# Serving Those Who Serve Serving Those Who Serve (STWS) is a fiduciary financial advisory firm specializing in federal employees and retirees. We help current and former federal workers understand and optimize their FERS or CSRS pension, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), Social Security, FEHB and Medicare coordination, FEGLI life insurance, FLTCIP long-term care, survivor benefits, and tax planning — through one-on-one advisory relationships, free educational resources, and the weekly Fed15 and FedLife podcasts. ## About the firm - [About Serving Those Who Serve](https://stwserve.com/about-stws/): Firm overview, mission, and approach to serving federal employees and retirees. - [Our Team](https://stwserve.com/our-team/): Bios of the advisors and staff at STWS. - [Our Credentials](https://stwserve.com/our-credentials/): Professional designations including CFP®, ChFEBC℠, AIF®, and the fiduciary standard STWS operates under. - [Financial Advisors for Federal Employees](https://stwserve.com/financial-advisors/): How STWS advisors work with federal clients and what makes a fed-focused advisor different. - [Contact Us](https://stwserve.com/contact-us/): Phone, email, and office location. - [Schedule an Initial Consultation](https://stwserve.com/contact-us/schedule-an-initial-consultation/): Book a complimentary first meeting. ## Calculators and planning tools - [FERS Pension Calculator](https://stwserve.com/fers-retirement-calculator/): Estimate your FERS basic annuity based on high-3 salary, years of service, and retirement age. - [TSP Calculator](https://stwserve.com/tsp-calculator/): Project Thrift Savings Plan growth based on contribution rate, match, and assumed returns. - [OPM Disability Retirement Calculator](https://stwserve.com/medical-retirement-calculating-fers-disability/): Estimate FERS disability retirement benefits. - [High-Three Average Salary Calculation](https://stwserve.com/high-three-average-salary-calculation-2024/): How OPM calculates the high-3 figure that drives your pension. ## Foundational guides — FERS retirement - [FERS Retirement Choices](https://stwserve.com/fers-retirement-choices/): Overview of immediate, early, deferred, postponed, and MRA+10 retirement options under FERS. - [Understanding FERS Calculation](https://stwserve.com/understanding-the-calculation-of-the-fers-basic-gross-annuity/): Step-by-step walkthrough of the FERS basic annuity formula. - [FERS Annuity Supplement](https://stwserve.com/are-you-eligible-for-the-fers-annuity-supplement/): Eligibility rules and how the supplement bridges the gap to Social Security. - [Understanding the FERS MRA+10 or Postponed Retirement](https://stwserve.com/understanding-the-fers-mra-10-or-postponed-retirement-part-i/): When MRA+10 makes sense and how postponing preserves FEHB. - [Deferred vs Postponed Retirement for Federal Employees](https://stwserve.com/making-the-most-of-your-fers-deferred-vs-postponed-retirement-explained/): The critical differences between the two and which preserves health benefits. - [Maximizing Your FERS Annuity](https://stwserve.com/maximizing-your-fers-annuity-strategies-for-higher-retirement-income/): Strategies to increase your lifetime FERS pension income. ## Foundational guides — CSRS and CSRS Offset - [Understanding CSRS and FERS Offset Benefits and Rules](https://stwserve.com/understanding-csrs-and-fers-offset-benefits-and-rules/): How CSRS Offset works and how it coordinates with Social Security. - [Five Important Facts to Remember About CSRS](https://stwserve.com/five-important-facts-about-csrs/): Key contribution, WEP, GPO, and TSP considerations for CSRS employees. - [Understanding Deferred Retirement Under CSRS](https://stwserve.com/understanding-deferred-retirement-under-csrs-and-how-it-works/): How deferred retirement works for CSRS employees who leave service. ## Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) - [TSP Transfers, Rollovers, and Withdrawals](https://stwserve.com/get-money-out-of-the-thrift-savings-plan/): Comprehensive guide to getting money out of the TSP in retirement. - [Roth TSP vs Traditional TSP](https://stwserve.com/traditional-and-roth-tsp-accounts/): Tax treatment, contribution rules, and which is right for which career stage. - [TSP Matching Contribution Example](https://stwserve.com/its-a-match-tsp-matching-contribution-example/): How the 5% government match works and how to avoid losing it. - [The C Fund in the TSP](https://stwserve.com/tsp-c-fund/): What the C Fund holds and how it fits in a portfolio. - [Is the G Fund Really Safe?](https://stwserve.com/is-the-g-fund-really-safe/): G Fund mechanics, inflation risk, and when it shines. - [TSP Loan Guide](https://stwserve.com/why-tsp-participants-should-avoid-tsp-loans/): How TSP loans work, the true costs, and when to avoid them. ## Social Security for federal employees - [Federal Employees Retirement System: WEP vs GPO Explained](https://stwserve.com/social-security-for-feds-the-wep-and-the-gpo/): How the Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset affect feds. - [How the Social Security Fairness Act Will Affect Employees and Retirees](https://stwserve.com/the-social-security-fairness-act-what-does-it-mean-to-federal-retirees/): What the 2025 repeal of WEP and GPO means for affected federal retirees. - [Social Security for Feds: When to Claim Retirement Benefits](https://stwserve.com/choosing-when-to-withdraw-social-security/): The trade-offs of claiming at 62, full retirement age, or 70. - [The FERS Supplement: Who Is Eligible](https://stwserve.com/fers-supplement-earnings-test/): Eligibility rules and the earnings test that can reduce the supplement. ## FEHB, FEDVIP, and federal health benefits - [Rules for Continuing FEHB After Retiring — Part I](https://stwserve.com/rules-for-continuing-fehb-after-retiring-from-federal-service-part-i/): The 5-year rule and how to keep FEHB in retirement. - [FEHB and Medicare: A Federal Retiree's Guide](https://stwserve.com/retiring-from-federal-service-your-guide-to-navigating-health-insurance-options/): How FEHB coordinates with Medicare Parts A, B, and D in retirement. - [Understanding the Postal Service Health Benefits Program](https://stwserve.com/understanding-the-new-postal-service-health-benefits-program/): How PSHB differs from FEHB for USPS employees and retirees. - [FEDVIP Information: Dental and Vision Insurance Plans](https://stwserve.com/fedvip-dental-and-vision-for-feds/): How FEDVIP works alongside FEHB. ## Medicare for federal retirees - [Medicare Options for Federal Employees Nearing 65](https://stwserve.com/nearing-65-and-considering-medicare-options-maybe-its-time-to-talk-to-ma/): Decision framework for FEHB-Medicare coordination at 65. - [Strategies to Reduce Medicare Part B IRMAA Thresholds](https://stwserve.com/strategies-to-reduce-medicare-part-b-irmaa-thresholds/): Planning moves to lower IRMAA surcharges. - [Understanding How Original Medicare Works](https://stwserve.com/understanding-how-original-medicare-works/): Parts A, B, C, and D explained for feds. ## FEGLI and life insurance - [FEGLI After Retirement: The One Thing to Avoid](https://stwserve.com/fegli-in-retirement/): Why FEGLI Option B becomes prohibitively expensive after retirement. - [Five Important Facts About FEGLI](https://stwserve.com/five-important-fact-about-fegli/): Core mechanics every fed should know. - [The Case for Private Life Insurance for Feds](https://stwserve.com/the-case-for-private-life-insurance-for-feds-when-feglis-not-your-best-option/): When term life from a private insurer beats FEGLI. ## FLTCIP and long-term care - [Understanding Long-Term Care Costs and Financing](https://stwserve.com/few-adults-can-afford-the-cost-of-long-term-care/): The true cost of LTC and how feds can plan for it. - [Federal Long-Term Care Insurance: Is It Worth the Cost?](https://stwserve.com/federal-long-term-care-insurance-is-it-worth-the-cost/): Evaluating FLTCIP versus private coverage and self-insurance. ## Taxes, IRAs, and Roth conversions - [The Case for Roth Conversions in 2025 and Beyond](https://stwserve.com/the-case-for-roth-conversions-in-2025-and-beyond/): Why current tax rates make conversions attractive. - [What OBBBA Means for Your 2025 Taxes](https://stwserve.com/what-obbba-means-for-your-2025-taxes/): Key tax provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. - [Understanding the Inherited IRA RMD Rules](https://stwserve.com/understanding-the-inherited-ira-rmd-rules/): Post-SECURE Act rules for beneficiaries. - [What Is a Backdoor Roth IRA?](https://stwserve.com/what-is-a-backdoor-roth-ira/): How high earners can still fund a Roth. ## Survivor and death benefits - [A Federal Employee's Guide to Survivor Benefits](https://stwserve.com/survivor-benefits-what-your-spouse-needs-to-know-about-your-federal-retirement-plan/): What your spouse needs to know about your retirement plan. - [Guide for Surviving Spouses of Federal Employees](https://stwserve.com/federal-government-death-of-spouse/): FERS survivor annuity, FEHB continuation, and bereavement leave. ## Podcasts - [Blogs and Podcasts](https://stwserve.com/blogs-podcasts/): Central hub for all STWS audio and written content. - [Fed15 Podcast](https://stwserve.com/category/fed15-podcast/): Weekly 15-minute episodes on current federal benefits news and planning topics. - [FedLife Podcast](https://stwserve.com/category/fedlife-podcast/): Longer-form interviews and deep-dives with Ed Zurndorfer and guests.