Category: FED-15 Explained (Podcast)

FED-15 Explained (Podcast) Federal Agency News FEDLife & The Fed15 Podcast: Federal Employee Retirement & Benefits Talks

The Fed15 Podcast | Ep. 140: IRS Form 5498 + Navigating Coverage for Gender-Affirming Care

March 17, 2026 STWS

In this episode, Dan and Katelyn delve into IRS form 5498 highlighting its purpose, when to expect it, and key considerations. They also explore how federal health plans may handle…

FED-15 Explained (Podcast) Federal Agency News FEDLife & The Fed15 Podcast: Federal Employee Retirement & Benefits Talks

The Fed15 Podcast | Ep. 139: C Fund Concentration Risk + Use-or-Lose Leave Planning

March 2, 2026 STWS

Katelyn breaks down the risks of an all–C Fund TSP strategy, explaining why valuation and diversification matter—especially near retirement. She also covers the federal “use or lose” annual leave rules,…

FED-15 Explained (Podcast) Federal Agency News FEDLife & The Fed15 Podcast: Federal Employee Retirement & Benefits Talks

The Fed15 Podcast | Ep. 138: TSP Annuities vs. Flexibility + Understanding Lifecycle Funds

February 17, 2026 STWS

Dan and Katelyn break down how a TSP life annuity works—including payout options, permanence, and who it may fit best—while comparing guaranteed income to alternatives like monthly TSP withdrawals and…

FED-15 Explained (Podcast) Federal Agency News FEDLife & The Fed15 Podcast: Federal Employee Retirement & Benefits Talks

The Fed15 Podcast | Ep. 137: TSP Loans Explained + Understanding the Benefits Cliff

February 10, 2026 STWS

Dan and Jen break down how TSP loans work—including eligibility, loan types, benefits, hidden costs, and repayment risks—while also unpacking the latest benefits cliff projections for Social Security and Medicare,…

FED-15 Explained (Podcast) Federal Agency News FEDLife & The Fed15 Podcast: Federal Employee Retirement & Benefits Talks

The Fed15 Podcast | Ep. 136: 2026 Rule Changes + Federal Benefits To-Do List

February 3, 2026 STWS

Dan and Katelyn break down the key rule changes converging in 2026 and the essential planning moves federal employees should be reviewing now, from SECURE Act 2.0 updates to Social…

FED-15 Explained (Podcast) Federal Agency News FEDLife & The Fed15 Podcast: Federal Employee Retirement & Benefits Talks

The Fed15 Podcast | Ep. 135: Retirement Planning Amid Uncertainty + How Much Is Enough?

January 27, 2026 STWS

Dan and Katelyn discuss how to build a resilient retirement plan in uncertain times and how to determine how much savings is truly enough, covering income planning, spending needs, and…

FED-15 Explained (Podcast) Federal Agency News FEDLife & The Fed15 Podcast: Federal Employee Retirement & Benefits Talks

The Fed15 Podcast | Ep. 134: Smart Tax Planning in Retirement + Beating Information Bias

January 20, 2026 STWS

Dan and Katelyn explore why proactive tax planning is critical in retirement, starting with understanding the full retirement income stack, including a FERS or CSRS pension, planned TSP or IRA…

FED-15 Explained (Podcast) Federal Agency News FEDLife & The Fed15 Podcast: Federal Employee Retirement & Benefits Talks

The Fed15 Podcast | Ep. 133: Retiring With Debt + Choosing the Right Retirement Date

January 13, 2026 STWS

Dan and Katelyn break down how federal employees can retire with debt in a sustainable way, starting with a full debt inventory and mapping guaranteed income sources such as a…

FED-15 Explained (Podcast) Federal Agency News FEDLife & The Fed15 Podcast: Federal Employee Retirement & Benefits Talks

The Fed15 Podcast | Ep. 132: Coordinating Sick & Annual Leave for Retirement + OPM’s Digital Retirement Overhaul

January 6, 2026 STWS

Dan and Katelyn explore how sick leave and annual leave factor into federal retirement planning, including how sick leave boosts pension calculations, how unused annual leave is paid out, and…

FED-15 Explained (Podcast) Federal Agency News FEDLife & The Fed15 Podcast: Federal Employee Retirement & Benefits Talks

The Fed15 Podcast | Ep. 131: 2026 Retirement Prep — New TSP & IRA Limits and How to Avoid Payment Delays

December 30, 2025 STWS

Dan and Katelyn break down what federal employees need to know heading into 2026, starting with the newly announced TSP and IRA contribution limits and how higher caps, expanded catch-ups,…