After years of working as a financial advisor to soldiers in the National Guard, Frank Molinar, CFP, realized that the financial issues faced by service members often boil down to the same common problems and can be solved with the same solutions—an SOP, or standard operating procedure. In Financial Dominance he details practical steps service members and their families can take toward fixing those problems and set themselves up for future wealth. Using mission readiness language keyed to his audience, Molinar devotes separate chapters to the five key steps of his plan: stop the bleeding, secure the perimeter, engage the enemy, build future ops, and plan the exit. Throughout, he draws anecdotes from training, briefings, and personal consultations to demonstrate the effectiveness of his strategy.

The first three chapters are straightforward and offer clear, actionable steps, while the final two--including the book’s longest, “Building Future Ops,” which is dedicated to the notably volatile topic of investments—take on a vague, advisory tone. Molinar urges readers to secure and maintain their financial perimeters first, and is adamant about the distinction between investing and speculating as he explains the structures and types of investments, but readers who pick this guide up for its clear-eyed advice about eliminating debt or prioritizing creditors, much of this chapter may prove impractical.

Molinar’s style is usually uplifting if firm, but sometimes his can-do attitude turns into victim blaming, as when he argues that fear "induces" poverty. Angie Moline’s illustrations synthesize the main concepts into cheerful infographics readers will find useful as reminders and reference points. Similarly, Molinar’s worksheets are useful tools to put his suggestions into action. Soldiers and military families will get the most out of this, but general readers looking for an introduction to financial planning can also benefit from his advice. Ultimately a unique take on personal finance, with practical steps geared towards military professionals, Financial Dominance will give money-minded readers much to consider.

Takeaway: Soldiers and military families looking to sort out their finances and build a better future will find clear, practical advice.

Great for fans of: Dave Ramsey’s The Total Money Makeover, Morgan Housel’s The Psychology of Money.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A