Mistakes on retirement applications for federal employees will delay receiving your full monthly annuity payments. To avoid mistakes, you first need to understand the process your retirement package needs to go through. In this episode we: • will review the common mistakes on federal retirement paperwork, • provide insight directly from OPM or the Office of Personnel Management, and • share guidance on how to reduce these delays Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. 0:00 Intro 1:28 Process Overview 5:04 Forms Needed 7:30 Common Mistakes 11:03 Summary of Key Points LINKS: Retirement Quick Guide https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/quick-guide/ Planning To Retire Soon https://www.opm.gov/retirement-center/application-tips/ Retirement FAQs https://www.opm.gov/support/retirement/faq/applying-for-retirement-benefits/ OPM’s Retirement Modernization Process https://www.fedsmith.com/2025/05/06/opms-retirement-modernization-process-achieves-important-milestones/?utm_source=fedsmith-newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=fedsmith-2025-05-08&utm_content=related-link Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

I would not wish this on anyone but imagine a scenario where you, as a federal employee, are not fully eligible to retire and you received a RIF notice! If you are eligible, as much as it is a tough situation, at least you can receive your pension with no penalties and keep your benefits. For those, who do not, it can be a much tougher option in many ways. In this episode, we • Will discuss how the RIF might impact you if are past MRA or not. • What options do you have for your TSP depending on age. • Offer some specific action items that you can be doing now in case you are faced with this option. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. Chapters: 0:57 WHY IS MRA IMPORTANT IN A RIF? 2:25 PAST MRA AND GETTING A RIF 4:12 RIF BEFORE REACHING MRA 5:10 IMPACT TO TSP 7:02 FEHB OPTIONS 8:18 ACTION ITEMS Referenced Links: DRP Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=voMxUBDixu4 FERS MRA Chart: https://plan-your-federal-retirement.com/fers-mra/ Severance Calculator: https://valorwealthpartners.app.box.com/file/1782243517500?s=0l4qv6tpg20arxzyyxhptrj2mufjsnnq Postponed vs. Deferred Retirement: https://www.fedsmith.com/2025/03/18/postponed-and-deferred-retirement-are-not-the-same/ SEPP Calculator: https://www.calcxml.com/calculators/72t?skn= - results Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

The Deferred Resignation Program for federal employees is back with a version 2.0. Seven Agencies relaunched this program to give federal employees a voluntary choice before RIFs are mandatory. This is more complicated because Agencies are involved instead of OPM. In this episode we… • Discuss the legality and the likelihood of keeping promises of the offers. • Share our insights on the various Deferred Resignation Agreements we have seen. • Offer Action Items to help you prepare. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. 0:44 Introduction 3:42 Legality and Likelihood of Keeping Promises 9:17 The Big Picture 14:39 Immediate Action Items Referenced Links Ask Me Anything: The State of the Federal Workforce and Market Volatility Webinar on April 10th: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6317425747775/WN_1ZMlAPBEQQWSMxDnX3L9KA Sign up for our newsletter to stay in touch: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/xgAKqXR/Keepintouch OPM Memo on: Guidance on Agency RIF and Reorganization Plans Requested by Implementing The President’s “Department of Government Efficiency” Workforce Optimization Initiative: https://valorwealthpartners.box.com/s/efymc9lzd3i1u9ulh5bqq4di5u7n9i4t OPM’s Workforce Reshaping Operations Handbook. https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/reductions-in-force-rif/workforce_reshaping.pdf Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

For most federal employees, your Thrift Savings Plan, or your TSP, is the largest bucket of money that you might have saved for your retirement. In some unique situations this might be your only source of reserves and income, and we will discuss how to think about this situation. Given the turmoil over the past few weeks over ongoing employment with the Federal government, we wanted to share a few thoughts about how to approach your TSP and what concerns need to be kept front and center. In this episode, we • Share our insights on how to think about your TSP allocation across funds. • Discuss how age and eligibility dictate access to your savings. • Offer some solutions on how to create safety in reserves. • Provide action items. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. Chapters: 1:00 INTRODUCTION 1:12 IS THE TSP ACCESSIBLE TO YOU? 3:42 TSP ALLOCATION 4:56 RESERVES 6:50 ACTION TEMS Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Referenced Links Ask Me Anything: DOGE & The Federal Workforce Webinar on March 13th: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6617410255158/WN_jRtcK8F9T3uIi82QdNH9Ug Sign up for our newsletter to stay in touch: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/xgAKqXR/Keepintouch TSP Loans: https://www.tsp.gov/tsp-loans/ Tax rules on TSP payments: https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspbk26.pdf Taking money from your TSP account: https://www.tsp.gov/taking-money-from-your-account/ OPM Website – Reductions in Force: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/reductions-in-force Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

If you are let go through a Reduction in Force and still want to be part of the federal workforce, you have options. Knowing those options before you are subject to a RIF can give you a head start with various positions that may be available within and outside the government. In this episode we… • Review the various programs available to you. • Share the specific guidelines you need to follow. • Offer critical action items you should consider starting today. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. Chapters 0:32 Special Webinar Invitation 3:05 Introduction 4:51 Reemployment Programs 16:21 Retraining Opportunities 17:16 Immediate Action Items Referenced Links Reemployment and Retraining Fact Sheet: https://valorwealthpartners.box.com/s/l2h4vlq47dgokf2qt7habpqdxa7en62b Ask Me Anything: DOGE & The Federal Workforce Webinar on March 13th: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/6617410255158/WN_jRtcK8F9T3uIi82QdNH9Ug Sign up for our newsletter to stay in touch: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/su/xgAKqXR/Keepintouch OPM Website – Reductions in Force: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/reductions-in-force Protect yourself by Building Reserves video: https://youtu.be/Mqdkd4I653k eOPF Download Instructions from Dept of Commerce: https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/Downloading%20Your%20eOPF.pdf Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

One of the best ways for federal employees to protect themselves during these uncertain times is to be financially strong. Understanding and building reserves is one of the critical steps to survive periods of financial uncertainty. In this episode, we • Share our insights on how to understand your expense categories. • Explore the different types of reserves that you might already have and how long might they last. • Provide options if your reserves are not going to last past a few months. • And if you cannot take a penalty free withdrawal from your TSP what options do you have? • Action items to ensure you are thinking about your reserves clearly. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. 0:50 Know your expenses. 1:58 Know your reserves. 3:19 How long will reserves last? 4:35 Easy options for some Feds. 5:34 Feds with minimal reserves. 9:02 Action items. Referenced Links: TSP Loans: https://www.tsp.gov/tsp-loans/ Tax rules on TSP payments: https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspbk26.pdf Taking money from your TSP account: https://www.tsp.gov/taking-money-from-your-account/ Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

Being downgraded from any role is a horrible feeling. While there is no positive spin to make this better, you are protected by rules and by knowing them in advance, you can help to make sure you aren’t taken advantage of in a stressful moment. As a federal employee, these rules can last for years and the impact could be huge. In this episode we… • Review the rules of reassigning federal employees. • Share some of the benefits you are entitled to under a downgrade. • Discuss how a downgrade could affect severance pay. • Offer critical action items you should consider starting today. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. 0:43 Introduction 2:51 Can My Agency Reassign Me? 4:25 Benefits for Downgraded Employees 8:01 How a Downgrade Could Affect Severance Pay 9:57 Immediate Action Items Referenced Links OPM Website – Reductions in Force: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/reductions-in-force Qualifying and Calculating Severance Pay video: https://youtu.be/Uo5F6ypqyho Preparing for and Surviving a Government Shutdown video: https://youtu.be/asVV5WmZ8eY?si=pI2vOX_Rg6QmK17j eOPF Download Instructions from Dept of Commerce: https://www.commerce.gov/sites/default/files/2021-01/Downloading%20Your%20eOPF.pdf Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

“What did you do last week?” was the title of the email representing the latest attack on federal employees. After a threatening Post on X to federal employees per President Trump’s instructions, OPM sent the vague email with no clarification on their website of the specific actions needed, like they did with the “Fork in the Road” email. In this episode we… • Review the differences between what was sent in email and the post on X. • Discuss our concerns with this action • Share our guidance on how you should respond to the email. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. 0:45 Introduction 1:02 The X Post and OPM Email 1:42 Differences Between X Post and OPM Email 2:32 Concerns 5:20 Our Recommended Response 8:18 If We Can’t Laugh, We will Cry From Everett Kelley AFGE National President, fond on Redit: Dear Supervisor, I received the below email today from a sender that was not within the agency or in my chain of command. Please provide me guidance on whether I am required to respond, and if so, how I should respond, by the end of my tour of duty on Monday. Please make sure to inform me of the type of information I should include in my response. If I am required to respond I will. I will assume that I have no obligation to respond to the email unless instructed to do so. Referenced Links Important message from AFGE regarding OPM email https://www.reddit.com/r/fednews/comments/1iw08qd/important_message_from_afge_regarding_opm_email/?rdt=60959 Article on Just Security https://www.justsecurity.org/108229/what-just-happened-musk-email-federal-employees/ Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners