Social Security Claiming Age: When Should You Claim Benefits?
Real Question from a Federal Employee Question from many federal employees: “I’m getting close to retirement and keep going back and forth on Social Security. Should I claim at 62 and invest the money, or wait until full retirement age or 70 for a larger monthly benefit? And how could that decision affect my spouse?” […]
#153 Why Your Will Isn’t Enough: Estate Planning Essentials for Federal Employees
Listen to the Full Episode: Estate Planning for Federal Employees: Why a Will Isn’t Enough Estate planning for federal employees involves more than simply writing a will. Federal employees often have retirement benefits, life insurance, and other financial assets that require careful planning to ensure their wishes are followed. Estate planning involves more than […]
#152 How Will You Pay the Bills While OPM Processes Your Retirement
Listen to the Full Episode: Understanding OPM Retirement Processing OPM retirement processing can take time, leaving federal retirees wondering how they will pay their bills while waiting for their retirement benefits. During this period, managing everyday expenses, mortgage payments, and other financial obligations can become challenging. Retirement changes more than where you spend your […]
What Should You Do If a “Virus Alert” Pops Up and Asks You to Call?
Real Question from a Federal Employee Question from many federal employees: “I received a pop-up on my computer saying my device was infected and I needed to call a support number right away. It looked official. What should I do?” What Is a Virus Alert Pop-Up? If a virus alert pop-up that suddenly appears on […]
How Much Do You Really Need to Retire?
Retirement headlines often focus on one big number. You may read that you need $1 million, $1.5 million, or even $2 million before you can afford to retire. These numbers may be useful as general examples, but they do not tell you whether your retirement plan will work. The amount you may need depends on […]
Should You Trust AI With Your Social Security Decision?
Artificial intelligence is everywhere. You can ask a chatbot almost any question and get an answer in seconds. Questions like: When should I take Social Security? Should I claim benefits at age 62? Will Social Security still be there when I retire? Is it better to wait until age 70? The answers come quickly. The […]
#151 Should You Change Your Social Security Strategy Because of the News?
Listen to the Full Episode: Why Your Social Security Strategy Matters Social Security strategy is an important part of retirement planning, but should you change yours because of the latest news? Headlines about Social Security benefits, government policies, and potential changes to the program can cause uncertainty for retirees and people approaching retirement. Most […]
The 4 Retirement Risks That Never Go Away
Real Question from a Federal Employee Question 1739 from Bob: My brother passed away and his quarterly tsp statement in the beneficiary summary says his “living trust is not a beneficiary. “ What do I do? He obviously submitted forms designating the trust a beneficiary since it’s listed? -Thanks Bob Many federal employees spend years […]
Did You Just Inherit a Tax Problem?
Real Question from a Federal Employee Question 1739 from Bob: My brother passed away and his quarterly tsp statement in the beneficiary summary says his “living trust is not a beneficiary. “ What do I do? He obviously submitted forms designating the trust a beneficiary since it’s listed? -Thanks Bob When a loved one passes […]
#150 Why Your Retirement Plan Might Fail
Listen to the Full Episode: Most federal employees focus on how much they’ve saved for retirement, but overlook one critical factor that can determine long-term success: cash flow. In this episode of the Plan Your Federal Retirement Podcast, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, and Luke Eberly, Wealth Advisor, break down a common, […]
TSP Beneficiary Discrepancy? What to Do Next
Real Question from a Federal Employee Question 1739 from Bob: My brother passed away and his quarterly tsp statement in the beneficiary summary says his “living trust is not a beneficiary. “ What do I do? He obviously submitted forms designating the trust a beneficiary since it’s listed? -Thanks Bob If you’re within 5–10 years […]
#149 Are You Letting Headlines Control Your Retirement Decisions?
Listen to the Full Episode: Are your retirement decisions based on 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, explain how outside influences like […]
