Confident Federal Retirement

If you're a federal employee close to retirement and your spouse is on your FEHB plan, one checkbox on your FERS retirement paperwork can have a huge impact on their future. In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, I walk through how the FERS survivor benefit really works and why it matters so much for both your income and your spouse's health insurance if you die first. You'll learn the d...

Are you actually okay to retire from federal service… or are you missing something big with taxes or TSP? In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, I walk you through six key parts of your federal retirement that quietly decide whether you run out of money, overpay in taxes, or retire confidently. You'll see how your FERS pension, TSP, Social Security, and health benefits fit together, why...

If you're a FERS federal employee making around six figures, you might assume your retirement income will feel "pretty close" to what you make now. In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, I walk through a real case study of a federal employee who goes from a $103,000 salary to about $11,000 of spendable pension income in his first year of retirement. We unpack what actually lands in the c...

If you're a federal employee within 5–10 years of retirement, how you take money out of your TSP can quietly add thousands of dollars in extra taxes over your lifetime. It's not just about growing the balance, it's about coordinating your pension, Social Security, and TSP withdrawals so you actually keep more of what you've saved. In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, I walk through thr...

Big changes are coming to your Thrift Savings Plan in 2026, especially if you're a federal employee in your 50s or 60s who's using catch‑up contributions. A single line on your 2025 W‑2 will determine whether your extra TSP savings in 2026 are forced into the Roth side of the plan. That can quietly shrink your paycheck, change your tax picture, and open up new opportunities to build tax‑free incom...

If you've built up real money in your TSP, IRAs, or 401(k)s, a new tax law just quietly handed you a four‑year window to lock in lower taxes for the rest of your retirement. Starting with the 2025 tax year, retirees 65 and older get an extra "senior deduction" of up to $6,000 per person, on top of the regular standard deduction and the normal over‑65 add‑on. That window runs from 2025 through 2028...

Federal employees ask this all the time: "When I retire, do I lose my health insurance?" In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, I walk you through step by step through what really happens to your FEHB when you leave federal service. You'll learn how the five‑year rule works, what "immediate annuity" actually means, and how coverage under a spouse's FEHB or TRICARE can count toward that r...

Deciding whether to add Medicare Part B on top of your FEHB in retirement can feel like a guessing game. In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, Tom Poltersdorf, CFP®, walks you through a simple, practical framework to decide what makes sense for your situation as a federal employee. You'll learn how Medicare and FEHB coordinate, when Part B tends to improve predictability and provider ch...

If you're a federal employee, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can stack on top of your other income, push you into higher tax brackets, and trigger Medicare IRMAA surcharges two years later. The result: surprise tax bills and higher Part B and Part D premiums just when you thought you were "done" working. In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, Tom Poltersdorf, CFP®, walks you throu...

After a short break from publishing, I'm back with a big update. My business and my planning work have become increasingly focused on helping federal employees make confident retirement decisions, and it's time for the podcast to reflect that. In this short episode, I share why I'm narrowing the focus, what's changing, and what you can expect from the new direction. Going forward, this show will b...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos Are you a business owner looking to build wealth and lower your tax bill? In this episode, we break down everything you need to know about setting up a 401(k) retirement plan for small businesses including how to choose betwee...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos Thinking about selling your HVAC business? Here are the 4 things buyers are looking for before they'll pay top dollar. Most owners leave hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table simply because they don't know what buyers...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos If you're a business owner in your 50s or 60s thinking about selling your company, this is for you. After working with tons of business owners as a Certified Financial Planner and Exit Planning Advisor, I've seen a pattern. Pe...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos ---------------- A lot of business owners dream about selling their business and retiring, but not everyone is truly ready. In this video, I'll walk you through 7 critical questions to determine if you're prepared for a smooth...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos   Mark sold his business at 60 and walked away with $850,000. A year later, he was filled with regret. Why? Because like many business owners, he didn't plan beyond the sale. In this episode, I walk you through the four major...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos   Many business owners go broke after selling because they underestimate taxes, overspend without a plan, and fail to invest wisely leading to financial regret and instability. In this episode, we break down the five biggest e...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos   Selling your business is one of the most significant decisions you'll make as a business owner, whether you're retiring, transitioning to new leadership, or planning to sell your business. Listen in and learn: The three comp...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos      

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos   The Value of Time: Why time is our most precious resource and why delaying retirement could cost you. Health Benefits: How retiring can significantly reduce stress and improve your quality of life. Limited Best Years: Unders...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos   Listen in as I break down the critical details of 401k loans—the pros, cons, and major risks you need to be aware of before borrowing from your retirement savings. We discuss how a 401k loan works, the ease of accessing fund...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos   Here are my top 10 actionable recommendations to help you get your retirement savings on track, even if starting from zero in your 40s or beyond. Whether you're 40, 45, or even 50 with no savings, these strategies will guide...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos   In this episode, we dive into the critical topic of borrowing from your 401k and why it could be a major setback for your financial future. Many business owners see 401k loans as a quick and convenient way to access cash, es...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos   In this episode, we dive into strategies to help business owners maximize their 401k to build wealth and reduce the need to rely solely on selling their business for retirement. Learn actionable tips on how to optimize your...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos   Investing during market highs can be intimidating, but it's also a great opportunity if you have the right strategies. I'll guide you step-by-step on how to take advantage of soaring markets while keeping your investment goa...

Do you need help planning your retirement? → See How We Can Help How ready are you to retire? → Get Your Retirement Readiness Score Watch our Free Retirement Planning videos     In this episode of Business Exit Success, we dive into the concept of redefining retirement for high-achieving entrepreneurs who have successfully exited their businesses. Rather than settling into a traditional retirement...