The TSP has served you well over a long career but now it is time to retire. My retiring clients often say things like “Is the TSP still the best option in this new stage of life? Some people talk about moving it to an IRA, but all I’ve known Read more…
A federal employee reached out to me the other day and asked an interesting question. He is retiring at the end of this year, and has a medical procedure scheduled in the next few months. This procedure will keep him out of work for about a month and he wanted Read more…
In these articles and with my clients, I hound on the importance of having a plan for the future. A plan gives us direction and clarity even in turbulent times. And especially for major things such as retirement, a plan makes all the difference. But that being said, I think Read more…
Federal employees are promised an incredible retirement package and many feds think through every detail to make sure they are ready to stop working. That day finally comes and they submit their retirement application, but the transition isn’t as smooth as imagined. First, some of their retirement application forms are Read more…
We all have heard the common regret of “I wish I would have started investing earlier”. Or “If only I knew then what I know now”. But unfortunately, there is nothing we can do to change the past. Fortunately, we can learn from our own past as well as the Read more…
This is the sort of topic that I hope stays theoretical for my readers. That being said, it is important to know how FERS disability works in the unfortunate circumstance that you or someone you know might need it. Because federal employees are not covered by workers comp as most Read more…
It is very common for federal employees to have served at least a portion of their career in the military. If someone is not receiving military retirement pay, they are most likely eligible to buy back their military time to be included in their federal service. This is how it Read more…
In my day job as a financial planner, I speak with a ton of feds within a couple years of retirement who are cramming money into their TSP as fast as they can. They are all trying to make up for lost time and do some last minute prep. I Read more…
Phased retirement is a relatively new concept as it was authorized starting in November of 2014. Because of its novelty, few Feds understand how it works and how it affects their retirement benefits. Let’s dig in. How it works Phased retirement is a completely voluntary thing that must be chosen Read more…
But Wait!!! A Simple calculator does not tell the whole story. Here is a guide to understanding your pension to make sure you can maximize it. For most federal employees, your pension is a big part of your retirement. It is fixed income for the rest of your life. And that Read more…
