In this episode, Katelyn and Dan examine the evolving federal job landscape and charitable giving strategies. They cover federal employee survey findings, the value of core benefits like FERS, TSP, and FEHB, and key steps to protect retirement security, followed ... Read More

Federal employees received an average 4.5% pay raise in January 2025, one of the highest increases in recent years. But for many Feds, that bump hasn’t gone far enough, especially as inflation keeps dragging on essentials like housing, healthcare, and ... Read More

In this episode, Dan and Ed explain what QCDs are and how they work with RMDs from traditional IRAs. They also discuss which retirement accounts allow QCDs, the timing considerations when executing them, and the new rules under the SECURE ... Read More

Life happens – marriages, divorces, births, deaths. And while federal employees are good at planning ahead, one thing often gets overlooked: beneficiary designations. These documents determine who receives your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), life insurance, and survivor benefits upon your passing, and ... Read More

In this episode, Dan and Katelyn discuss key 2025 tax changes from the OBBBA and their impact on federal employees. They cover tax deductions, estate planning, and student loan updates, followed by Roth conversion strategies to help diversify retirement portfolios ... Read More

Congress passed the 2025 budget reconciliation bill in July, but for many Feds, the biggest question remains: Is my pension safe? Proposals to eliminate the FERS annuity supplement and switch to a high-5 calculation didn’t make it into the final law, ... Read More

As retirement gets closer, many of our Feds start thinking about where they want to live and what kind of life they want to build once they leave federal service. For some, the decision is based on being closer to ... Read More

In this episode, Dan and Katelyn discuss retirement strategies for federal employees, with a focus on age-gap couples. They cover Medicare, Social Security, Roth conversions, and withdrawal planning, as well as early 2026 COLA projections and their impact on CSRS ... Read More

In this episode, Dan and Katelyn break down the 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey results, highlighting trends in engagement, leadership trust, and job satisfaction. They also explore how career development can boost retirement security through higher earnings, TSP contributions, and ... Read More

By law, a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participant’s spouse has certain rights to the participant’s TSP account. These rules apply to withdrawals even if the TSP participant is separated from but still legally married to the participant’s spouse. The Federal ... Read More