Federal Employees Retirement & Benefits Podcast by CD Financial
The objective of this podcast is to educate and enlighten you about your federal benefits and to guide you in creating a well-formed retirement income plan.
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Episodes
251 episodes
Roth TSP: Internal Conversions Explained
Before you convert your Traditional TSP to Roth TSP, you need to understand the tax bill, timing strategy, and whether it actually improves your long-term retirement income.Roth TSP internal conversions can look simple—but the tax impli...
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Season 3
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Episode 6
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3:33
TSP Withdrawal Strategies for Federal Retirees: Top Considerations Before Withdrawing
Your TSP withdrawal strategy can affect your retirement income, tax exposure, and overall flexibility in retirement. In this episode, we discuss TSP withdrawal options for federal employees, including monthly payments, lump-sum distributions, r...
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Season 3
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Episode 93
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18:20
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Roth Conversion Timing for Federal Employees: Timing Mistakes Some Overlook
Roth conversion timing mistakes can quietly cost federal employees thousands in unnecessary taxes. If you retire with a TSP, 401(k), or traditional IRA, the question isn’t whether to consider a Roth conversion—it’s when and how much to convert ...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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2:55
Is Delaying Social Security Actually Worth It If You Have a FERS Pension?
Federal employees with a FERS pension have a unique advantage when deciding when to claim Social Security—but choosing the wrong claiming age can significantly affect your lifetime retirement income. Understanding how Social Security timing wor...
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Season 3
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Episode 92
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23:18
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First Year Retired? You're Probably Making This Mistake—Pivot
Retirement planning mistakes federal employees make in their first year — from TSP decisions to FEHB coordination and Social Security timing — can cost decades of peace of mind and financial security. Learn the key retirement mistakes and how t...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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3:59
Roth Conversions: Early vs. Late Retirement Timing
Early retirement Roth conversion timing can significantly reduce lifetime taxes by capturing lower tax brackets before Social Security, Medicare IRMAA, and RMDs push income higher.” Learn when and why timing matters for Roth conversions and tax...
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Season 3
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Episode 91
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20:18
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Federal Employees With $1M TSP Should Listen to This Episode
Federal Employees With $1M TSP Should Watch This — deeper insights on TSP retirement strategy, risk management, and portfolio allocation for federal benefits planning. 👉 Find out how to stress-test your TSP, minimize sequence-of-returns risk, a...
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Season 3
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Episode 3
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5:50
Your $1M TSP Allocation is Probably Wrong | Here's Why—Fiduciary Case Review
As fiduciaries, when we review a $1 million TSP portfolio, our first priority isn’t performance — it’s protecting retirement income from sequence of returns risk, inflation, and unnecessary tax exposure.”👉 Schedule your complimentary re...
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Season 3
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Episode 90
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15:43
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3 TSP Mistakes That Could Cost You +$100K in Retirement
I've reviewed thousands of federal employee TSP accounts. And the biggest losses usually don't come from market crashes. They come from withdrawal timing, fund allocation at the wrong life stage, and not understanding your three options when yo...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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6:09
If You Don't Understand These 5 Pillars, You May Not Ready to Retire
“Federal retirement planning doesn’t need to be a 60-page binder. Most near-retirees only face two or three major decisions that truly determine their long-term income, tax efficiency, and peace of mind.”If you’re a federal employee app...
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Season 3
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Episode 89
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22:27
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Retirement Moves in the 6-Figures That Most Pension Holders Get Wrong
We examine a realistic scenario for a client with a $750,000 TSP/401(K) and a $40,000 pension, focusing on adjustments in fund allocation, and a financial scenario for "Bill" vs. "Jack", one begins withdrawing $3,000 monthly from his TSP and ta...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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9:05
3 TSP Mistakes That Could Cost You +$100K in Retirement
Federal employees near retirement: keeping the same TSP allocation you used at 35 could quietly erode your lifetime income, cost you tax flexibility, and expose your savings to sequence-of-returns risk that drains six figures from your hard-ear...
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Season 3
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Episode 88
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17:05
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The Humility Factor: Why Most Navy SEAL Teams Outperform Part 2
Lessons in leadership from Navy SEALs reveal how aggressive action, humility, and extreme ownership shape high-performing teams in business and life.”This video breaks down real leadership lessons from Navy SEAL training and applies the...
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Season 2
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Episode 103
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10:27
Pension or No Pension? Here's How Everything Can Change
If you have a defined benefit pension, everything from when you claim Social Security to how you draw your TSP/401k changes — because guaranteed income becomes your foundation for smarter retirement planning.🔗 LINKS & RESOURCESF...
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Season 3
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Episode 87
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17:09
4 Traits That Make Navy SEALs Great Leaders
Navy SEAL leadership traits aren’t complicated— they’re executed under pressure: cover and move (teamwork), simplify the mission, prioritize and execute, and decentralized command (empowerment). If you’ve ever led a team in business or a federa...
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Season 2
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Episode 103
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5:26
Retirement Planning Risk #1: Waiting Until You Fill Out the Packet to Make Lifetime Decisions
Federal retirement planning shouldn’t start when you’re filling out the retirement packet — by then, you’re making lifetime decisions under a deadline. Planning early gives you time to align your benefits with your goals.Learn how to co...
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Season 3
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Episode 86
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24:18
You Could Avoid Making This Irreversible Retirement Decision Last-Minute
When should you plan for retirement? This video discusses the critical timing of your federal retirement, emphasizing that thoughtful financial planning and income planning are crucial. Do not rush your decision-making at the last minute; prope...
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Season 2
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Episode 102
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2:51
Federal Retirees: The Social Security Timing Mistake You Might Not Want to Make in Today's Landscape
This special podcast with Ann Wirtz and CD Financial discusses taking control of your financial success. We explore essential aspects of personal finance and financial management to help you make smarter decisions. Learn how to navigate your fu...
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Season 3
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Episode 85
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24:38
Your TSP, Your Rules: Taking Control From Uncle Sam
Are You "Shutdown-Proof" for Retirement? Find out here: https://lb1nm6qa2sh.typeform.com/to/pKWB4w8bYour TSP, Your Rules — Take control of your federal retirement savings and overcome processing delays, tax traps, and income planning pi...
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Season 2
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Episode 101
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3:55
The Retirement Readiness Checklist | Don't Retire Without This
Download the Guide here: https://cdfinancial.com FREE 15-minute call: https://calendly.com/charlesdzama/complimentary-15-minute-phone-call-youtubeAre you truly ready to retire? This episode of the CD Financial Podcast dives into key que...
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Season 3
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Episode 84
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26:09
The Retirement Questions Most Federal Employees Get Wrong
👉 FREE Retirement Planning Guide + Checklist: https://cdfinancial.org/tsp%20free%20guide/FREE 15-minute call: https://calendly.com/charlesdzama/complimentary-15-minute-phone-call-youtubeAre you truly retirement ready — financially s...
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Season 2
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Episode 100
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3:32
FEHB Changes Every Federal Employee Needs to Know With Ann Vanderslice
Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) & Medicare Part B Explained: What Every Federal Worker and Retiree Must Know in 2025” — get the facts on FEHB cost changes, Medicare coordination, and retirement health planning to avoid unnecessary p...
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Season 3
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Episode 83
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28:28
FEHB + Part B vs Medicare Part B + Supplement: Which Move Saves You More
Comparing Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage with Medicare Part B + Supplement helps retirees balance premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket costs while maximizing access to care.FEHB + Part B or Medicare Part B with a ...
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Season 2
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Episode 99
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4:22
The Retirement Income Gap Most People Don’t Talk About (And How to Close It)
Most people never talk about the retirement income gap — the difference between what you think you’ll need and what you actually have saved, and that’s exactly why most retirements fall short.Using disciplined retirement strategies like...
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Season 3
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Episode 82
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23:19
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I wish I knew This About Saving & Investing When I Was Younger
“I wish I knew earlier that starting saving and investing young turbo-charges your future wealth through compound growth, better retirement planning, and smarter money decisions.”👉 FREE RETIREMENT PLANNING GUIDE 15-MIN CONSULT: https://...
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Season 2
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Episode 98
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2:57