- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Coaching Changes
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
Young man joins National Guard and will graduate with no debt and $100k in savings
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:06 pm
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:06 pm
quote:CNBC
While many Americans leave college in debt, Ben von Werder will likely have a positive net worth when he graduates from Purdue University in fall 2026.
He’s “always been a saver,” he says, and “my portfolio has grown unbelievably” while he earns his undergraduate degree in accounting. As of Sept. 16, 2025, von Werder had about $115,000 in savings and investments, according to documents reviewed by CNBC
That’s due to a couple of factors: The 21-year-old Indiana native worked throughout his teenage years, stashing most of his earnings in an investment account, and enlisted in the National Guard in order to attend college for free.
He’s also focused on saving his money, rather than spending it all on nights out; but once he graduates and starts working full-time, he’ll spend a bit more freely on activities like travel.
“I try to take advantage as much as I can of being young and having time on my side for [investment growth],” he says.
Smart-really smart
This post was edited on 10/2/25 at 12:14 pm
21
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:09 pm to bigjoe1
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:09 pm to bigjoe1
quote:
Young man joins Nation Guard and will graduate with no debt and 4100k in savings
This is why the NG isn't the real military. No mention of divorces, NJPs, alcoholism, etc.
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:10 pm to bigjoe1
I’ll say it
Many service members get wayyyyyy too much tax pay $$$$
Many service members get wayyyyyy too much tax pay $$$$
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:10 pm to bigjoe1
Good for him. Hope he doesn’t mind a little vacation as a grad trip from Uncle Sam
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:11 pm to bigjoe1
A well disciplined enlistee can save an absolutely insane amount of their wages, since so much of their basic living expenses are provided.
Maxing out a TSP for even one contract term and rolling it over when you’re done puts you so far ahead of the game.
Maxing out a TSP for even one contract term and rolling it over when you’re done puts you so far ahead of the game.
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:13 pm to Packer
What is $4100 thousand?
$4,100,000.
$4,100,000.
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:13 pm to HempHead
quote:
A well disciplined enlistee can save an absolutely insane amount of their wages, since so much of their basic living expenses are provided.
Might I add you should stay in the NG or Army Reserve forEVER and retire. So you and your spouse get the Tri-Care for life.
This saved our family a TON of money and hassle when my mom got the cancer 3 years ago.
This post was edited on 10/2/25 at 12:15 pm
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:14 pm to bigjoe1
quote:
4100k
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:15 pm to Packer
quote:. Tell that to my friends from the 256th brigade that were killed in the GWOT.
why the NG isn't the real military
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:16 pm to bigjoe1
I knew a guy that spent 4 years in the Navy never left his ship, only spent money on cigs, left after the 4 years in a limo. I know he was not set for life, but damn the time he made up for the sacrifice must have been grand!
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:17 pm to bigjoe1
Cool. Could also join NG and end up in Iraq meat grinder
This post was edited on 10/2/25 at 12:18 pm
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:23 pm to bigjoe1
quote:
and enlisted in the National Guard in order to attend college for free.
I don't like this terminology. Free.
He did not get a free college education, he made an agreement to serve his country in the National Guard and as part of his compensation he was able to attend college with the tuition paid through government grands and programs. (yes i.e. taxpayer money.) but he's much different than the freeloaders that get "free" college because they refuse top pay back their student loans or they get their college paid for because of their race or ethnicity. He was in service to the United States government and should they have needed to send him somewhere, those other people never would have had the courage to go he would have deployed.
So it's never free and he earned his college with his service.
Good for him for being smarter than his peers. He should understand by now though that those same peers will soon be whining that it's not fair that he has all that money and a college education and they have mountains of debt that they will never pay back because they are un-hirable with their blue and pink hair, nasty attitudes and their gender studies degrees.
This post was edited on 10/2/25 at 12:59 pm
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:29 pm to mikelbr
quote:
Might I add you should stay in the NG or Army Reserve forEVER and retire.
The two things I emphasize to people thinking of the Guard or Reserve is drill will always be on the weekend that all the cool shite you want to do is happening. The 2 weeks of "summer camp" can be a PITA if you have a job with any real level of responsibility that is hard for others to cover.
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:29 pm to travelgamer
quote:Unrelated to the OP but related to your post-
I knew a guy that spent 4 years in the Navy never left his ship, only spent money on cigs, left after the 4 years in a limo. I know he was not set for life, but damn the time he made up for the sacrifice must have been grand!
A guy I went to High School with got a job offshore on a Lay Barge right out of High School.
He stayed out on the Lay Barge for 15 months straight until it was time for what would have been the beginning of his Sophomore year of college when he actually enrolled. He went straight through (taking classes in Summer and over Christmas) in three years in Engineering. He graduated with his High School classmates from college.
Decades later he ended up checking himself out, so there’s that…
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:31 pm to GreatLakesTiger24
quote:
Many service members get wayyyyyy too much tax pay $$$$
That recruiter's office is open to everyone.
And the article never said he saved all that money from military service. In fact it said he hustled all through teen and college years.
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:31 pm to bigjoe1
Now that the story is out, he'll be slaying poon for a while.
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:33 pm to bigjoe1
Got my college free as a weekend warrior. Totally worth it
Posted on 10/2/25 at 12:35 pm to TulsaSooner78
A 21 year old obsessed with his portfolio is probably autistic
Page 1 of 4
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News