Plan Your Federal Retirement Podcast

Hosted by Micah Shilanski & Tammy Flanagan

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467

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Financial Planner and benefits professional discuss the intricacies of the Federal Employee Retirement System. This real world experience allows these benefits professionals to address questions they are most frequently asked by Feds as well as Human Resource departments on how benefits work. Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. 431 W 7th Ave Ste 100 Anchorage, AK 99501 (907) 278-1350

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60 recent

October 12, 202615 min

#154 Smart TSP Withdrawal Strategies (and One to Possibly Avoid)

You've spent decades building your TSP, but how you take money out in retirement can be just as important as how you saved it. In this episode, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, breaks down TSP withdrawal strategies federal employees may consider in retirement. He explains how systematic withdrawals work, what happens when payments are tied to life expectancy, why proportionate distributions can create challenges during a down market, and why flexibility matters when building a long-term retirement income strategy. The goal isn't simply to choose a withdrawal method. It's to create a distribution strategy that gives you income today, provides flexibility for the future, and sets guardrails to help your retirement savings last.

October 7, 20266 min

Social Security Claiming Age: When Should You Claim Benefits?

When should a federal employee claim Social Security? At 62, full retirement age, or 70? The answer may involve much more than finding your mathematical break-even point. In this episode of FERS Federal Fact Check , we look at what happens when you claim Social Security early, how delayed retirement credits work, why "claim it and invest it" carries assumptions of its own, and why married federal employees may want to pay particular attention to survivor income. 🎧 Listen to the full episode and read the article to learn what federal employees should consider before choosing when to claim Social Security. https://zurl.co/4Tolo

October 5, 2026Episode 15311 min

#153 Why Your Will Isn't Enough: Estate Planning Essentials for Federal Employees

Is having a will enough to complete your estate plan? For many federal employees, the answer may be no. In this episode of the Plan Your Federal Retirement Podcast, Floyd Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, discusses several pieces of an estate plan that can be easy to overlook, including powers of attorney, medical directives, beneficiary designations, the TSP, FEGLI, and trusts. You'll learn why Floyd believes federal employees should review their estate planning documents before retirement, not after. Have a retirement question on your mind? Give us a call at 907-931-1775 and leave us your question - we're here to help create solutions that fit your goals! Need professional help with your retirement planning? Schedule a call today: https://zurl.co/AiAC Visit our website: https://zurl.co/ykNww Happy Planning!

September 9, 20264 min

How Much Do You Really Need to Retire?

You may have heard that you need a certain amount of money before retirement. But those numbers do not tell you whether your individual retirement plan will work. For federal employees, retirement income may come from multiple sources, including the FERS Basic Benefit, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Your personal retirement number also depends on how much you expect to spend, when you retire, taxes, health care costs, and the lifestyle you want to maintain . Instead of asking only, "How much money should I have saved?" consider asking: How much income will I need in retirement, and where will that income come from? A retirement strategy should bring together your expected spending, FERS pension, Social Security, TSP and other assets, taxes, health care expenses, survivor needs, and personal retirement goals. Listen to the full episode , read the article and learn how to start building a retirement plan around your own numbers https://plan-your-federal-retirement.com/how-much-do-you-really-need-to-retire?utm_medium=social&utm_source=social&utm_campaign=fffc-26-0909 Have a retirement question on your mind? Give us a call at 907-931-1775 and leave us your question - we're here to help create solutions that fit your goals! Happy Planning!

August 31, 2026Episode 15216 min

#152 How Will You Pay the Bills While OPM Processes Your Retirement?

What happens to your income after your last federal paycheck, before OPM finishes processing your FERS retirement? For many federal employees, retirement brings a big change in cash flow. Your regular paycheck ends, you might get paid for unused annual leave, and OPM may start sending interim retirement payments while your application is being processed. So how can you keep paying your bills during this time? In this episode of the Plan Your Federal Retirement Podcast, is discussed why cash flow is the heartbeat of retirement and how federal employees can begin preparing for the transition before their retirement date arrives. As you approach retirement, it's essential to ensure that you have a plan in place to address any potential income gaps. Download your copy of our guide that can help you calculate this gap and offer practical strategies to bridge it - https://zurl.co/QLcgf Have a retirement question on your mind? Give us a call at 907-931-1775 and leave us your question - we're here to help create solutions that fit your goals! Need professional help with your retirement planning? Schedule a call today: https://zurl.co/AiAC Visit our website: https://zurl.co/ykNww Happy Planning!

August 5, 20265 min

What Should You Do If a "Virus Alert" Pops Up and Asks You to Call

A fake virus alert pops up on your computer. It looks like it came from Apple, Microsoft, or another company you recognize. It says your device is infected and tells you to call a phone number immediately. What should you do? In this FERS Federal Fact Check episode, we discuss how tech support scams, fake computer warnings, and crypto-related fraud can target federal employees and retirees. These scams are often designed to create urgency, fear, and confusion so that people act before they have time to think. Want help reviewing your retirement plan? Schedule a conversation with a professional to walk through your options and support more informed decision-making: https://plan-your-federal-retirement.com/schedule-your-personal-consultation/?utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=youtube Have a retirement question on your mind? Give us a call at 907-931-1775 and leave us your question - we're here to help create solutions that fit your goals! Happy Planning!

July 1, 20265 min

Should You Trust AI With Your Social Security Decision?

Can AI tell you when to claim Social Security? A chatbot may be able to explain age 62, full retirement age, delayed credits, or the earnings test. But it may not understand your FERS pension, your spouse's future income, your TSP plan, your tax picture, or your survivor planning needs. Have a retirement question on your mind? Give us a call at 907-931-1775 and leave us your question - we're here to help create solutions that fit your goals! If you are wondering what you should be doing before and immediately after your federal retirement date - grab your copy of our guide today - https://zurl.co/1oIzt

June 22, 2026Episode 15118 min

#151 Should You Change Your Social Security Strategy Because of the News?

In this episode, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, and Floyd Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, discuss what federal employees should focus on when evaluating their Social Security claiming strategy. They explain how Social Security fits into a broader retirement plan, why headlines don't always tell the full story, and how factors such as taxes, survivor benefits, Medicare, and retirement income should be considered before making a decision. Need professional help with your retirement planning? Schedule a call today: https://zurl.co/AiAC Visit our website: https://zurl.co/ykNww

June 10, 20267 min

The 4 Retirement Risks That Never Go Away

These risks can affect your pension, TSP, Social Security benefits, and overall retirement strategy long after your retirement date arrives. Understanding these risks may help you make more informed decisions as you prepare for the years ahead. Schedule a conversation with a professional to walk through your options and support more informed decision-making: https://plan-your-federal-retirement.com/schedule-your-personal-consultation/?utm_medium=youtube&utm_source=youtube&utm_campaign=youtube

May 27, 20265 min

Did You Just Inherit a Tax Problem?

Federal employees and spouses often hear the phrase: "It's an inheritance, so it's tax-free." But is that actually true? In this FERS Federal Fact Check episode, Micah Shilanski, Managing Partner and Wealth Advisor, breaks down a common misunderstanding around inherited money, estate taxes, and taxable retirement accounts. Find out why "no inheritance tax" does not always mean "no taxes," and how inherited accounts could affect your retirement income, tax bracket, and long-term planning decisions. Check out the full article on our website: https://plan-your-federal-retirement.com/did-you-just-inherit-a-tax-problem?utm_medium=social&utm_source=social&utm_campaign=fffc-26-0527