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Two federal employees retire the same year with the same TSP balance. Five years later, one has paid tens of thousands more in taxes. The difference wasn't the market — it was the withdrawal decisions. In this episode, Charles and Marcus walk through the five TSP withdrawal mistakes behind that gap, and how to avoid each one.

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START HERE
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Apply for a Retirement Consultation:
https://apply.cdfinancial.org/6a694299bad1c9a176cdc79f/
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IN THIS EPISODE
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- Mistake 1: the big lump sum — why cutting into the "wheel of cheese" too fast can't be undone
- Mistake 2: why the tax withheld is NOT the tax you owe (and the filing-season surprise)
- Mistake 3: withdrawal order — how pulling from the wrong bucket can cost more than a bad market year
- Mistake 4: timing that trips IRMAA and bracket creep — including the 2-year lookback
- Mistake 5: the fix — a written withdrawal sequence before you separate
- Why the goal isn't the lowest tax THIS year, it's the lowest tax over 20–30 years

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TIMESTAMPS
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0:00 Same Balance, Tens of Thousands Apart
0:31 Welcome — CD Financial Podcast
2:13 Mistake 1: The Big Lump Sum (The Wheel of Cheese)
3:42 Mistake 2: Withholding Isn't Your Real Tax Bill
6:24 Mistake 3: Withdrawal Order — Traditional vs. Roth
7:48 Sailing the Tides: Adjusting Year to Year
9:30 Lower Brackets Now = Smaller RMDs Later
11:55 Mistake 4: IRMAA & Bracket Creep (2-Year Lookback)
14:52 Mistake 5: The Written Withdrawal Sequence
16:10 Watch Next: FERS Retirement Explained

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WHO WE ARE
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CD Financial helps federal employees and retirees make smarter retirement decisions around FERS, TSP, taxes, Medicare, and retirement income planning — where health meets wealth.

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IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER
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Advisory services are offered through CD Financial LLC dba CD Financial, an Investment Advisor in the State of California. Insurance products and services are offered through CD Financial & Insurance Services LLC, an affiliated company.
Educational only; not financial, legal, tax, or investment advice. Tax brackets, IRMAA thresholds, Social Security taxation, and RMD rules depend on your individual situation and change yearly — verify with the IRS, SSA, and a qualified tax professional before acting. Client examples are anonymized and illustrative.

#TSP #TSPWithdrawals #FederalRetirement #IRMAA #TaxPlanning #CDFinancial

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