Social Security Earnings Test: 3 Critical Rules to Avoid a 2026 Benefit Cut
The short answer: The Social Security earnings test may reduce benefits if you claim before full […]
General Questions
Social Security Paper Checks Are Ending: Protect Your 2026 Payments
The short answer: Social Security paper checks are being phased out. Starting September 30, 2025, the […]
Sequence of Returns Risk: 3 Proven Ways to Avoid Early Retirement Losses
The short answer: Sequence of returns risk is the danger that poor investment returns early in […]
How to File Your OPM Retirement Application: A Step-by-Step Guide for FERS Employees
Update September 1, 2026: OPM has launched the eOPF Document Request Service, a self-service portal that […]
Divorce and Your FERS Pension: What Happens to Your Federal Retirement Benefit When a Marriage Ends
The short answer: A FERS pension divorce proceeding can divide your FERS annuity, survivor benefit, and […]
Survivor Benefits and FEHB: The Survivor Election That Protects Your Spouse’s Health Insurance | Fed Pilot
One of the single most expensive checkbox decisions a federal employee will ever make happens on […]
Interim Annuity Payments: What OPM Pays Federal Retirees While Their Case Is Processed | Fed Pilot
You submitted your retirement paperwork. Your last paycheck cleared. The agency threw you a goodbye party. […]
FERS Disability Retirement: Eligibility, Calculation, and the Application Process
FERS disability retirement is one of the most under-used federal retirement options. Here’s who qualifies, how the two-tier benefit is calculated, and how the application process works.
OPM Retirement Backlog: What to Do If Your Pension Calculation Is Stuck
Update September 1, 2026: The figures in this post have been superseded. OPM’s July 2026 retirement […]
Federal Retirement Countdown: Your 12-Month Action Plan Before You Leave Federal Service
Retiring from federal service isn’t something that happens overnight. The process involves dozens of decisions — […]