How much money do federal employees actually need to retire? The White House's 2027 pay plan proposes no raise for most civilian feds, and the question everyone's asking is "why am I still working?" Better question: do you actually NEED to keep working, or do you just not know yet if you can afford to leave?

Charles and Marcus walk through the 5-number test to run before you decide.

👉 Apply for a 15-minute call with Charles: https://apply.cdfinancial.org/6a694299bad1c9a176cdc79f/

In this episode:
• Why your TSP balance alone can't tell you if you can retire
• Your income floor: FERS pension, supplement, Social Security
• The gap years: when the supplement stops at 62 and inflation catches up
• Planning for big-ticket spending (roof, car, helping the kids)
• Why a bad market year early in retirement is the scary one

Chapters
0:00 No raise in 2027. Should you keep working?
1:27 Plan like it's real, but don't decide mad
2:13 "Just one more year": what it costs you
3:01 Is $900K in the TSP enough?
4:36 Number 1: What you cost every month
7:53 Number 2: Your income floor
10:39 Number 3: The gap years
13:53 Number 4: Big-ticket spending
17:14 Number 5: A bad market early in retirement
19:39 The verdict: know, don't assume

The 2027 pay plan is a proposal; final pay tables are set in December. Verify current figures with OPM.

Free resources
Federal Retirement Guidebook: https://cdfinancial.org/being-a-federal-employee-book/
Checklist Challenge: https://cdfinancial.org/checklist-challenge/

WHO WE ARE
CD Financial helps federal employees and retirees build a written retirement income plan. Where health meets wealth.

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. This content is for educational purposes only and is not financial, legal, tax, healthcare, or investment advice. Discuss all information with your individual adviser before acting on it.

#FederalRetirement #FERS #TSP

Support the show