In this episode, Dan reviews key benefit changes in the 2025 reconciliation bill, legal decisions shaping TSP and pensions, and what to watch moving forward. Katelyn highlights why updating beneficiary designations matters, the forms required, and how to avoid common mistakes.
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The Fed15 Podcast: Reconciliation Bill Updates and Why Beneficiaries Matter
Dan reviews what made it into the 2025 reconciliation bill—and what didn’t. He covers the status of COLAs, proposals to move from high-3 to high-5, and the status of proposed increases to employee contributions. He also examines legal decisions that could affect benefits, including TSP divorce awards, service credit clarifications, and state-level pension cases. He closes by highlighting key issues to watch in late 2025 and beyond.
Katelyn follows with a discussion on why keeping beneficiary designations up to date is more important than many realize. She explains how designations apply to benefits such as TSP, FEGLI, unpaid compensation, and survivor annuities. She walks through what to review, which forms are needed (since wills often do not apply), and where to obtain them. She also highlights key life events that typically trigger a review and outlines common mistakes to avoid.
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