Confident Federal Retirement

Hosted by Tom Poltersdorf Jr.

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190

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Aug 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

August 25, 202610 min

How Federal Employees Can Take TSP Money Without Big Tax Mistakes |Ep 191

Soon to retire federal employees under FERS often have one big question. How do we take money out of the TSP in retirement without wrecking our taxes or running out of money? If most of your savings are in the Thrift Savings Plan and you are in your 50s or early 60s, this episode is for you. In this episode, you will learn The key TSP withdrawal rule that makes cash bucket plans hard inside the TSP The main ages that drive TSP withdrawal rules and early withdrawal penalties How the age 55 rule for federal employees is different from IRA rules What happens when your spouse or kids inherit your TSP and how it affects taxes Three common TSP traps federal retirees fall into when they roll over or withdraw A simple way to match each account to the job it should do in your retirement plan --------------- 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

August 20, 20267 min

FEHB, Medicare, And TRICARE At 65 For Federal Employees |Ep 190

For soon to retire federal employees trying to sort out FEHB, Medicare, and TRICARE, the rules at 65 can feel confusing and high stakes. Do you keep your federal health plan, add Medicare Part B, rely on TRICARE For Life, or something else? How do you avoid penalties and expensive mistakes? In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, you will learn: • How FEHB and Medicare actually work together in retirement, instead of one replacing the other • A simple two column way to compare FEHB alone versus FEHB plus Medicare Part B for your situation • When it makes sense to suspend your FEHB for TRICARE or other coverage instead of canceling it • Why Postal Service retirees under PSHB have different Part B requirements than other federal retirees • Common traps around premiums, late enrollment penalties, Roth conversions, and income based Medicare surcharges • How to think about total annual cost instead of just chasing "more 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

August 18, 20266 min

Will My Spouse Be Okay If I Die First In FERS Retirement |Ep 189

For federal employees under FERS who are married and within about 5 to 10 years of retirement, one question comes up over and over. Will my spouse actually be okay if I die first. The survivor pension decision feels like a one time, high stakes choice, and most people are afraid of guessing wrong. In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, Tom walks through how the FERS survivor benefit really works and what it means for your spouse's long term security, in plain English. In this episode, you will learn: • What you are actually choosing with the FERS survivor pension options and what they cost • Why electing zero survivor benefit can put your spouse's FEHB health insurance at risk • What really happens to Social Security income when one spouse passes away • How taxes and Medicare premiums can change for the surviving spouse • Common traps federal employees fall into when they choose their survivor benefit • A simple "widow's year" exercise to test if your spouse will truly be okay --------------- 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

August 13, 20269 min

Retiring Before 62 As A FERS Employee What Really Changes |Ep 188

This episode is for federal employees in their 50s and early 60s who are thinking about leaving before age 62 and are worried about what that does to their pension, health coverage, and the FERS supplement. If you want to retire from federal service without guessing, and you do not want to make an expensive timing mistake, listen in. In this episode, you will learn: The three main doors out of federal service and how they really work How retiring before 62 changes your pension amount and cost of living raises What has to be true to keep your federal health plan into retirement When you can and cannot receive the FERS supplement and how the earnings limit works The biggest traps I see federal employees fall into when they leave a little too early A simple way to price different retirement dates instead of just picking one --------------- 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

August 11, 202614 min

Should Federal Employees Retire At 57 Or Wait Until 62 |Ep 187

If you are a FERS federal employee in your 50s or early 60s and you are torn between retiring at 57 or waiting until 62, this episode is for you. In this Confident Federal Retirement episode, Tom walks through a simple example to compare retiring at your Minimum Retirement Age versus staying to age 62. You will hear how the FERS pension formula really works, what changes with the 1 point 1 percent multiplier at 62, and how much of the difference is just more years and a higher high-three salary. In this episode, you will learn: • How to compare FERS retirement at 57 versus 62 in plain English • What the FERS Retiree Annuity Supplement is and what happens to it at age 62 • How the Thrift Savings Plan can help fill the income gap when the supplement stops • Why FEHB health insurance is often not a good reason to work all the way to 62 • Four key questions to help you decide which retirement age fits your life and your spouse --------------- 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

August 6, 20268 min

Are FERS Survivor Benefits Taxed Or Are You Paying Twice |Ep 186

If you are a federal employee and you are married, the survivor benefit can feel confusing. Your pension check goes down when you pick it. You may wonder if it is taxed, if it lowers your income, or if you are somehow paying twice. In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, Tom Poltersdorf, CFP, explains survivor benefits in plain, simple language. You will hear how the survivor choice changes your own pension check, what your spouse would see if you die first, and why the cost is not taxed twice. In this episode, you will learn How the survivor benefit changes your pension before tax How survivor checks are taxed to your spouse, and what part can be tax-free Why the IRS spreads out the money you paid in over many months How state taxes can change what lands in your bank account A simple way for you and your spouse to think about this choice together --------------- 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

August 4, 202613 min

FEHB Premium Conversion For Federal Couples Before And After Retirement |Ep 185

Many married federal employees feel confused about FEHB when one spouse retires and the other keeps working. They want to know who should hold the health plan, how long they need to be covered, and whether they can still pay premiums pre tax. In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, Tom explains FEHB premium conversion and the five year rule in plain English, with a special focus on dual federal couples. You will hear how coverage as a spouse counts toward your own five years, what happens when you move the FEHB enrollment to the working spouse, and how survivor benefits tie into FEHB for the surviving spouse. In this episode, you will learn. How FEHB premiums work for active federal employees and retirees. What the FEHB five year rule really means for each spouse in a two fed home. When it may make sense to keep one family plan or use two Self Only plans. A step by step example of moving FEHB to the working spouse for pre tax savings. How survivor pension choices and timing can affect FEHB for the surviving spouse. A simple checklist to help you avoid gaps and protect your FEHB in retirement. --------------- 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

July 30, 202614 min

Smart Ways Federal Employees Can Pay Taxes On Roth Conversions |Ep 184

If you're a federal employee in your 50s or early 60s with most of your savings in the traditional TSP and IRAs, Roth conversions can feel confusing. You may like the idea of tax-free growth, but worry that a big tax bill today could hurt your retirement plan or your spouse later. In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, Tom explains Roth conversions in plain English for FERS and CSRS employees. You will see how tax brackets really work, how your FERS pension and TSP fit into the picture, and three smart ways to pay the tax bill without guessing. In this episode, you will learn What a Roth conversion is for federal employees with TSP and pensions How tax brackets work like buckets and why gap years matter Three main ways to pay the tax bill, including cash, pension withholding, and quarterly payments Why using outside cash often wins, and what to do if you cannot How Medicare premium surcharges can sneak in if conversions push income too high --------------- 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

July 28, 202613 min

Unused Sick Leave And The 1.1 FERS Multiplier For Federal Employees |Ep 183

For FERS federal employees with a big unused sick leave balance, the rules can feel confusing. Can sick leave help you retire earlier? Can it boost your FERS pension by getting you the 1.1 percent multiplier at age 62? Or does it only make a small difference in your federal retirement? In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, Tom explains what unused sick leave really does in the FERS pension formula, and where it fits into your retirement timing decision. In this episode you will learn: What unused sick leave can and cannot change in your FERS pension The two rules you must meet to get the 1.1 percent FERS multiplier When sick leave can push you over twenty years of service at age 62 Why sick leave does not change your age, retirement date, or eligibility How to think about "burning" sick leave versus banking it before retirement --------------- 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

July 23, 202613 min

Should Federal Employees Take A VERA Early Retirement Offer |Ep 182

If you're a FERS federal employee and your agency is talking about VERA, Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, it can feel scary and rushed. You may be in your 50s or early 60s with many years of service, and now there's an early retirement offer on the table. You do not want to guess wrong on VERA, a buyout, or a future reduction in force. In this episode of Confident Federal Retirement, fee-only fiduciary planner Tom Poltersdorf explains VERA for federal employees in plain English so you can slow down and make a clear decision. In this episode, you will learn: What VERA, Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, is and why agencies use early outs during big workforce changes and RIFs. Who can qualify for a VERA early retirement under FERS and CSRS, and the basic age and service rules. What VERA does not do, including how it does not change the pension formula and is different from a VSIP buyout. How a VERA offer can affect your FERS pension, FEHB health insurance, TSP withdrawals, and your cash flow in retirement. Simple questions to talk through with your spouse before you say yes or no to any federal early retirement offer. A simple case study of a couple who compared taking VERA to working a few more years. --------------- 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