What will your retirement look like? And how will you feel about being retired and on a “fixed” income? Are you confident in your current retirement plan? Chris Kowalik takes you on a test drive to help you to adjust your plans based on real-world experience more…
Retiring Early Under the FERS MRA+10 Provision
What happens when a FERS employee wants to retire prior to meeting all of the full eligibility requirements? Chris Kowalik discusses the way to avoid one of the penalties associated with MRA+10 rules — plus how MRA+10 affects the FERS Special Retirement Supplement more…
10 Must-Do Action Items to Prepare to Retire from Federal Service
As you begin planning for retirement, you may be concerned that you’ll miss some critical steps. Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, provides the action items to ensure you’re on track more…
Preparing Your Exit from Federal Service
Chris Kowalik provides key understanding on voluntary and involuntary departures (including DRP 2.0), who is entitled to what (and when), how the pension and other benefits are affected. Includes example scenarios for federal employees more…
5 Tips to Evaluate Your Life Insurance Needs
Is your Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) enough? Life insurance needs change based on major life events, so it’s important to review your coverage regularly. Chris Kowalik guides you through five ways to evaluate your needs more…
How Inflation Affects Your Retirement
Chris Kowalik explains why inflation has an impact on more than just devaluing your savings. It affects cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), your Social Security benefits, your Thrift Savings Plan and other investments more…
What to Expect From Your Federal Retirement Package
Chris Kowalik gives an overview of what to expect as your retirement application is processed including how you will be paid, what happens to your benefits in retirement, and a checklist to do before leaving federal service more…
Why High COLAs Should Scare You
There is a tendency to regard a high cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) increase in retirement as a “good thing.” However, Chris Kowalik explains why high COLAs and inflation have serious consequences to long-term retirement more…
What Your TSP Account is Not
Chris Kowalik explains how using the TSP the wrong way — or for the wrong reasons — can jeopardize your retirement goals more…
7 Federal Retirement Milestones You Need to Know
As you near retirement, or if you’re already retired, there are key retirement milestones to keep in mind for accumulating and withdrawing the money you’ll need for your later years. Chris Kowalik provides a quick guide to key deadlines for retirement more…