Federal employees can’t control how fast OPM works through its retirement backlog, but they can control whether their own application is complete and error-free. From OPM’s official guidance, this guide walks through the documentation, forms, and common mistakes that most often delay processing under OPM’s Online Retirement Application (ORA) system. A companion checklist is available to download and work through before submitting your application. more…
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OPM Retirement Backlog Falls Again in August 2026 — And Wait Times Drop
OPM’s retirement backlog posted its steepest one-month decline of the fiscal year in August, extending a downward trend that’s now stretched across six straight months since February’s peak. Just as notably, average processing times improved for the first time since spring, reversing a months-long climb — though one number in the report suggests the improvement isn’t as straightforward as it looks. Federal employees planning to retire soon should still expect a period of interim payments while OPM finalizes their claim, and the full breakdown shows exactly how long that wait might be. more…
Some CSRS Retirees May Still Be Missing Social Security Back Pay
If you have a CSRS pension and never applied for a Social Security spousal or survivor benefit because the Government Pension Offset would have reduced it to zero, that’s worth revisiting now. A new August 2026 Congressional Research Service report confirms that SSA’s six-month retroactivity limit for new applicants isn’t changing anytime soon, despite pushback from senators. The message: don’t wait for the policy to shift — every month you delay a claim is a month of back pay you can’t recover. more…
What FEHB Enrollees Should Know if They Get a Letter from Medicare This Month
Every September, people enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans receive an annual notice spelling out changes to their coverage and costs for the year ahead. But if you’re a federal retiree with Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), whether that letter applies to you — and how much it matters — depends on exactly how your FEHB and Medicare coverage fit together. This guide provides a scenario-by-scenario breakdown of the common combinations of FEHB and Medicare coverage so you know what to do more…
Your TSP Didn’t Know You Left: What Federal Employees Need to Review After a Separation
More than 322,000 federal employees separated from service in 2025 — many well before they’d planned to — early retirements and RIFs. That kind of shift can quietly throw your TSP out of sync, because your TSP is built around one number: the year you expected to start withdrawals. It doesn’t know about your pension, your spouse’s income, or the years of runway you may actually have. Learn what “separated” really means for your TSP, why loss aversion can push people toward decisions that don’t fit their actual timeline, and the specific things worth reviewing now — your L Fund target date, your income bridge, and whether a Traditional-to-Roth conversion makes sense in a lower-income year. more…
10 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Purchasing Life Insurance
Ed Zurndorfer outlines errors individuals often make when purchasing and owning a life insurance policy
2025 Health Insurance Plan Options & Comparison Tools
Get the latest the official information online for the 2024 plan year of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. Dental and vision (FEDVIP) details are also available...
Your Federal Health Benefits & Medicare: Helpful Resources from OPM
The Office of Personnel Management offers several resources for federal employees and retirees regarding Medicare and how it works with the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program...
Guide to Federal Retiree COLAs: What Are They and How Are They Calculated?
Understand what the cost-of-living adjustment is, how it is computed, and how it affects CSRS and FERS annuities, survivor annuities, and other federal employee death benefits...
10 Biggest Mistakes Federal Employees Make When Planning for Retirement (and How to Avoid Them)
Learn the 10 biggest federal retirement planning mistakes that many employees make before leaving civil service including CSRS, FERS, Thrift Savings Plan...
Federal Retirement Planning Checklists
Checklists for 5-10 years from retirement, one year away from retirement, and for your first year after retirement...