Confident Federal Retirement

Hosted by Tom Poltersdorf Jr.

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Episodes

207

Latest episode

Oct 2026

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About the show

Confident Federal Retirement is the retirement podcast for federal employees who want to retire from federal service without guessing. If you're within about 5–10 years of retirement and worried about picking the wrong date, misunderstanding your pension, or messing up TSP and Social Security, this show is for you. In each short, focused episode, I break down FERS, CSRS, TSP, Social Security, FEHB, FEGLI, and retirement taxes into clear decisions you can actually act on, without jargon or spreadsheets. You'll hear real‑world scenarios, simple checklists, and straight answers to questions like: "When can I retire?", "Will my pension and TSP be enough?", and "How do I avoid ugly tax surprises?" I'm a fee‑only fiduciary financial planner who specializes in federal retirement planning, and my goal is to help you go from confused and uncertain to clear and confident about your next chapter. When you're ready for one‑on‑one help, visit gtwealthguide.com to request a personalized federal retirement plan and talk through your options.

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60 recent

October 27, 202615 min

How Your FERS Survivor Election Affects Your Spouse's FEHB |Ep 208

If you're a married federal employee under FERS and your spouse is covered by your FEHB plan, your survivor benefit election may affect more than your future pension income. Many federal employees see this as a choice between keeping more income today or leaving a survivor annuity to their spouse. But the election can also affect whether your spouse remains eligible for Federal Employees Health Benefits after you die. In this episode, you'll learn: How the full, partial, and no FERS survivor benefit options work What the 10% and 5% pension reductions mean How a survivor benefit can affect your spouse's FEHB eligibility Why life insurance may replace income but can't replace FEHB eligibility How to compare your spouse's health insurance options before Medicare Why Self Plus One versus Self Only coverage matters How an example federal employee couple worked through the decision --------------- When you're ready for a personalized plan built around your specific federal benefits, visit https://gtwealthguide.com/federal-blueprint to request your free Federal Retirement Blueprint. We'll map out your federal benefits, TSP, Social Security, and tax plan on one page so you can retire from federal service without guessing. --------------- Get your copy of the Federal Retirement Readiness Blueprint: a 7‑step checklist to pick the right retirement date and see what will actually hit your bank account after survivor benefits, FEHB, and taxes: https://gtwealth.kit.com/federal-retirement-readiness --------------- Federal Retirement YouTube Videos - youtube.com/@TomPoltersdorf

October 20, 202615 min

The Tax Window Federal Employees Have Before Social Security and RMDs |Ep 207

For many federal employees, the period between retirement and the start of Social Security or required minimum distributions creates a temporary tax planning window. During this time, your FERS pension may provide the income floor while you decide how much to withdraw from your TSP, whether Roth conversions deserve consideration, and how future Medicare premiums could be affected. In this episode, you'll learn: How the tax window works for FERS federal employees. How your pension, FERS supplement, TSP, and Social Security fit together. How to think through Roth conversions without assuming they are right for everyone. Why age 63 income can affect Medicare premiums at age 65 through IRMAA. How Social Security timing changes your retirement income plan. Why required minimum distributions eventually change the tax picture. Which three dates you and your spouse should put on one page. --------------- When you're ready for a personalized plan built around your specific federal benefits, visit https://gtwealthguide.com/federal-blueprint to request your free Federal Retirement Blueprint. We'll map out your federal benefits, TSP, Social Security, and tax plan on one page so you can retire from federal service without guessing. --------------- Get your copy of the Federal Retirement Readiness Blueprint: a 7‑step checklist to pick the right retirement date and see what will actually hit your bank account after survivor benefits, FEHB, and taxes: https://gtwealth.kit.com/federal-retirement-readiness --------------- Federal Retirement YouTube Videos - youtube.com/@TomPoltersdorf

October 15, 202616 min

Roth TSP vs. Roth IRA. The Five-Year Rule Federal Employees Need to Know |Ep 206

Are you a federal employee within five years of retirement with money in the Roth Thrift Savings Plan, or Roth TSP? Before you roll that money into a Roth IRA, it's important to understand how the Roth TSP five-year clock and Roth IRA five-year clock work. These clocks are separate. The time your money spent in the Roth TSP generally does not transfer to the Roth IRA clock after a rollover. Depending on your age, contribution history, and retirement timeline, that difference could affect when Roth earnings are available tax-free. In this episode, you'll learn: What the Roth TSP five-year rule actually controls How Roth TSP contributions and earnings are treated differently Why Roth TSP and Roth IRA five-year clocks run separately How a small Roth IRA contribution may start your Roth IRA clock years before retirement How Roth conversions and in-plan Roth TSP conversions fit into the timeline When a qualified Roth TSP rollover may make the clock less important Why the timing matters for federal employees retiring before age 59½ --------------- When you're ready for a personalized plan built around your specific federal benefits, visit https://gtwealthguide.com/federal-blueprint to request your free Federal Retirement Blueprint. We'll map out your federal benefits, TSP, Social Security, and tax plan on one page so you can retire from federal service without guessing. --------------- Get your copy of the Federal Retirement Readiness Blueprint: a 7‑step checklist to pick the right retirement date and see what will actually hit your bank account after survivor benefits, FEHB, and taxes: https://gtwealth.kit.com/federal-retirement-readiness --------------- Federal Retirement YouTube Videos - youtube.com/@TomPoltersdorf

October 13, 202616 min

What Happens to Your Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) When You Retire From Federal Service |Ep 205

Are you a federal employee within about five years of retirement? Your Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) has probably been running in the background throughout your career. At retirement, you make a set of choices about it, and some of them cannot be undone. In this episode, you will learn: The four pieces of FEGLI (Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance) and what each one covers The five-year rule that decides what you can carry into retirement The choices on the SF 2818 and which decisions are permanent How FEGLI coverage changes after age 65 What unreduced Option B can cost in your 70s and 80s How to decide whether to keep, reduce, or replace your coverage --------------- When you're ready for a personalized plan built around your specific federal benefits, visit https://gtwealthguide.com/federal-blueprint to request your free Federal Retirement Blueprint. We'll map out your federal benefits, TSP, Social Security, and tax plan on one page so you can retire from federal service without guessing. --------------- Get your copy of the Federal Retirement Readiness Blueprint: a 7‑step checklist to pick the right retirement date and see what will actually hit your bank account after survivor benefits, FEHB, and taxes: https://gtwealth.kit.com/federal-retirement-readiness --------------- Federal Retirement YouTube Videos - youtube.com/@TomPoltersdorf

October 8, 202615 min

Smart Ways Federal Employees Can Pay Taxes On Roth Conversions |Ep 204

If most of your retirement savings are in a traditional TSP or traditional IRAs, Roth conversions may be worth considering. But the important question is not simply whether Roth is "good." It is how much to convert, when to convert, and how to pay the tax without creating a new problem. ( Encore episode, originally published July 30, 2026.) In this episode, Tom explains: How Roth conversions work for federal employees Why the years between retirement, Social Security, and RMDs can matter Three ways to pay the conversion tax Why outside cash may be preferable when available How pension withholding and estimated payments may fit Why Medicare income thresholds also need to be considered A simple case study and checklist for getting started --------------- When you're ready for a personalized plan built around your specific federal benefits, visit https://gtwealthguide.com/federal-blueprint to request your free Federal Retirement Blueprint. We'll map out your federal benefits, TSP, Social Security, and tax plan on one page so you can retire from federal service without guessing. --------------- Get your copy of the Federal Retirement Readiness Blueprint: a 7‑step checklist to pick the right retirement date and see what will actually hit your bank account after survivor benefits, FEHB, and taxes: https://gtwealth.kit.com/federal-retirement-readiness --------------- Federal Retirement YouTube Videos - youtube.com/@TomPoltersdorf

October 6, 202614 min

How Much Cash Should Dual Federal Couples Hold in Retirement? |Ep 203

Are you a federal employee in your 50s or early 60s whose spouse is also in federal service? If so, you may be wondering how much cash to hold before and during retirement. The usual rules, like three months or six months of expenses, were built for people with a paycheck. Retirement requires a different way to think about cash. In this episode, Tom explains how to match your cash reserve to your retirement income gap and the amount of time you would want to avoid selling investments after a market decline. In this episode, you will learn: Why traditional emergency fund rules may not fit retirement. How to calculate your retirement income gap. Why the gap may change when the FERS supplement ends at age 62. How sequence-of-returns risk affects early retirement. How to account for known expenses like a vehicle, roof, or family commitment. How to build a cash target without relying on a generic rule of thumb. --------------- When you're ready for a personalized plan built around your specific federal benefits, visit https://gtwealthguide.com/federal-blueprint to request your free Federal Retirement Blueprint. We'll map out your federal benefits, TSP, Social Security, and tax plan on one page so you can retire from federal service without guessing. --------------- Get your copy of the Federal Retirement Readiness Blueprint: a 7‑step checklist to pick the right retirement date and see what will actually hit your bank account after survivor benefits, FEHB, and taxes: https://gtwealth.kit.com/federal-retirement-readiness --------------- Federal Retirement YouTube Videos - youtube.com/@TomPoltersdorf

October 1, 202615 min

Should Dual Federal Couples Take Survivor Benefits on Both FERS Pensions? |Ep 202

Are you a federal employee in your 50s or early 60s whose spouse is also retiring under FERS? When both spouses have federal pensions, it's easy to assume survivor benefits are unnecessary. Sometimes that is the right decision. But the choice can affect pension income, Social Security, taxes, household cash flow, and FEHB coverage. In this episode, you'll learn: How full, partial, and no survivor benefits work under FERS What each option costs on each spouse's pension Why dual-federal couples should evaluate each pension separately How income may change after the first spouse dies Why losing one Social Security check matters What FEHB questions to review before waiving a survivor benefit --------------- When you're ready for a personalized plan built around your specific federal benefits, visit https://gtwealthguide.com/federal-blueprint to request your free Federal Retirement Blueprint. We'll map out your federal benefits, TSP, Social Security, and tax plan on one page so you can retire from federal service without guessing. --------------- Get your copy of the Federal Retirement Readiness Blueprint: a 7‑step checklist to pick the right retirement date and see what will actually hit your bank account after survivor benefits, FEHB, and taxes: https://gtwealth.kit.com/federal-retirement-readiness --------------- Federal Retirement YouTube Videos - youtube.com/@TomPoltersdorf

September 29, 202619 min

Can One Federal Spouse Retire Safely While the Other Keeps Working? |Ep 201

Are you a federal employee in your 50s or early 60s whose spouse is also in federal service? One of you may be ready to retire while the other keeps working. That decision affects your household income, FERS pension timing, TSP withdrawals, FEHB coverage, and taxes. The right answer depends on how those pieces work together. In this episode, you'll learn: How to measure the real income gap when one paycheck stops. Why one spouse retiring first may help the other reach a better pension date. How TSP withdrawal rules can differ between the retired and working spouse. Why moving TSP money to an IRA can change early withdrawal considerations. How married federal couples may coordinate FEHB coverage when one spouse retires. Why salary, pension, TSP withdrawals, and annual leave can create a high-income tax year. --------------- When you're ready for a personalized plan built around your specific federal benefits, visit https://gtwealthguide.com/federal-blueprint to request your free Federal Retirement Blueprint. We'll map out your federal benefits, TSP, Social Security, and tax plan on one page so you can retire from federal service without guessing. --------------- Get your copy of the Federal Retirement Readiness Blueprint: a 7‑step checklist to pick the right retirement date and see what will actually hit your bank account after survivor benefits, FEHB, and taxes: https://gtwealth.kit.com/federal-retirement-readiness --------------- Federal Retirement YouTube Videos - youtube.com/@TomPoltersdorf

September 24, 202618 min

The Roth Conversion Window for Federal Employees After Retirement |Ep 200

Are you a federal employee in your late 50s or early 60s with most of your retirement savings in a traditional TSP? When one spouse retires, household income may drop. That lower-income period can create a Roth conversion window before Social Security, Medicare premiums, and required minimum distributions begin adding income back into the picture. In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement , Tom Poltersdorf, CFP®, explains how federal employees can think through Roth conversions after retirement without guessing or relying on a one-size-fits-all answer. In this episode, you'll learn: What a Roth conversion is and how it applies to the TSP and traditional IRAs. Why retirement can create a lower-income planning window. How FERS pensions, Social Security, and TSP withdrawals work together. How required minimum distributions can affect future taxable income. Why Medicare's two-year lookback and IRMAA premiums matter. How the FERS annuity supplement earnings test fits into the analysis. The questions to ask before deciding whether a Roth conversion makes sense. --------------- When you're ready for a personalized plan built around your specific federal benefits, visit https://gtwealthguide.com/federal-blueprint to request your free Federal Retirement Blueprint. We'll map out your federal benefits, TSP, Social Security, and tax plan on one page so you can retire from federal service without guessing. --------------- Get your copy of the Federal Retirement Readiness Blueprint: a 7‑step checklist to pick the right retirement date and see what will actually hit your bank account after survivor benefits, FEHB, and taxes: https://gtwealth.kit.com/federal-retirement-readiness --------------- Federal Retirement YouTube Videos - youtube.com/@TomPoltersdorf

September 22, 202618 min

Married Federal Employees, How Should Two Different TSPs Work Together? |Ep 199

If you're a married federal employee within about five to ten years of retirement, your two TSP accounts may look completely different. One spouse may have most of their money invested in the stock funds, while the other has almost everything in the G Fund. That does not automatically mean one person is right and the other is wrong. But it can create a problem if the account carrying the most market risk is also the account funding your first retirement paychecks. In this episode, Tom Poltersdorf, CFP®, explains how to look at two TSP accounts as one household income plan instead of two separate investment accounts. In this episode, you'll learn: Why married federal couples often develop opposite TSP strategies How to calculate your combined household allocation Why the account funding your first withdrawals matters How sequence risk can affect your early retirement income Why being too conservative can affect future purchasing power How to match each account to your retirement paycheck --------------- When you're ready for a personalized plan built around your specific federal benefits, visit https://gtwealthguide.com/federal-blueprint to request your free Federal Retirement Blueprint. We'll map out your federal benefits, TSP, Social Security, and tax plan on one page so you can retire from federal service without guessing. --------------- Get your copy of the Federal Retirement Readiness Blueprint: a 7‑step checklist to pick the right retirement date and see what will actually hit your bank account after survivor benefits, FEHB, and taxes: https://gtwealth.kit.com/federal-retirement-readiness --------------- Federal Retirement YouTube Videos - youtube.com/@TomPoltersdorf

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