For generations, retiring from federal service meant navigating a mountain of paperwork. Retirement applications were printed, mailed, reviewed by hand, and routed through multiple offices before reaching the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). That process often contributed to lengthy wait ... Read More

Over the years and particularly over the last 18 months, there have been thousands of  employees covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) who left federal service before they were eligible to immediately retire. When they left federal service, ... Read More

  A recent FEDZONE column entitled “Understanding the New FERS Rules for Deferred Retirements” discusses the retirement benefit payable to a former FERS employee who left federal service. This retirement benefit is in the form of a deferred FERS annuity. ... Read More

There’s no shortage of annuity salespeople trying to convince you that a private annuity can create “guaranteed lifetime income,” but there are several reasons why private annuities may not be the best option for federal employees and retirees. But before ... 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