can dramatically understate what military service is worth. BAH, BAS, tax advantages, healthcare value, and TSP contributions can add $20,000–$50,000 per year that doesn't show up on the LES base pay line.
- Total Military Compensation Calculator — Full pay breakdown including BAH, BAS, tax advantages, and civilian salary equivalent
- BAH Calculator — Housing allowance by location, rank, and dependency status — 40,000+ ZIP codes
- 2026 Military Pay Charts — Official DFAS pay tables for all ranks and years of service
Plan a PCS move or duty station decision
PCS moves create both one-time costs and long-term budget changes. Families often focus on the move itself and miss the housing, tax, and cost-of-living reset that follows.
- PCS Cost Estimator — DLA, MALT mileage, per diem, TLE, and PPM net proceeds — 2026 DTMO rates
- Duty Station Comparison — Side-by-side BAH, state taxes, COLA, and take-home between current and new station
- BAH Rates by Duty Station — 200+ installation pages with local housing context
Prepare for transition
Leaving the military isn't just changing jobs. BAH, BAS, TRICARE, SGLI, TSP contributions, and tax treatment can all change on day one. The financial gap is often larger than people expect.
- Transition Readiness Calculator — Military vs. civilian compensation after taxes — is the offer actually better?
- Separation Benefits Timeline — Key dates and deadlines when SGLI, TRICARE, and move entitlements expire
- Healthcare Cost Comparison — TRICARE vs. employer plan vs. ACA Marketplace — what it actually costs after separation
Understand VA benefits and home loans
VA benefits can be powerful, but the rules are easy to misunderstand. These tools explain the math and tradeoffs without selling a loan, capturing a lead, or steering anyone toward a provider.
- VA Disability Calculator — Combined rating using the VA whole-person formula — with bilateral factor and 2026 rates
- VA Loan Payment Calculator — Monthly payment, funding fee, and BAH comparison — no lender recommendation
- VA Refinance Calculator — IRRRL break-even and net tangible benefit — educational only
- VA Home Loans Guide — Eligibility, funding fee, IRRRL, and when VA may not be the best option
Make education and retirement decisions
GI Bill, Tuition Assistance, VR&E, TSP, BRS, and High-3 decisions can be worth tens of thousands of dollars over a career. The official rules are scattered — these tools bring them together.
- Education Benefits Comparison — GI Bill, VR&E, Tuition Assistance side-by-side — by school ZIP, eligibility tier, and tuition
- TSP Growth Projector — Retirement savings projections with fund allocation and BRS matching
- Military Retirement Calculator — High-3 and BRS pension projections with lifetime value and CRDP eligibility
Ways to share these tools
Shareable link
milpaytools.com
- Share this page as a general military finance resource
- Share the Total Compensation Calculator with new service members and their families
- Share the PCS tools before PCS season or with families receiving orders
- Share the Transition Readiness Calculator with separating or retiring members
- Share the VA Disability Calculator with veterans navigating the claims process
- Share the VA Loan tools with eligible buyers comparing payment and funding fee impact
- Add MilPayTools to your unit, installation, or organization's financial resources list
- Include in TAP briefings, financial readiness sessions, or spouse group resources
No permission needed. These tools are free for everyone.
MilPayTools is an independent educational platform. We are not affiliated with the Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency. All tools are educational only and do not constitute tax, legal, financial, or lending advice.