Federal Benefits Resource Hub

In-depth guides, regulatory updates, and strategic analysis for federal and postal employees.

FEGLI vs Commercial Life Insurance

FEGLI vs Commercial Life Insurance: A 2026 Comparison

Understanding the true cost curve of FEGLI Option B over time and when it makes financial sense to pivot to a private commercial policy.

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TSP Lifecycle Funds

TSP Lifecycle Funds Explained

Are the default L Funds the right choice for your career stage, or should you be manually allocating across the C, S, and I funds?

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TSP Rollovers

When to Roll Over Your TSP After Federal Retirement

The pros and cons of leaving your money in the Thrift Savings Plan versus moving it to a self-directed IRA for more flexibility.

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FEHB to Medicare

FEHB to Medicare: Timing Your Transition

How to navigate the complex integration of Federal Employees Health Benefits with Medicare Part B to avoid late enrollment penalties.

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Survivor Benefits Under FERS

Survivor Benefits Under FERS

Making the irrevocable Survivor Benefit Plan (SBP) election at retirement: how it impacts your pension and your spouse's future income.

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Postal Employee Retirement

Postal Employee Retirement Specifics

The transition to the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program and what it means for your retirement healthcare strategy.

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Disability Insurance

Disability Insurance for Federal Employees

Why FERS Disability Retirement and accrued sick leave often aren't enough, and how to close the income protection gap.

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ACA Marketplace

ACA Marketplace as a Federal Retiree Option

A strategic look at when retiring before age 62 makes the Affordable Care Act a better temporary option than continuing FEHB.

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Long-Term Care Planning

Long-Term Care Planning for Federal Families

Evaluating the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) against private market hybrid life/LTC policies.

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Frequently Asked Questions

The same eight questions we answer most often, with direct answers — no jargon.

What's the difference between FEGLI and commercial life insurance? ↓

FEGLI provides a solid baseline of coverage for federal employees, especially early in your career. However, as you age, the cost of FEGLI Option B increases significantly. Commercial life insurance often provides level premiums and can be more cost-effective over the long term, depending on your health and specific legacy goals. We evaluate both to ensure your coverage strategy is optimal.

Should I leave my TSP in the federal plan after I retire? ↓

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) offers low fees and the unique G Fund, which makes it a powerful tool. However, it may lack certain withdrawal flexibilities and investment options available in an IRA. Leaving your TSP in the federal plan or rolling it over depends on your specific income needs, tax strategy, and estate planning objectives. We help you model both paths.

How does FERS pension coordinate with Social Security? ↓

Your FERS basic benefit is designed to work in tandem with Social Security and your TSP. Additionally, if you retire before age 62, you may be eligible for the FERS Retiree Annuity Supplement, which bridges the gap until you can claim Social Security. Proper coordination requires calculating the exact timing of when to draw from each source to maximize lifetime income.

When does it make sense to switch from FEHB to ACA marketplace? ↓

The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program is typically robust and allows you to carry coverage into retirement if you meet the 5-year requirement. Switching to the ACA marketplace is rare but may make sense if you leave federal service early, lose eligibility, or find a highly subsidized ACA plan that better fits your gap years before Medicare. We review your specific premium costs to decide.

What's the in-service withdrawal age for TSP? ↓

You can take an age-based in-service withdrawal from your TSP starting at age 59½. This allows you to roll over a portion of your TSP to an IRA without a tax penalty, even while you are still employed by the federal government. This strategy is often used to diversify investments or access professional wealth management.

Can postal employees use the same retirement strategies as federal employees? ↓

Yes, postal employees generally fall under the same FERS retirement system and have access to the TSP and FEGLI. However, starting in 2025, the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program will replace FEHB for postal employees, which introduces new Medicare integration rules. We specialize in navigating these exact USPS distinctions.

Do you serve federal employees outside of Massachusetts? ↓

Yes, our fiduciary practice has a nationwide reach. While we are physically anchored in Marlborough, MA, federal benefits are consistent across the country. We routinely conduct virtual strategy calls and plan reviews for federal and postal employees in all 50 states.

How are you different from a generic financial advisor? ↓

Generic advisors often misunderstand the nuances of the FERS annuity supplement, the exact cost curve of FEGLI Option B, or the specific rules of the TSP. We are a fiduciary partner dedicated specifically to federal benefits. We don't just sell products; we optimize your unique federal benefits to compound into a secure retirement.

Federal Resources

Direct links to the official federal portals we use most often when building or reviewing a plan. All open in a new tab.

Pre-Meeting Checklist

Bring (or have ready to share securely) the following before your strategy call. Having these in front of us means we spend the call solving, not gathering.

  • ☑
    Recent TSP statement

    Most recent quarterly statement from tsp.gov, including current fund allocation and contribution rate.

  • ☑
    Current FEGLI election

    Your SF 2817 election or current FEGLI summary from your agency HR system, including Basic, Option A, B (multiples), and C status.

  • ☑
    Current FEHB plan

    Plan name, enrollment code, self-only vs self-plus-one vs family, and premium share.

  • ☑
    FERS retirement estimate

    A recent estimate from your agency or a self-modeled calculation including high-3, total years of creditable service, and intended retirement date.

  • ☑
    Social Security earnings record

    Your most recent SSA statement (downloadable from ssa.gov/myaccount), used to model the FERS Annuity Supplement bridge and claiming-age decisions.

  • ☑
    Outside accounts (if any)

    Spousal 401(k), IRA balances, brokerage, and any commercial life insurance currently in force.

  • ☑
    Your top 1–2 questions

    The federal-benefits questions you have actually been losing sleep over. We will start there.

Ready to turn your federal career into a confident retirement?

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