FAQ

Common Questions and Answers for Retirement Planning Throughout Your Career

Early Career

(UP TO 10 YEARS ON THE JOB)

What are the basics of my retirement plan?

When am I eligible for retirement?

What is the formula to compute the value of my retirement benefit?

What if I become disabled during my career?

How much can I expect in Social Security benefits?

Do I have adequate life insurance protection?

Do I have the best health benefits coverage for myself and my family?

How much should I save for my retirement in the Thrift Savings Plan?

What if I leave federal service prior to becoming eligible for retirement? What are the vesting requirements for basic retirement benefits and the TSP?

How do I buy back Military time?

Midcareer

(FROM 10 YEARS ON THE JOB TO FIVE YEARS BEFORE RETIREMENT)

Do I know if and/or when I plan to retire from federal service?

If I am planning a second career, have I begun to explore options?

If I am planning to stop working, have I computed how much retirement income I will need?

Have I reviewed my electronic official personnel folder?

There should be evidence of the beginning and ending dates of each of my federal appointments. Has my retirement coverage changed during my federal career? Has my work schedule changed?

Are my beneficiary designations for FEHBP, FEGLI and unpaid compensation up to date?

Have I performed active duty military service that I want to use towards eligibility or computation of my retirement benefit?

Do I have any civilian service that was not covered by retirement deductions?

Do I have any refunded retirement contributions?

Have I had a life event such as marriage, divorce, death of a family member, or birth or adoption of a child?

Do I need help from a professional financial adviser?

Have I updated my beneficiary designations?

Pre-Retirement

(FIVE YEARS OR FEWER BEFORE RETIREMENT)

Have I requested a retirement estimate for a specific date or several dates from my human resources office? Am I eligible to continue FEHBP and FEGLI into retirement?

Do I understand my options for electing an unreduced CSRS or FERS annuity payable during my lifetime compared with a reduced annuity to provide a survivor annuity to a spouse or a person who may have an insurable interest in me?

Have I started to explore the different withdrawal options for using the money that I’ve saved in my TSP?

Have I considered signing up for long-term care insurance?

Have I re-evaluated my life insurance needs? Will I be eligible for Medicare when I retire?

If I will be retiring at age 62 or later, have I started to explore the strategies for claiming my Social Security retirement benefit? Do I understand how spousal and survivor benefits work under Social Security?

Do I understand how my retirement benefits will be taxed?

At Fed Retirement Edu, we understand that retirement planning can be complex and overwhelming. That’s why we believe that the key to simplifying the process is to start with the basics.

Retirement is a time to look forward to with excitement and anticipation, not anxiety and fear. Our goal is to provide you with the knowledge and resources you need to make informed decisions about your retirement, and to help you approach this important milestone with confidence.
Our expert team is committed to making retirement planning easy to understand and process. We provide comprehensive training and education services that are tailored to your needs, so you can make the choices that are right for you. Whether you’re just starting your career or nearing retirement, our goal is to help you plan for a comfortable and secure future.


So why wait? Contact us today to learn more about our services and take the first step towards a brighter future. With Fed Retirement Edu, you’ll have the knowledge and resources you need to overcome any anxiety about retirement and approach this important milestone with confidence.