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
292 episodes
Federal Employees Are Withdrawing TSP in the Wrong Order—Here's the Cost
Have a Financial Advisor for Federal Employees respond to your questions. Apply for a Retirement Consultation:https://apply.cdfinancial.org/6a694299bad1c9a176cdc79f/Two federal employees retire the same year with the same TSP balanc...
If You're Retiring Now, Watch This Before You Claim FERS
- Gross vs. net on a FERS pension — and why the difference matters- How the survivor benefit election takes ~10% off the top- Why FEHB (health insurance) is often the single biggest deduction- What federal and state taxes do to what...
The Roth Conversion Mistake That Costs Federal Employees a 10% Penalty
Roth conversions can be powerful — but do one before 59½, or inside your TSP, without a plan, and it can sting. Charles and Marcus explain why these two are mentioned in the same breath: the 10% early-withdrawal penalty when you withhold tax un...
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The Stock Risk That Quietly Wrecks Retirement Portfolios
In this short video, Charles explains single stock risk, why "they're in different sectors" isn't the protection people think it is, and the concentration approach he prefers instead. If your portfolio holds just three, four, or five individual...
FERS Annuitant vs. Annuity: The Difference Federal Employees Get Wrong
"I already have an annuity" — Charles hears it weekly, and it's often a misconception. Being a FERS annuitant (a pension you earned) and owning an annuity (a financial tool you choose) sound identical and mean completely different things. Charl...
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The TSP Roth Conversion Catch Nobody Warns You About
Roth conversions before 59½ and Roth conversions inside your TSP get mentioned in the same breath for one reason: they share the same drawback. Withhold taxes on a conversion before 59½, and the government treats it as an early withdrawal — add...
Federal Retirement Acronyms Explained: FERS, CSRS, TSP, FEHB, SRS & More
Spend enough time around federal retirement and the acronyms start flying — and it starts to feel too late to ask what they mean. Charles and Marcus decode the alphabet soup in plain English: FERS (and RAE/FRAE), CSRS and CSRS Offset, TSP, FEHB...
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FERS Annuitant vs. Annuity: Federal Employees Get These Two Confused
"I've got an annuity… or do I have an annuity? Wait, I'm a federal annuitant — what does that even mean?" Did you think being a FERS annuitant and having an annuity were the same thing? Drop a Y or N below 👇START HERE━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━...
Federal Retirement Acronyms Explained: FERS, FEHB, FEGLI, CSRS, High-3 & More
Which acronym tripped you up the longest — FERS, FEGLI, SRS, or MRA? Drop it below 👇START HERE━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Apply for a Retirement Consultation:https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/691df07396253e003c42b434/...
The Financial Vocabulary That Intimidates Retirees — Decoded (Roth, RMDs, Capital Gains)
Which term always messes with you — effective tax rate, backdoor Roth, cost basis, or RMDs? Write it below 👇START HERE━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━Apply for a Retirement Consultation:https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/6...
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$1M Saved But No Written Income Plan? Here's Your Problem
Most federal employees have a number in their head — "I'll retire at 62" — but a number is not a plan. Charles and Marcus break down what an actual written retirement income plan (the Charted Retirement Course) contains: income first, Social Se...
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Federal Retirement Mid-Year Check-In: Are You Still on Track to Retire within 5 Years?
1. High-3 & step increases — a step increase only lifts your High-3 for the time you're actually in it (stay ~3 years for full credit)2. TSP allocation — does it match your goals? Start taking risk off the table ~3 years out if you'll n...
The Mid-Year Federal Retirement Checklist Most Employees Skip (5 Things)
Show-notes summary:We're halfway through 2026 — the moment most federal employees realize they set retirement goals in January and haven't looked since. Charles and Marcus walk through five things to review now, not in December: k...
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12 Retirement Income & Tax Terms Federal Employees Get Wrong (And It Costs Them)
Which of these terms confused you the most before today — Roth vs. Traditional, RMDs, or capital gains? Tell me below 👇Apply for a Retirement Consultation:https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/691df07396253e003c42b43...
Federal Employee Roth Strategy — Why Susan Gained $80K Over Linda #casestudy
Apply for a Retirement Consultation:https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/691df07396253e003c42b434/?ps_hello=%20Get the Digital Federal Retirement Guidebook:https://cdfinancial.org/being-a-federal-employee-in-the...
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Age 60 + Federal Pension + $1M Saved: The 5 Decisions Most People Get Wrong
Federal retirement planning at 60: if you're a year or two from retiring from federal service with a FERS pension, Social Security, and about $1M saved in your TSP, here are 5 decisions to make before you retire — so you stop asking "Am I okay?...
Age 60 + Federal Pension + $1M — Now What?
Apply for a Retirement Consultation:https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/691df07396253e003c42b434/?ps_hello=%20Get the Digital Federal Retirement Guidebook:https://cdfinancial.org/being-a-federal-employee-in-the...
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Are You Making This $80,000 TSP Mistake? - ROTH
Apply for a Retirement Consultation:https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/691df07396253e003c42b434/?ps_hello=%20Get the Digital Federal Retirement Guidebook:https://cdfinancial.org/being-a-federal-employee-in-the...
Retire This Year: The 4-Lane Roadmap
Apply for a Retirement Consultation:https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/691df07396253e003c42b434/?ps_hello=%20Get the Digital Federal Retirement Guidebook:https://cdfinancial.org/being-a-federal-employee-in-the...
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The G Fund Trap: Why Many Federal Employees Get It Wrong
Apply for a Retirement Consultation: https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/691df07396253e003c42b434/?ps_hello=%20Get the Digital Federal Retirement Guidebook:https://cdfinancial.org/being-a-federal-employee-in-the-er...
The 7 Biggest FERS Mistakes We See Federal Employees Make
Apply for a Retirement Consultation:https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/691df07396253e003c42b434/?ps_hello=%20Get the Digital Federal Retirement Guidebook:https://cdfinancial.org/being-a-federal-employee-in...
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Federal Retirement Mistakes: 7 FERS Pension Errors to Avoid Before You Sign
Apply for a Retirement Consultation:https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/691df07396253e003c42b434/?ps_hello=%20Get the Digital Federal Retirement Guidebook:https://cdfinancial.org/being-a-federal-employee-in-the...
The Last Year Before Retirement: 5 Steps Every Federal Employee Must Follow
Apply for a Retirement Consultation: https://perspectivefunnel.co/682642d22275ec003bfa6626/691df07396253e003c42b434/?ps_hello=%20📘 Federal Retirement Resources:Get the digital guidebook to retirement as a federal employee here:&...
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Retiring from Federal Service? Don't Skip These 5 Steps
Get the digital book at no cost to you here: https://cdfinancial.org/being-a-federal-employee-in-the-era-of-trump-book/Want to work with Charles? Apply here: https://cdfinancial.org/schedule-a-meeting/Checklist Challenge: https:...
Federal Employees: Some Are Dying With Too Much Money Left to Enjoy – Will You?
“Die with zero does not mean reckless spending. It means thinking intentionally about how to use your money for experiences, family, giving, and purpose while still protecting your retirement plan.”Get the digital book at no cost to you...
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