The Nest Egg #7: A thank you to the parents who serve
Active duty? Your monthly membership fee is waived. Plus our Hero of the Week.
Por el equipo de UNest · 7 min de lectura
Hi there,
Some of the parents reading this were up at 4am, and not because of a kid. They were on duty, or on base, or halfway through setting up a new home. Saving for a child's future matters just as much when life keeps moving for our families in the military. That's why we want to support the families who serve. So for active duty, we are waiving membership fees. 🇺🇸
Here is what we have for you this week:
A thank-you for families who serve, where the market stands, an easy way for family and friends to chip in, and our Hero of the Week.
Let's get into it! — Mitch, from The Nest Egg team
🎖 FOR THOSE WHO SERVE
No monthly membership fee
If you are active duty military, UNest waives your monthly membership fee. It's a small thank you for your service, so more of what you save goes toward your child's future.
WHO QUALIFIES
🎖 Active duty service members, all branches
🪪 A valid, active military ID in the account holder's name
🥚 An active UNest account in good standing
The waiver covers the $2 monthly membership fee only; the 0.25% annual fee on assets and the $25 early cancellation fee still apply.
Ready to verify? Reach out to support@unest.co and we'll take it from there.
Not on UNest yet? Sign up here and then verify.
Photo for illustration only. The people shown are not UNest clients and their appearance is not an endorsement of UNest by them, the U.S. Department of Defense, or any branch of the armed forces. Photo licensed from Pixabay under the Pixabay Content License. UNest Active-Duty Military Promotion: eligible members receive a waiver of the $2 monthly membership fee. To qualify, members must be active-duty military and hold an active UNest account in good standing. A valid, unexpired military ID is required and the name on the ID must match the account holder; expired credentials do not qualify. UNest may request additional documentation or deny the waiver if eligibility cannot be confirmed. This promotion waives the $2 monthly membership fee only. Eligible members remain responsible for all other fees, including the 0.25% annual fee on assets under management and the $25 early cancellation fee if the account is closed early. Terms are subject to change. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value.
📈 MARKET MOMENTUM
Still up 12% for the year
The Federal Reserve raised rates a quarter point on September 16, its first hike in three years, and stocks have slipped for a few weeks on higher oil and bond yields. That is the bad news. The bigger picture: the S&P 500 is still up about 12% this year, after being down 7% on March 30. Families who kept contributing through that dip bought low and rode the recovery.
S&P 500, 2026 SO FAR
+12.2%
Total return, Dec 31, 2025 to Sep 14, 2026
THE YEAR'S LOW POINT
−7.3%
Where 2026 stood on March 30
What this means: Stretches like this are normal, and nothing here calls for a change of plan. Your child's account is built for the next decade, not the next headline. Softer prices just mean each contribution buys a little more.
Sources: ChartRow, "S&P 500 YTD Return 2026," data through Sep 14, 2026 (S&P 500 total return +12.17% year to date, measured by SPY with dividends reinvested; year-to-date low of −7.3% on March 30, 2026). Yahoo Finance, "Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500, Nasdaq turn lower after Fed hikes interest rates to 3.75%-4%," Sep 16, 2026, for the rate decision; TheStreet and Trading Economics market coverage, Sep 10 to 16, 2026, for recent declines, oil above $100 and Treasury yields near 5%. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index; you cannot invest directly in an index, and index figures do not reflect fees. Index figures are not indicative of future performance. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.
🎁 GIFTING
Some gifts still matter
years from now.
Toys get outgrown. A gift to your child's UNest account gets invested and keeps working long after the wrapping paper is gone.
Family and friends can contribute in a few taps. No app, no account setup on their end.
Where to find it: open your account and from your home page tap Gifting. Copy the link and drop it into a text, a group chat, or a party invite.
Gifts are sent through PayPal, so the person giving will need a PayPal account.
🎖 HERO OF THE WEEK
Lt. Col. Meredith Kirchoff
U.S. Air Force · Commander, 4th Combat Camera Squadron
This week we are celebrating Meredith Kirchoff. She is married to Aaron, an Air Force veteran who works with us here at UNest. Our photo features them at her promotion ceremony to Lieutenant Colonel. Since then she has taken command of the 4th Combat Camera Squadron in Charleston, South Carolina.
And through all of it, she and Aaron are raising four great kids. Congratulations, Meredith. All of us at UNest are proud of you and grateful for your service.
Meredith Kirchoff is married to a UNest employee. Photo shared by the family and used with permission. Her appearance here is not an endorsement of UNest by the U.S. Air Force or the Department of Defense. She received no compensation for appearing in this feature. This is not investment advice.
💡 FOR PARENTS
Five things military families can teach their kids about money
Kids notice more than we think. Military families move, budget around deployments, and use education benefits, and their kids see all of it up close. Our guide turns that into five conversations worth having: saving versus investing, what buying a home really costs, planning for college with scholarships and transferred GI Bill benefits, how loans and credit work, and earning their own money.
Read about them all here and better prepare your kids for their future.
That one is written for the military families reading. Our Insights library has plenty for everyone else:
Raising a Child Is 28% More Expensive. What Parents Can Do.
Money Habits Start Earlier Than You Think. Try This Weekend.
The Best Gift for Your Grandchild Doesn't Come in a Box
Source: UNest, “5 Best Ways for Military Families to Build a Better Financial Future for Their Kids,” published November 1, 2021 on unest.co. The article references the VA Yellow Ribbon Program and the Post-9/11 GI Bill; UNest is not affiliated with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the Department of Defense and receives no compensation from them. Education benefit rules change, so confirm current terms at va.gov. Investing involves risk and investments may lose value. Past performance is no guarantee of future results. This is not investment, tax, or legal advice.
🗳 QUICK POLL
LAST POLL RESULTS
“How long have you been meaning to get a mouthguard?”
“Honestly, years.” Taking care of your teeth is hard work. We get it. If you haven't gotten a guard in years, there's no time like the present.
Don’t forget to use our code for 20% off any ClearClub product: UNESTXCC20
Offer provided by ClearClub and subject to its terms, product availability, and expiration. Discount applies at clearclub.com with code UNESTXCC20 and cannot be combined with other offers. ClearClub is a UNest marketing partner and this placement is part of a promotional arrangement between the two companies. Purchases are transactions with ClearClub, not with UNest, and are not investment products or advisory services.
👇 VOTE THIS WEEK
What makes saving hardest in your house?
An unpredictable schedule
Moving every few years
Income that changes month to month
Honestly, just remembering
Tap to vote, and results land in next week's issue.
Earn $20 for every friend
who invests
When a friend signs up and completes 3 consecutive monthly deposits, you get $20.
💬 FEEDBACK
How was this week's issue?
👍 👎
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