Plan Your Federal Retirement Podcast

When should a federal employee claim Social Security? At 62, full retirement age, or 70?   The answer may involve much more than finding your mathematical break-even point.   In this episode of FERS Federal Fact Check , we look at what happens when you claim Social Security early, how delayed retirement credits work, why "claim it and invest it" carries assumptions of its own, and why married fede...

Is having a will enough to complete your estate plan?  For many federal employees, the answer may be no.  In this episode of the Plan Your Federal Retirement Podcast, Floyd Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, discusses several pieces of an estate plan that can be easy to overlook, including powers of attorney, medical directives, beneficiary designations, the TSP, FEGLI, and trusts.  Y...

You may have heard that you need a certain amount of money before retirement. But those numbers do not tell you whether your individual retirement plan will work.   For federal employees, retirement income may come from multiple sources, including the FERS Basic Benefit, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Your personal retirement number also depends on how much you expect to spend...

What happens to your income after your last federal paycheck, before OPM finishes processing your FERS retirement?  For many federal employees, retirement brings a big change in cash flow. Your regular paycheck ends, you might get paid for unused annual leave, and OPM may start sending interim retirement payments while your application is being processed.  So how can you keep paying your bills dur...

A fake virus alert pops up on your computer. It looks like it came from Apple, Microsoft, or another company you recognize. It says your device is infected and tells you to call a phone number immediately.  What should you do?   In this FERS Federal Fact Check episode, we discuss how tech support scams, fake computer warnings, and crypto-related fraud can target federal employees and retirees.   T...

Can AI tell you when to claim Social Security? A chatbot may be able to explain age 62, full retirement age, delayed credits, or the earnings test. But it may not understand your FERS pension, your spouse's future income, your TSP plan, your tax picture, or your survivor planning needs. Have a retirement question on your mind? Give us a call at 907-931-1775 and leave us your question - we're here...

In this episode, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, and Floyd Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, discuss what federal employees should focus on when evaluating their Social Security claiming strategy. They explain how Social Security fits into a broader retirement plan, why headlines don't always tell the full story, and how factors such as taxes, survivor benefits,...

These risks can affect your pension, TSP, Social Security benefits, and overall retirement strategy long after your retirement date arrives. Understanding these risks may help you make more informed decisions as you prepare for the years ahead. Schedule a conversation with a professional to walk through your options and support more informed decision-making: https://plan-your-federal-retirement.co...

Federal employees and spouses often hear the phrase: "It's an inheritance, so it's tax-free." But is that actually true? In this FERS Federal Fact Check episode, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, breaks down a common misunderstanding around inherited money, estate taxes, and taxable retirement accounts. Find out why "no inheritance tax" does not always mean "no taxes," and how...

Are you accidentally putting your retirement at risk? In this week's episode, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, and Luke Eberly, Wealth Advisor, break down a common mistake we see: treating retirement accounts like an ATM without a clear plan. The result? Unexpected taxes, market timing risks, and potential strain on long-term financial independence Need professional help with...

What happens if your TSP beneficiary isn't who you thought it was? This is a situation we've seen more often than you might expect, and it can create real issues for your family if not addressed in advance. If you're within 5–10 years of retirement, this is one area you don't want to overlook. Want help reviewing your retirement plan? Schedule a conversation with a professional to walk through you...

Are your retirement decisions guided by your own goals, or are they influenced by headlines, ads, and market noise? In this episode of the Plan Your Federal Retirement Podcast, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, and Floyd Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, break down how external influences can impact financial decision-making, often without you even realizing it. F...

What happens if your FERS retirement paperwork is delayed, or you can't follow up after submitting your application? In this episode of FERS Federal Fact Check, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner, Wealth Advisor, walks through what federal employees can do if their retirement application feels stuck in the system. From locating your CSA number to reconnecting with OPM and understanding potential de...

Many federal employees care deeply about charitable giving, but the way you give can really affect your taxes. In this episode of the Plan Your Federal Retirement Podcast, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, and Luke Eberly, Wealth Advisor, break down strategies that may help you make more tax-efficient charitable contributions, based on current IRS rules. They cover practical co...

Can contributing to a 401(k) help protect your FERS Special Retirement Supplement? Many people assume this, but the rules don't always work the way federal employees expect. In this FERS Federal Fact Check, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, answers a listener's question and walks you through how the earnings test applies to your supplement and why certain strategies, like incre...

Understanding how to withdraw from your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a critical part of retirement planning for federal employees. While many spend decades building their TSP balance, the decisions made at retirement, especially around distributions. can have a lasting impact on income, flexibility, and long-term outcomes. In this episode, Micah Shilanski walks through several common TSP withdrawa...

In this episode of the Plan Your Federal Retirement Podcast, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, and Luke Eberly, Wealth Advisor, break down one of the most common and potentially costly investment questions federal employees ask: "Should I wait for the market to drop before investing?" They walk through real-life examples of missed opportunities, explain why market timing often...

Federal employees often wonder: "If I delay Social Security and pass away before starting benefits, what happens to my spouse?" The answer depends on Social Security Administration (SSA) rules and your specific situation. It's also important to know that Social Security survivor benefits and FERS survivor annuity elections are separate, each with their own rules. https://zurl.co/5TtUu

  If you're a federal employee or retiree approaching age 65, you've likely asked: "Do I really need Medicare Part B if I already have FEHB?" In this Federal Fact Check episode, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, explains how Medicare Parts A, B, and D work with your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage, and what federal retirees should consider before deciding. In...

Inflation doesn't always show up loudly, and for many federal employees and retirees, the biggest danger is assuming COLA will protect their retirement income. In this episode of the Plan Your Federal Retirement podcast, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner, Wealth Advisor, and Luke Eberly, Wealth Advisor, break down the "COLA mirage": why cost-of-living adjustments often fail to keep pace with real...

Are you working in retirement and wondering if it could reduce your federal benefits? In this FERS Federal Fact Check, Micah Shilanski, Wealth Advisor, answers a real question from a retired federal employee who started collecting his pension and FERS Supplement at age 61, while still working full time.  https://zurl.co/OxAlU

Retirement isn't just about making your money last, it's about using it wisely while you still can. In this episode of the Plan Your Federal Retirement podcast, Micah Shilanski, Wealth Advisor, is joined by his father, Floyd Shilanski, Wealth Advisor, to unpack one of the most complicated challenges federal employees face: balancing today's lifestyle with tomorrow's longevity. From distribution st...

Ever wondered how the big players in financial services got to where they are? Matt and Micah dive deep into the secret behind Edward Jones' remarkable success story – and why independent advisors should be taking notes instead of throwing shade. They challenge the common "David vs. Goliath" mindset that often leads independent advisors to dismiss larger firms' achievements and reveal how Edward J...

Social Security headlines are everywhere, and much of what federal employees are hearing is confusing, incomplete, or flat-out wrong. In this episode of Plan Your Federal Retirement, Floyd Shilanski, Wealth Manager, cuts through the noise and explains what federal employees actually need to know about Social Security as retirement approaches. https://zurl.co/awQVP