Rayna Retirement

Preparing for federal retirement involves more than picking a date—it requires understanding the process, the paperwork, and the decisions that come before you officially leave service. In this episode of Rayna Retirement , Rayna Reyes walks listeners through what the federal retirement portal looks like, how to prepare key documents in advance, and which forms still require old-fashioned signatur...

A major update to the Thrift Savings Plan is now in effect, and it could have meaningful tax implications for federal employees and retirees.  In this episode of Rayna Retirement , Rayna Reyes explains the new ability for TSP participants to complete in-plan Roth conversions , effective January 28, 2026. She breaks down how Roth conversions work inside the TSP, what taxes apply when moving pre-tax...

Retirement. Radio's Matt McClure sits down with Rod Griffin, Senior Director of Consumer Education and Advocacy at Experian, for a practical and timely conversation about emergency savings. With rising living costs, recent holiday spending, and ongoing debt repayment putting pressure on household budgets, many Americans struggle to set money aside for unexpected expenses. Matt and Rod break down c...

On this episode of Rayna Retirement , host Rayna Reyes breaks down federal survivor benefits in a clear, relatable way—helping listeners understand what their spouse may (or may not) receive after retirement. Rayna explains who qualifies as a survivor, how disabled children may be treated differently, and why survivor benefits are typically reserved for spouses only. She walks through the key diff...

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Lifecycle Funds are changing more often than many federal employees realize. In this episode of Rayna Retirement , host Rayna Reyes explains how L Funds automatically adjust every quarter—and why understanding these changes is critical to managing risk as retirement approaches. She also explains why holding multiple L Funds at once doesn’t provide additional diversifi...

If you’re a federal employee and you have FEGLI Basic life insurance , this is an episode you don’t want to skip. This time on Rayna Retirement , she’s breaking down what your Basic life insurance really does , why it’s one of the few benefits that can stay with you forever , and how it can play a critical role in protecting your family—both while you’re living and after you’re gone. Whether you’r...

If you’ve ever heard the phrase “the more money we come across, the more problems we see,” this episode might hit close to home. In today’s episode of Rayna Retirement , Rayna is breaking down IRMAA —the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount —and how it can cause your Medicare Part B premiums to jump significantly after you retire. Here’s the tricky part: Medicare doesn’t look at what you make...

In this fast-paced and fun episode of Rayna Retirement , Rayna dives into the wonderfully overwhelming world of federal retirement acronyms —the alphabet soup every federal employee eventually has to decode. Whether you're under FERS or CSRS, choosing FEHB plans, deciding what to keep from FEGLI, or navigating the TSP, Rayna breaks it all down with her signature blend of clarity and humor. More im...

If you’re a federal or postal employee preparing for retirement, a major shift has officially arrived — and for many, it feels bittersweet. On this episode of Rayna Retirement , Rayna reflects on the end of an era as the Postal Service fully transitions away from paper retirement applications and into the online retirement portal . Using a heartfelt analogy inspired by Slippin’ Through My Fingers...

In this fast-paced and fun episode of Rayna Retirement , Rayna dives into the wonderfully overwhelming world of federal retirement acronyms —the alphabet soup every federal employee eventually has to decode. Whether you're under FERS or CSRS, choosing FEHB plans, deciding what to keep from FEGLI, or navigating the TSP, Rayna breaks it all down with her signature blend of clarity and humor. More im...

Starting January 1, 2026, USPS employees can no longer submit paper retirement applications—everything must go through the online ORA system. In this episode, Rayna explains what’s changing, how to get access, what documents still require paper, and how her team can help postal workers complete the process with confidence.  From login tips to survivor benefit notarizations, Rayna walks you through...

This time around, Rayna breaks down one of the most misunderstood benefits in the entire federal system: FEGLI Basic Life Insurance . From how your basic coverage is calculated, to why she is such a strong advocate for keeping it into retirement, Rayna explains why FEGLI Basic is one of the best—and most cost-effective—legacy protection tools available to federal employees. Listeners learn how FEG...

In this episode of Rayna Retirement , Rayna digs into one of the most important — yet most avoided — parts of retirement planning: legacy planning . Inspired by Ben Franklin’s famous line about the certainties of life, Rayna highlights why planning for the “end in mind” isn’t morbid — it’s responsible, empowering, and essential for protecting the people you love.  She explains why beneficiary desi...

In this episode of Rayna Retirement , Rayna walks federal employees step-by-step through what really happens after you retire — from your final day of service all the way to receiving your official annuity payments. Drawing directly from OPM guidelines, Rayna explains why your retirement date matters , how the baton pass from HR to OPM works, what “ interim payments ” are, and how long you can exp...

In this fun and educational episode, Rayna uses her signature analogy— coffee vs. water —to explain the real difference between traditional retirement contributions and Roth contributions. Federal employees, FERS workers, and TSP savers will especially benefit from Rayna’s breakdown of: What Roth means Why tax-free growth (the “oil”) is so powerful Contribution limits for 2025 Why high-income earn...

When can you retire as a FERS employee—and what happens at each milestone age? Rayna walks listeners through Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) , age 62 , age 65 , and Social Security’s Full Retirement Age (FRA) so federal employees can understand how these important thresholds affect their pension, health benefits, and Social Security strategy. This is a must-listen if you want to retire with confidenc...

In this episode, Rayna Reyes breaks down the critical differences between CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System) and FERS (Federal Employees Retirement System) —and why understanding your retirement system is essential for maximizing your federal benefits. Rayna uses real examples, clear explanations, and her signature humor to help you make sense of pensions, Social Security, TSP contributions, m...

In this high-energy episode of Rayna Retirement , Rayna Reyes breaks down the most common question she hears from federal employees: “Can I retire yet?” Using her signature humor and straight-to-the-point style, Rayna explains the five main pathways out of federal service— Immediate Retirement, MRA+10, Deferred Retirement, Postponed Retirement, and Disability Retirement —and helps listeners unders...

In this fun and highly practical episode of Rayna Retirement , Rayna Reyes helps you “ride the Medicare train” with confidence. Whether you're turning 65, retiring from federal service, or navigating disability-based eligibility, Rayna breaks down exactly who qualifies for Medicare, when you can enroll, and how to avoid costly penalties . She explains the differences between Medicare Parts A, B, C...

Rayna breaks down the difference between Roth and Traditional TSP contributions using her signature humor—and even a brand-new song. Learn why your contribution type and strategy matter, how percentage vs. dollar amounts impact your match, what to do when you get a raise, and the big Roth-related rule change coming in 2026 for high earners. Contact Rayna directly at 850-450-6500 Or call the Americ...

In this episode of Rayna Retirement , Rayna Reyes breaks down some of the most confusing—and most misunderstood—questions federal employees have about survivor benefits and FEHB health insurance . From what happens if you retire single and get married later, to how survivor benefits impact premiums, to the surprising truth about “Twinkies,” Rayna gives clear, easy-to-understand answers you won’t h...

Love and marriage come with a lot of decisions — and for federal employees, one of the most important is whether or not to leave a survivor benefit . In this episode, Rayna Reyes breaks down the complex rules around FERS and CSRS survivor benefits , explaining how they work, what they cost, and how they connect to your health insurance in retirement . Rayna uses clear, real-life examples to help y...

Just when you got used to the GRB system, the federal government rolled out a new retirement portal — ORA (the Online Retirement Application). In this episode, Rayna Reyes breaks down exactly what federal employees need to know before starting their ORA retirement application. Rayna walks you through the three critical forms ORA doesn’t include — the SF 2818 (Life Insurance Election), the W-4P (Ta...

Losing someone you love is never easy — emotionally or financially. In this episode of Rayna Retirement , host Rayna Reyes , co-founder of American Federal Benefits Consultants, shares compassionate and practical guidance for federal employees and their families on what to do after the death of a loved one.  Rayna explains: The first steps to take when a spouse or family member passes away How to...

Think you’re too young to touch your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) without a penalty? Think again. In this episode of Rayna Retirement , host Rayna Reyes , co-founder of American Federal Benefits Consultants, breaks down how separated or early-retired federal employees under age 55 can legally access their TSP — without triggering that dreaded 10% IRS penalty. Rayna explains: The difference between th...