TSP Hardship Withdrawal: Minimizing the Hit to Your Retirement Savings
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is part of the federal retirement three-legged stool. The TSP is a defined contribution plan, meaning how much you receive depends on how much you…
Retirement Pay Delayed? Steps to Escalate and Stay Solvent
Retirement volumes are climbing, and processing backlogs leave some federal retirees waiting weeks — sometimes months — for their first check. Bills don't wait, though. You need to understand the…
When the G Fund Shines — and When It Holds You Back
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) G Fund operates differently from anything else in the lineup. It invests in special-issue U.S. Treasuries exclusive to TSP, credits interest daily, and never loses…
Opening an HSA Before Retirement: Positive Tax Play or Potential Pitfall?
Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) came into existence in December 2003 as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act. Sometimes dubbed the “healthcare IRA,” HSAs allow Feds to…
From Target to Tactics: Making Your Retirement Number Real
Most retirement plans start with understanding your “number” — the amount you’ll need to save before you can stop working. Many Feds begin with a rough estimate, aiming to replace…
Delay or Don’t: Social Security Choices for Federal Workers
You've spent decades in federal service. Now you're 67, and Social Security is sitting there waiting. Do you file now or hold off? Filing at full retirement age gets you…
2026 Social Security Update: Plan Smarter, Avoid Surprises
The Social Security changes in 2026 aren't making big news, but they'll hit your retirement income. Federal employees need to think about how this fits with the Federal Employees Retirement…
2026 FEHB Changes: Planning If Gender-Affirming Care Isn’t Covered
Now that we're into the 2026 plan year, you're likely noticing changes to your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage. FEHB 2026 gender-affirming care coverage now includes exclusions for certain…
Benefits Cliff Talk, Decoded: Planning Moves for Federal Workers
You've probably seen the headlines. Social Security is running out of money. Medicare trust funds are depleting. Benefits cliffs looming. It's enough to make anyone nervous about retirement.
Use It, Don’t Lose It: How Feds Can Maximize Annual Leave in 2026
Every year, thousands of federal employees forfeit annual leave. The leave does not disappear because people want to work more. It disappears because the leave year ends and the use-or-lose…