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 FERS or CSRS annuity, Social Security (if applicable), and planned TSP or IRA withdrawals. They also explain why retirement date strategy matters, including how timing can affect benefits, taxes, payouts, cash flow, and income gaps—and outline key timeframes to consider when choosing a retirement date.
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Katelyn breaks down how federal employees can retire with debt in a sustainable way. She begins with the importance of completing a total debt inventory and mapping out guaranteed income sources, including a FERS or CSRS annuity, Social Security (if applicable), and planned TSP or IRA withdrawals. She then focuses on prioritizing major liabilities, discusses mortgage decisions—when it may make sense to keep versus prepay—and addresses student loan considerations. She wraps up by highlighting common pitfalls and offering strategies to manage cash flow and plan confidently for the future.
Dan explains why retirement date strategy matters and how timing can impact benefits, taxes, payouts, cash flow, and potential income gaps. He emphasizes that there is more than one “best” day to retire and outlines key timeframes to consider, such as the end of a pay period, end of the month, and end of the leave year. He also covers important considerations related to annual and sick leave payouts and calculations, and concludes with additional “best date” factors and the value of intentional retirement timing.
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