Plain answers to complex retirement questions
Accurate, jargon-free guides on FERS pension, TSP strategy, the MRA+10 reduction, the FERS Supplement, and everything federal employees need to retire with confidence.
How Much Do You Actually Need in Your TSP If You Have a FERS Pension?
The 25x salary rule was built for people with no pension. Federal employees with a FERS annuity need a completely different target number — usually lower than they think, in a specific way.
What Is Your 'High-3' Salary — And How Can You Increase It Before Retiring?
Your pension is based on your highest 36 consecutive months of basic pay — not your final salary, and not your average career salary. Understanding how it is calculated opens up real opportunities to increase it.
The TSP G Fund: Your Safest Investment — and Its Hidden Cost
The G Fund is the only investment in the world that gives you Treasury-level yields with zero principal risk. But for most federal employees, it is also the quietest drag on their retirement. Here is what the G Fund actually is, when to use it, and the mistakes that cost people the most.
TSP Withdrawal Options Explained: Lump Sum, Installments, or Annuity — What to Choose
When you retire, you have four ways to access your TSP money — and the wrong choice can cost you tens of thousands in taxes or lock you out of flexibility forever. Here's what each option actually means.
How to Set Your TSP Withdrawal Rate When You Have a FERS Pension
The standard 4% rule was built for people with no pension. Federal employees with a FERS annuity can afford a different approach — but only if you model the interaction correctly.
When to Claim Social Security as a FERS Employee: 62, 67, or 70?
The breakeven math between claiming early and waiting is well known. What most guides miss is how the FERS Supplement, your pension, and your TSP interact with your Social Security claiming decision.
The FERS Supplement: Your Bridge Income Before Social Security
If you retire before 62 under immediate full retirement, OPM pays you a monthly supplement approximating your Social Security benefit. Here's how it's calculated, who qualifies, and when it stops.
The MRA+10 Trap: How Early Retirement Permanently Reduces Your FERS Pension
Retiring at your Minimum Retirement Age with 10–29 years of service triggers a 5% permanent reduction for every year you're under 62. Here's what that means in dollars, and how to decide if it's worth it.
FERS vs. CSRS: Key Differences Every Federal Employee Should Understand
CSRS was replaced by FERS in 1987, but thousands of federal employees still fall under CSRS or CSRS Offset. Here’s how the two systems differ in formula, Social Security, TSP matching, and retirement eligibility."
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