The 30 Must-Answer Questions for Federal Employees

How prepared are you for your retirement from federal service?  Find out by answering the questions below.  You may also download a printable version.

  1. Do you know your “best possible” retirement date?
  2. Do you know what it costs to take “Early-Out” or “MRA+10” retirement?
  3. Do you know how to eliminate debt and avoid debt in retirement?
  4. Do you know your projected monthly income in retirement?
  5. Do you know how long it takes to receive a full retirement check?
  6. Do you know which retirement survivor benefit to choose for your spouse?
  7. Do you know who else can receive a survivor benefit, if you’re not married?
  8. Do you know what the basic annuity provides if you die as an employee?
  9. Do you know what the basic annuity provides if you become disabled?
  10. Do you know what the private sector value is for your basic annuity?
  11. Do you know what other benefits are received if you die as an employee?
  12. Do you know how you can find your Social Security benefit amounts?
  13. Do you know which Social Security penalties you need to be concerned with?
  14. Do you know how FEGLI provides paid-up life insurance in your retirement?
  15. Do you know how much FEGLI option B will cost you in the next 5-10 years?
  16. Do you know how you and your spouse can keep FEHBP in retirement?
  17. Do you know how FEHBP works with Medicare parts A/B/C/D?
  18. Do you know the best tool to use in choosing your FEHB Plan?
  19. Do you know what percentage of the FEHBP costs you will pay as a retiree?
  20. Do you know how FSA works in your last calendar year of employment?
  21. Do you know how the TSP loan program can be used to get ready for retirement?
  22. Do you know how many partial withdrawals you get in a lifetime?
  23. Do you know the TSP contribution limits per pay period?
  24. Do you know how you move TSP money to a Traditional IRA while working? 
  25. Do you know how TSP can be reallocated and rebalanced consistently?
  26. Do you know which TSP fund is not available to the general public?
  27. Do you know why TSP’s annual summary projections may be inaccurate?
  28. Do you know TSP’s investment philosophy and why it matters?
  29. Do you know exactly what you are doing with TSP and why?
  30. Do you have a financial coach who will teach you exactly what to do and why?