Who Is Going to Process My Retirement?

This is a great question: Who’s going to process your retirement?

Honestly, HR departments were stressed out several years ago. I’ve talked to people who used to process 20 retirements a year. Now they’re processing 95 retirements — yet their department went from four employees to two.

So do you really think it’s going to be an efficient timeline to get your retirement processed?

Podcast Ep. 55

Is Your Retirement Really Ready?

Retirement isn’t just about reaching an age or hitting a savings target. It’s about answering a few powerful questions that most people never really sit down to consider. Today, let’s walk through them together, because these are the questions that will shape whether you spend your golden years with peace of mind — or with worry.

Enough is an Interesting Word. What Do You Mean?

People love to ask, “Do I have enough?” But enough is a slippery word. Is it enough to cover your bills? Enough to keep you from moving in with the kids someday? Enough to maintain dignity and independence?

Enough isn’t just a number. It’s clarity. It’s understanding your income streams — pension, TSP, Social Security — and how they line up against inflation, taxes, and the cost of health care. It’s knowing exactly what your monthly income will be when the paycheck stops.

Until you define what enough means for your lifestyle, it’s just a vague feeling, not a plan.

Will My Money Last as Long as I Do?

Here’s a tough truth: your pension might be flat for years. If you retire early — say, under VERA — your pension can stay static until age 62, while your costs keep creeping up like a slow leak you can’t plug. Even after 62, COLAs are modest.

What about your TSP? If you’re drawing income and the market takes a dive, your balance can shrink faster than you expect. A 10% loss early in retirement can impact the lifetime of your portfolio.

The real question is whether you have a written plan — something that accounts for downturns, healthcare shocks, and the reality that you might live longer than you ever imagined.

Can I Maintain My Present Lifestyle or Possibly Increase It?

Let’s be candid: you don’t work for decades just to scrape by. You want the option to upgrade — whether that’s moving to a better neighborhood, traveling more, or helping your grandkids.

But if your entire nest egg is sitting in low-interest accounts or the G Fund, the buying power will erode. Inflation doesn’t care that you were a good saver. It chips away year after year, so what feels comfortable now could feel tight in ten years.

Your plan should include some exposure to growth — so you don’t just maintain your lifestyle but have the freedom to expand it.

Do You Know the Difference Between Your Gross and Your Net — Money in Your Pocket?

Too many people look at their TSP balance or their pension estimate and think, “I’m set.” But that’s gross income, and Uncle Sam is standing there with a hand out.

Taxes can turn what looked like a comfortable income into something much thinner. For instance, even Roth contributions inside TSP can be subject to RMDs, and the government’s match is always taxable. If you haven’t thought through tax planning — like Roth conversions, timing your withdrawals, or coordinating with Social Security — you’re not seeing the real picture.

Your net income is what pays the bills. Your plan should be built around that number, not just the big pre-tax balances.

Trips, Vacations, Fine Dining, Checking Out New Restaurants

Retirement isn’t about sitting at home counting pennies. You’ve earned the right to live fully — to travel, enjoy great meals, explore hobbies.

But these experiences come with a price tag, and without a plan, they can feel out of reach. If you want your lifestyle to include trips and little indulgences, you need to build that into your income plan, not hope it somehow works out.

What About the Cost of Health Insurance?

FEHB premiums don’t stand still. Some years they jump double digits. If you don’t elect survivor benefits, your spouse could lose health coverage altogether.

Healthcare is one of the most overlooked — and most critical — elements of any retirement plan. The cost isn’t going to go down. The question is whether you’ve factored it in, so it doesn’t blindside you later.

The Benefits of Social Security and Taxes

People often underestimate Social Security and overestimate how much of it will be tax-free. Depending on your other income, up to 85% of your Social Security can be taxable. And if you retire before 62, you might have years without this benefit at all.

A well-timed claiming strategy can maximize your benefit, help bridge gaps, and reduce the pressure on your other savings. But it has to be coordinated with the rest of your plan — your pension, TSP, Roth accounts — so you can control not only your income but your tax exposure.

Final Thoughts

When you think about retirement, don’t stop at “Do I have enough?” Ask better questions:

How long will it last?
What will it feel like?
Am I protected from the things I can’t predict?

If you’d like help creating a plan that answers all of these, let’s talk.

Ready to turn uncertainty into clarity?
Schedule your complimentary retirement consultation today.

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