Federal Employees Retirement & Benefits Podcast by CD Financial

Should federal retirees still own stocks? Charles thinks that's the wrong question — the real one is how much. This video walks through the two enemies of your TSP in retirement, inflation and a major market correction, and why the answer to one makes the other worse if your money is all in one pile.

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IN THIS VIDEO YOU CAN LEARN
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- Why "should I own stocks" is the wrong question for a federal retiree
- What the TSP's own L Income Fund implies about how much growth retirees still need
- Enemy #1: how the G Fund can quietly leak purchasing power to inflation<...

A low fee on your TSP is real — but it only pays for the investment account. It doesn't coordinate your FERS pension, Social Security timing, the FEHB/Medicare Part B decision, your survivor benefit election, or your taxes. Charles and Marcus walk through what a cheap plan quietly costs federal employees, why retirement flips the job from accumulation to distribution, and what to ask before hiring or switching advisors. 

Chapters: 

0:00 Cheap Fees vs. the Whole Picture 

0:30 Welcome + This Week's Question 

1:51 Why Federal Employees Are Right to Care About Fees 

2...

Your TSP monthly income balance may look substantial—but how much monthly retirement income can it actually provide?

In this video, Charles explains how federal employees can turn a TSP balance into a practical monthly paycheck. You’ll learn how to calculate the gap between your retirement income and real expenses, establish TSP installment payments, and account for taxes, inflation, and market risk before making withdrawals.

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IN THIS VIDEO YOU CAN LEARN
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- Why your TSP balance alone doesn’t tell you whether you’re retirement-ready
- How to calculate the gap between your income and monthly expenses
- Why some retirees...

FERS retirement in one place: your pension, TSP, and Social Security — and the decisions that become permanent the moment you make them. Charles and Marcus explain how the three legs of federal retirement connect, what a $3,000 pension actually nets after taxes, FEHB, and the survivor benefit, and the choices you truly can't undo.

Chapters:

0:00 The Three Legs of FERS Retirement

0:24 Welcome to the Podcast

0:57 Leg 1: Your FERS Pension

1:56 Leg 2: Social Security Timing

2:36 Leg 3: TSP — How It All Connects

3:34 What You Actually Get: Pension Dedu...

Your TSP has some of the lowest fees in the country — but a low-fee investment account is not the same thing as a written retirement income plan. In this short video, Charles explains what a real federal retirement plan actually coordinates, and what it costs you every year you wait.

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IN THIS VIDEO YOU CAN LEARN
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- Why low TSP fees don't add up to a retirement plan
- What a real plan coordinates: FEHB, Medicare Part B, survivor benefits, and Social Security timing
- How tax-deferred savings turn into RMDs — and who picks the number if you don't
- The Medicare Part B cycl...

Your FERS pension estimate says one number — but what actually lands in your bank account is a different one. Charles and Marcus walk a real $3,000 FERS pension through the survivor benefit election, FEHB premiums, and taxes to show exactly where the money goes before you ever see it, landing on a real net number of $1,259.

Chapters:

0:00 The $3,000 Pension Gap

0:28 Welcome to the Podcast

1:19 Why Your Pension Estimate Is Misleading

1:47 The $3,000 Example Begins

3:19 Deduction 1: Survivor Benefit (–10%)

4:58 Deduction 2: FEHB Premiums

8:03 Deduction 3: Federal & State Taxe...

Your TSP withdrawals can trigger consequences you never see coming — and sometimes "doing nothing" is the biggest mistake of all. In this short video, Charles walks through the TSP withdrawal traps that quietly cost federal retirees: lump sums that bump your tax bracket, Medicare premium spikes (IRMAA), a hidden jump in how much of your Social Security gets taxed, and RMDs that take the wheel if you don't plan.

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IN THIS VIDEO YOU CAN LEARN
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- How a big lump-sum withdrawal can push you into a higher tax bracket
- How TSP withdrawals can spike your Medicare Part B premium (IRMAA)
- How you c...

Can a federal employee retire at 60 with $850,000 in TSP and a FERS pension? In this episode, Charles and Marcus walk through a real federal retirement case study — the FERS pension formula, Social Security timing, and a safe TSP withdrawal rate — to answer the question everyone in this position is asking: retire now, or wait?

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IN THIS VIDEO YOU CAN LEARN
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- The FERS pension formula — and the 10% bonus you get by waiting to age 62 with 20+ years of service
- Why Social Security timing can grow your check by 8% a year after age 67
- The 4% TSP withdrawal rule — and why it's a fuel gauge, not a ha...

Four federal retirement mistakes to avoid. These decisions have a short window to get right — survivor benefit, FEHB, FEGLI, and TSP withdrawals — and for most of them, there's no fixing it later. In this video, Charles walks through exactly what to do with each one, and why the "obvious" move (cancel, take the lump sum) is usually the expensive one.

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IN THIS VIDEO YOU CAN LEARN
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- Survivor benefit: the short window to change it — and why you can't count on a fix later
- FEHB: why you should SUSPEND, never cancel, your federal health insurance
- FEGLI: how a 75% reduction on Basic...

Have a Financial Advisor for Federal Employees respond to your questions. Apply for a Retirement Consultation:
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Two federal employees retire the same year with the same TSP balance. Five years later, one has paid tens of thousands more in taxes. The difference wasn't the market — it was the withdrawal decisions. In this episode, Charles and Marcus walk through the five TSP withdrawal mistakes behind that gap, and how to avoid each one.

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START HERE
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Get the Di...

- Gross vs. net on a FERS pension — and why the difference matters
- How the survivor benefit election takes ~10% off the top
- Why FEHB (health insurance) is often the single biggest deduction
- What federal and state taxes do to what's left
- The number that actually reaches your bank account — your "port of entry"

Your FERS pension has a number that looks great on paper (gross) and a number that actually lands in your bank account (net) — and the gap is bigger than most federal employees expect. In this short video...

Roth conversions can be powerful — but do one before 59½, or inside your TSP, without a plan, and it can sting. Charles and Marcus explain why these two are mentioned in the same breath: the 10% early-withdrawal penalty when you withhold tax under 59½, why an in-plan TSP conversion avoids the penalty but won't withhold your taxes, and why you need cash outside the account to pay the bill. Walked through with two real stories — "Jack" and "Jill" — plus the measured-step approach and the Roth 5-year clock. 

Chapters: 

0:00 Before 59½ or Inside the TSP 

1:30 The 10% Penalty 

In this short video, Charles explains single stock risk, why "they're in different sectors" isn't the protection people think it is, and the concentration approach he prefers instead. If your portfolio holds just three, four, or five individual stocks, you may be carrying more risk than you realize. Four can perform beautifully — and one bad position can pull your whole year down. 

How many individual stocks are in your portfolio right now? Drop the number below 👇

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Get the Digital Federal Retirement Gui...

"I already have an annuity" — Charles hears it weekly, and it's often a misconception. Being a FERS annuitant (a pension you earned) and owning an annuity (a financial tool you choose) sound identical and mean completely different things. Charles and Marcus clear it up — including why a survivor benefit lowers your pension, how a fixed indexed annuity works, and why it isn't right for every dollar. 

Chapters: 

0:00 Annuity vs. Annuitant — Not the Same 

1:50 What a FERS Annuitant Is 

3:00 Why a Survivor Benefit Lowers Your Payment 

5:36 What an Annuity Act...

Roth conversions before 59½ and Roth conversions inside your TSP get mentioned in the same breath for one reason: they share the same drawback. Withhold taxes on a conversion before 59½, and the government treats it as an early withdrawal — adding a 10% penalty on top. Inside the TSP, they won't let you withhold at all. Either way, you need a plan for the tax money.

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Apply for a Retirement Consultation:
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Subscribe for Weekly Federal...

Spend enough time around federal retirement and the acronyms start flying — and it starts to feel too late to ask what they mean. Charles and Marcus decode the alphabet soup in plain English: FERS (and RAE/FRAE), CSRS and CSRS Offset, TSP, FEHB, FSA, FEGLI, MRA, VSIP/VERA/DRP, SRS, SCD, OPM, ORA, AUO/LEAP, the SF forms, and CSA. Grab the free Acronyms Cheat Sheet in the description.

Fill out the form and download the cheat sheet here: https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/6a445b182446fd510fd3af9b/

Chapters:...

"I've got an annuity… or do I have an annuity? Wait, I'm a federal annuitant — what does that even mean?" Did you think being a FERS annuitant and having an annuity were the same thing? Drop a Y or N below 👇

START HERE
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Apply for a Retirement Consultation:
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Take the Checklist Challenge:
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Which acronym tripped you up the longest — FERS, FEGLI, SRS, or MRA? Drop it below 👇

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Comment Below:
The Federal Retirement Terms You Nod Along To — Finally Explained

Federal retirement has its own language — FERS, FEHB, FEGLI, High-3, MRA, SRS, VERA — and mos...

Which term always messes with you — effective tax rate, backdoor Roth, cost basis, or RMDs? Write it below 👇

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Financial vocabulary can feel intimidating and unwelcoming — and you only get one chance to do retirement right. In this episode, Charles and Marcus break down the mon...

Most federal employees have a number in their head — "I'll retire at 62" — but a number is not a plan. Charles and Marcus break down what an actual written retirement income plan (the Charted Retirement Course) contains: income first, Social Security and COLA timing, the withdrawal decision most people skip, how taxes can become your biggest retirement expense, and the historically low tax "gap window" worth using now. The theme: written plans get executed; mental plans get abandoned under stress.

Chapters:

0:00 A Number Is Not a Plan

0:34 Welcome — CD Financial Podcast

1:30...

1. High-3 & step increases — a step increase only lifts your High-3 for the time you're actually in it (stay ~3 years for full credit)
2. TSP allocation — does it match your goals? Start taking risk off the table ~3 years out if you'll need the money for income
3. Buy back your military / pre-1989 temp time — file SF-3108 now; it takes 6–9 months and must be done before you retire
4. TSP catch-up & the age 60–63 super catch-up — are you on pace to max it before year-end?
5. The survivor benefit election — the one-and-done decision couples keep putting off
Plus the non-financial one most people mi...

Show-notes summary:

We're halfway through 2026 — the moment most federal employees realize they set retirement goals in January and haven't looked since. Charles and Marcus walk through five things to review now, not in December: knowing your High-3 (and how step increases and COLAs really affect it), buying back military time before it's too late, the TSP "super catch-up" for ages 60–63, the survivor benefit election couples keep avoiding, and the non-financial question that derails more retirements than money does — "what are you retiring TO?"

Chapters:

0:00 The Mid-Year Reality Check

0:57...

Which of these terms confused you the most before today — Roth vs. Traditional, RMDs, or capital gains? Tell me below 👇

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The Retirement and Tax Terms Most Federal Employees Get Wrong (Explained Simply)

If you are w...

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Why One Federal Employee’s Roth Strategy Created an $80K Difference

Federal employee Roth strategy can make a major difference in how your retirement income is taxed. In this case study, we compare Roth TSP vs Traditional TSP decisions an...

Federal retirement planning at 60: if you're a year or two from retiring from federal service with a FERS pension, Social Security, and about $1M saved in your TSP, here are 5 decisions to make before you retire — so you stop asking "Am I okay?" and start building the retirement you actually want.

This covers income order, TSP taxes and RMDs, Roth conversions, FEHB and Medicare timing, and IRMAA — gaps many federal employees miss before retiring.

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THE 5 DECISIONS
...

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You're 60, you have a federal pension and $1M saved — so why doesn't it feel like enough? The answer is 5 unmade decisions, not more dollars.

If you are within a year or two of leaving federal service with a FERS pe...

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Are You Waiting Too Long to Plan Your Roth TSP Strategy?

If you are a federal employee in the final stretch before retirement, your Roth TSP conversion strategy could affect far more than just this...

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Retiring This Year? Federal Employees Need More Than a TSP Plan

If you are planning to retire this year as a federal employee, your retirement decision may involve more than your TSP balance. Your FERS pension, TSP income strategy...

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The G Fund Feels Safe, But Is It Really Protecting Your Retirement?

If you are a federal employee or retiree using the TSP G Fund because the market feels uncertain, this may be one of the most...

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Which FERS Mistake Could Cost You the Most Later?

If you are a federal employee getting close to retirement, these FERS retirement mistakes can affect your pension, survivor benefits, FEHB coverage, TSP withdrawals, Medicare...

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If you are within one year of federal retirement, this is one of the most important times to review your FERS pension before making a final decision. In this video, we break down key federal retirement planning considerations around survivor benefits...

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📘 Federal Retirement Resources:

Get the digital guidebook to retirement as a federal employee here: 
https://cdfinancial.org/being-a-federal-employee-in-the-era-of-trump-book/

Checklist Challenge: 
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OPM Retirement Center:
https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/

FERS Information:
https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/fers-information/

FEHB & Medicare:
https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/medicare/annuitant/

Survivor Benefits:
https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/survivor-benefits/

Thrift Savings Plan (TSP...

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WHO ARE WE?
CD Financial helps federal employees and near-retirees create sustainable, tax-smart retirement income. Expect weekly strategies on 401K, FERS, TSP, Social Security timing, tax planning, and health-meets-wealth habits—clear, practical, compliant.

TIMESTAMPS
0:00 Last Year Before Federal Retirement Checklist
0:22 Two Federal Employees, Two Different Retirement Outcomes
0:46 Sick Leave Cr...

“Die with zero does not mean reckless spending. It means thinking intentionally about how to use your money for experiences, family, giving, and purpose while still protecting your retirement plan.”

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👋 WHO ARE WE?
CD Financial helps federal employees and near-retirees create sustainable, tax-smart retirement income. Expect weekly...

Federal employees may hear “COLA increase” and assume their retirement income keeps full pace with inflation, but under FERS, the cost-of-living adjustment can work differently than many expect. Before you retire, it is important to understand how FERS COLA, CSRS COLA, Social Security COLA, and your overall federal retirement income may interact over time.

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Checklist Challenge: https://cdfinancial.org/checklist-challenge/
...

Most federal employees are told to roll over their TSP when they retire, but that decision should start with a better question: What is this money supposed to do for you in retirement? In this episode, we break down common TSP rollover mistakes, IRA rollover considerations, tax treatment, withdrawal rules, and how a written retirement income plan can help federal employees make more informed decisions.

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Checklist Challenge...

TSP vs 401(k) rollover strategy isn’t about where the money goes—it’s about what the money is meant to do.” Discover how to decide whether to keep or move your retirement accounts with a clear, purpose-driven plan.

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👋 WHO ARE WE?
CD Financial helps federal employees and near-retirees create sustainable, tax-smart retirement income. Exp...

Get the digital book at no cost to you here: https://cdfinancial.org/being-a-federal-employee-in-the-era-of-trump-book/

Market corrections reveal whether you have investments or whether you have a retirement plan. If you are deciding whether to keep funding your TSP or 401(k), move toward the G Fund, or stay disciplined during market volatility, this conversation is for you.

In this video, we discuss what to consider during a market downturn, how ongoing TSP or 401(k) contributions can work during lower markets, why timing the market requires being right twice, and why reducing risk should be part of...

Is a tax-free retirement actually possible for federal retirees with a pension—or is it one of the most misunderstood ideas in retirement planning?” This video breaks down how federal retirees can realistically reduce taxes in retirement by understanding how pensions, Social Security, and TSP withdrawals interact.

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“Tax-free retirement isn’t about eliminating taxes entirely—it’s about reducing taxable income through thoughtful planning across your pension, Social Security, and retirement accounts.”

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“Your pension isn’t the problem—it’s how your income stacks in retirement that can increase your tax exposure.”

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👋 WHO ARE WE?
CD Financial helps federal employees and...