2027 COLA for Federal Retirees: 3.6% CSRS, 2.6% FERS, and What It Means for Your Annuity
2027 COLA federal retirees: CSRS gets 3.6%, FERS gets 2.6%. See dollar examples, who qualifies, when it starts, and how Part B may affect it.
·7 min read
Federal Retirement (FERS & CSRS) Guide
Understanding FERS retirement system, CSRS, pension calculations, MRA+10, early retirement, FERS supplement, and planning for federal retirement.
Retirement Articles
26 articles
How to Read Your FERS Retirement Estimate Statement (and Spot Errors)
Learn how to read your FERS retirement estimate, spot federal retirement estimate errors, and check your OPM retirement statement fast.
·10 min read
FERS Survivor Benefits Explained: Protecting Your Spouse After Retirement
FERS survivor benefits explained in plain English. Learn federal survivor annuity options, costs, FEHB rules, and how to protect your spouse.
·11 min read
Deferred Retirement for Federal Employees: What Happens If You Leave Before MRA
Deferred retirement federal rules explained: learn how a FERS deferred annuity works if you leave federal service early before MRA.
·10 min read
Federal Employee Divorce: How FERS Pension Is Divided (COAP Explained)
Federal employee divorce can change your retirement for life. Learn FERS pension division, COAP rules, and how a court order OPM will accept.
·12 min read
Medicare and FEHB in Retirement: Do You Need Both?
Medicare FEHB retirement choices can be confusing. Learn when federal retirees need Medicare with FEHB and how FEHB and Medicare Part B work together.
·13 min read
Federal Retirement Tax Planning: How Your Pension, TSP, and Social Security Are Taxed
Federal retirement taxes explained: learn how your FERS pension, TSP withdrawals, and Social Security are taxed and plan smarter for retirement.
·12 min read
Social Security and FERS: How Your Federal Pension and SS Work Together
Social Security FERS explained: learn how your federal pension and Social Security work together, plus the FERS supplement and key planning tips.
·12 min read
Federal Employee Phased Retirement: Work Part-Time While Drawing Your Pension
Federal phased retirement lets you work part-time while drawing a FERS pension. Learn rules, examples, and steps to see if it fits your plan.
·9 min read
Top 10 Mistakes Federal Employees Make Before Retirement (and How to Avoid Them)
Avoid federal retirement mistakes with this plain-English guide to common FERS mistakes, real examples, and a retirement checklist federal employees can use.
·12 min read
CSRS vs FERS: Understanding the Two Federal Retirement Systems
CSRS vs FERS explained in plain English with real examples, pension math, and tips to estimate your federal retirement systems benefits and next steps.
·10 min read
Federal Employee Special Retirement Supplement (SRS) Calculator
Use this special retirement supplement calculator guide to estimate your FERS SRS, see the formula, earnings test limits, and real dollar examples.
·10 min read
Military Retirement Points Calculator: Reserve and Guard
Military points calculator guide for Reserve and Guard: learn reserve retirement points, good year rules, and how military retirement points become pay.
·10 min read
What Happens to Military Retirement if You Go to Federal Service?
What happens to military retirement in a federal job? Learn military to federal retirement rules, buyback, waiver limits, and dual retirement options.
·12 min read
Active Duty vs Reserve Retirement: Which Pays More?
Active vs reserve retirement: learn points, gray area rules, TRICARE timing, and examples you can plug into a reserve retirement calculator to see which pays more.
·11 min read
VA Disability and Military Retirement: Can You Get Both? (CRDP Explained)
Learn how VA disability and military retirement work together, when CRDP concurrent receipt applies, and how the VA waiver affects your retired pay.
·12 min read
Federal Employee Disability Retirement: FERS Disability Calculator
Estimate your FERS disability retirement with a simple federal disability retirement calculator guide, including 60/40 formulas, SSDI offset, and steps.
·10 min read
VERA VSIP Federal Buyout: Should You Take Early Retirement?
VERA VSIP calculator guide: compare a federal buyout offer vs voluntary early retirement, taxes, FEHB, pension impact, and break-even math.
·13 min read
Military Retirement Calculator: High-3 vs BRS Which Is Better?
Military retirement calculator guide comparing BRS vs High-3 with real examples, TSP match, continuation pay, and step-by-step help choosing the best plan.
·13 min read
FERS Retirement Calculator: When Can You Retire and How Much Will You Get?
Use this FERS retirement calculator guide to learn your MRA minimum retirement age, retirement options, and estimated pension amount with real examples.
·13 min read
Military Buyback Calculator: Is Buying Back Military Time Worth It?
Military buyback calculator guide: learn FERS military deposit costs, pension increase, break-even, and if buying back military time is worth it.
·11 min read
IRMAA: How Your Retirement Income Affects Medicare Premiums
IRMAA can raise Medicare premiums for federal retirees when retirement income exceeds IRMAA thresholds. Learn MAGI rules, examples, and how to plan.
·11 min read
Government Pension Offset: When Spousal SS Benefits Are Reduced
Government pension offset explained: how GPO reduces Social Security spousal or survivor benefits for people with a federal pension, with clear examples.
·11 min read
Understanding the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)
Windfall elimination provision explained: learn how WEP can reduce Social Security if you have a federal pension, with clear examples, limits, and steps.
·11 min read
Estate Planning Basics for Federal Retirees
Estate planning basics for federal retirees: federal retiree estate planning tips on federal pension choices, survivor benefits, TSP beneficiaries, and planning steps.
·12 min read
VERA and VSIP: Understanding Early Retirement Offers
Learn how VERA and VSIP work, what a federal early retirement offer really pays, and how to judge a buyout with clear examples and steps.
·12 min read