The Best Day to Retire: Maximizing Benefits and Improving Payments
There’s more to retiring from your federal job than closing your eyes, pointing at a date on the calendar, and telling your boss, “I’m done.” As an employee who benefits…
How Feds Can Retire with Debt Without Sinking Cash Flow
Retiring with debt doesn’t have to derail your financial freedom. Many Feds step into retirement with mortgages, car loans, or credit cards still on the books. The goal isn’t to…
The Leave Question: How to Maximize Sick and Annual Leave Before You Retire
Sick leave and annual leave might seem alike, but at retirement, they serve very different purposes. One adds to your pension, the other adds to your pocket. From a financial…
Avoiding Delays: A Fed’s Guide to Submitting a Clean Retirement Application
No matter how prepared you are for retirement, waiting weeks or even months for your first payment can throw everything off track. We often speak to Feds who say they…
Bump and Retreat Explained: Protecting Grade During a RIF
When agencies reorganize or cut positions, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reduction in force (RIF) rules determine who stays and who moves. These rules can feel complex, but they…
Proposed Shutdown Relief: Credit Protection and Cash Options
New proposals in Congress aim to limit credit damage and ease access to cash for federal employees and contractors affected by government shutdowns. These federal shutdown financial relief bills seek…
Court Halts Federal Layoffs: What Feds Should Do Next
A federal judge temporarily blocked most agency RIF layoffs, pausing thousands of pending separations while the case proceeds. For now, that means time — time to confirm your status, gather…
Weathering Market Swings: Smart TSP Moves During Volatility
Market volatility has been making headlines lately and creating anxiety among some of the Feds who have noticed sharp swings in their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) balances. While this uncertainty…
OBBBA Update: What Feds Retiring Before 62 Need to Watch
Congress debated eliminating the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) Supplement — but the final law preserved it. However, the threat exposed real risk. For many, this supplement is the bridge…
OPM’s Digital Makeover for Retirements: What’s Changing in 2026
For the first time, federal employees can complete their retirement applications fully online. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) officially launched its digital retirement application well ahead of schedule, modernizing…