In their 20s, an Air Force couple amassed a $500K savings by investing nearly 25% of their income: "We prioritize saving by putting ourselves first."

By investing nearly a quarter of their income, Air Force officers Quinn and Brittney Sturgis accumulated close to $500,000 in savings during their 20s.

Quinn, now 30 and still a diligent saver with his wife, always prioritizes paying themselves first by automating monthly contributions to various retirement and college savings accounts for their 1-year-old son, Theo.

Both individuals are stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California and earn a combined annual income of $263,000, which includes base salaries and military benefits such as housing and food allowances. These benefits, which account for approximately one-third of their total income, enable them to save approximately $6,000 per month for investments.

Starting to save and invest early was made possible for graduates who received scholarships from the Reserve Officers' Training Corps, a college program that prepares students to become commissioned military officers.

Brittney, a 27-year-old Medical Service Corps officer, oversees a 2,500-person hospital at the base and states that the benefits they receive greatly aid in saving more than what they would be able to on their own.

When both of them reach their 40s, they will receive pensions worth 40% of their base salaries due to their savings.

""We aim to achieve financial independence, which means being able to not work if we choose to, rather than solely focusing on reaching a specific age and number to completely retire," says Quinn, a pilot."

Investing early and consistently pays off

My grandmother demonstrated the power of compound interest by showing me a graph illustrating the significant difference in savings between starting to invest at 20 versus 30.

"Our story highlights the power of compound interest, as Quinn emphasizes. Even with a small monthly investment of $50, the money will accumulate over time and provide significant returns," he says.

A 10-year difference in regular contributions can significantly impact total savings. For example, investing $50 a month in your 20s would grow to $132,006 over 40 years at a 7% annual return, according to CNBC Make It's compound interest calculator. However, starting just 10 years later cuts that amount nearly in half, reducing it to $61,354 in earnings over 30 years.

"By taking advantage of compound interest, Quinn and Brittney have prioritized maximizing their investments while still young, which has given them peace of mind knowing that they'll be financially secure in the future," says Quinn.

Their investments and pensions have provided them with ample future income, allowing them to achieve financial independence and freedom from relying on a traditional paycheck. They can now decide whether to pursue new careers, spend more time with family, or focus on personal interests, as any future work will be on their terms.

"Brittney states that being done with the military doesn't mean stopping work entirely, but rather finding something fulfilling without the financial pressure to earn."

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