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FedLife Podcast | Ep. 173: What to Expect After You Retire from Federal Service

By STWS
08/07/2026

In this episode, Ed and Dan break down OPM’s retirement quick guide and explain what recently retired federal employees can expect as their retirement applications are processed. They walk through the five stages of the retirement process, interim annuity payments, Retirement Services Online, and the steps employees can take before retirement to help avoid unnecessary delays.


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FedLife Podcast (Ep. 173) What to Expect After You Retire from Federal Service

Join us as Ed and Dan discuss OPM’s retirement processing timeline, including what happens after an employee separates from federal service, how interim annuity payments work, and what retirees should know about FEHB, FEGLI, survivor benefits, and potential processing delays.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

  • The five stages of the federal retirement process
  • How long each stage of the retirement process may take
  • What to expect from interim CSRS or FERS annuity payments
  • How to use Retirement Services Online to track retirement processing
  • Four important tasks employees should complete before retiring
  • Why downloading eOPF records before retirement can be important
  • What to know about completing service credit and military deposits before retirement
  • Documents and forms that should be reviewed before submitting a retirement application
  • What federal employees should understand about continuing FEHB and FEGLI into retirement
  • How survivor benefit elections can affect a retiree’s monthly annuity
  • Common factors that can delay retirement processing, including court orders, missing documents, and federal service with multiple agencies

Source Article: https://www.stwserve.com/opms-retirement-quick-guide/

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“Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC.  Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Lee, Sipe & Associates, Inc. is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James.  Content represents the opinions of the speaker and not necessarily those of Raymond James.  Important Disclosure Information:  http://raymondjames.com/smicd.htm 

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