Retirement Planning
A personalized checklist for every stage of your transition
Answer a few questions about your service and get a task-by-task timeline — free, and yours to revisit as your plans change.
Built around how a real transition unfolds
Every task is tagged to a category and a recommended lead time before your retirement date, so you always know what's due now and what can wait. The checklist personalizes primarily by component (Active, Reserve, or National Guard) and retirement system, with a few branch-specific pay-office notes.
A task list that adapts to you
Filtered by component and retirement system, with expandable guidelines and links to official .mil / .gov resources.
A timeline, not just a list
See every task grouped into milestones counting down to your retirement date — and check items off as you finish them.
Backed by a reviewed article library
Plain-language explainers on transition timing, TRICARE, VA prep, and more, in the Retirement Center.
Stay organized
The details that close a career deserve a quiet place on the desk
From records and appointments to family milestones, the checklist keeps the administrative work from crowding out the moments that matter.
Pay & taxes
When a checklist item raises a pay question, open the educational financial calculators.
Financial module
Estimate retired pay and see how your state treats military retirement income
Hybrid access: try a free teaser publicly, then sign in for VA concurrent-receipt modes, state tax estimates, and the full state law library.
Planning guidelines
- This checklist is an educational planning aid, not an official service requirement list.
- Confirm every deadline with your TAP counselor, retirement services office (RSO), and personnel/finance office.
- For VA claims help, use a VA-accredited representative — this platform does not file claims or predict ratings.
- Start early: many transition activities may begin as early as 24 months before retirement and must generally begin no later than 365 days out.
Retire With Honor is an independent company and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by the U.S. Department of Defense, Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Homeland Security, or any branch of the Armed Forces.
Benefits information is educational only and does not replace official guidance from your service, DFAS, VA, or TRICARE. Checklists are planning aids and do not replace official service requirements. This platform does not provide tax, investment, legal, medical, or individualized claims advice, and does not predict disability ratings or VA outcomes.