Back to Basics

After presenting information about retirement to federal employees for 25 years, I can tell you that some questions seem to come up over and over again.

This week, I thought I’d address some of those common questions by providing links to previous columns I’ve written on key subjects. I’ve divided them into three categories, based on stages of planning: early career, midcareer and preretirement.

Early Career

If you’re at this stage right now, you need to get familiar with the three elements of the Federal Employees Retirement System: the basic retirement benefit, Social Security and Thrift Savings Plan investments.

Here are some past columns that will help you understand the value of your federal retirement benefits:

• Get Started Sept. 7, 2012
• The List June 4, 2010
• From Day One July 24, 2009
• Social Security’s Top 10 Aug. 21, 2009 
• Eligibility: Facts and Myths July 6, 2007
• Deferred vs. Postponed June 29, 2007
• Retirement Estimate: The Details May 11, 2007
• Basic Retirement Computations May 4, 2007
• Estimating Your Benefits April 27, 2007

Midcareer

These employees need a checkup. Their typical questions include: What happens if I leave federal service before I retire? Will I be eligible for early retirement? What if I become disabled before I’m eligible to retire? Should I pay a deposit to receive credit toward retirement for some of my previous service?

Here are some columns for this group:

• Targeting Early Retirement Oct. 21, 2011
• Go, or No Go Sept. 16, 2011
• Early Outs July 29, 2011
• Credit for Military Service Feb. 11, 2011
• Deposit Woes Jan. 29, 2010
• Deposit Dilemma Jan. 22, 2010
• Deposit Download Jan. 15, 2010
• Midcareer Considerations May 1, 2009
• It Pays to Know Jan. 23, 2009
• Who’s Responsible? Sept. 12, 2008
• Help! Feb. 8, 2008
• Educate Yourself Feb. 1, 2008
• Going Private Oct. 5, 2007
• Retiring Women June 15, 2007
• Should I Stay, or Should I Go? Feb. 23, 2007
• The Early Way Out May 26, 2006
• Leaving Early May 19, 2006

Pre-Retirement

These employees are almost ready to set the date. They need to know how to cross the t’s and dot the i’s. This is the group that postpones appointments to attend preretirement seminars, then shows up early for the sessions. Often, people in this category are worried they might not have planned properly or have misinterpreted information they’ve received over the years. Here are some of the columns to help them get ready:

Deciding to Retire

• Phased Retirement Q & A Aug. 10, 2012
• Retired and Working July 20, 2012
• Go, or No Go Sept. 16, 2011
• Waiting Game May 27, 2011
• Ready . . . or Not? May 20, 2011
• The Next Adventure Aug. 20, 2010
• Taking the Plunge Aug. 7, 2009
• When to Go: FERS Edition April 24, 2009
• Putting It Off April 17, 2009
• Retiring Women June 15, 2007
• Should I Stay, or Should I Go? Feb. 23, 2007
• Really, You Can Retire! March 17, 2006
• You Can Afford to Retire! March 3, 2006

Picking a Date

• Best Dates to Retire 2013 May 11, 2012
• Best Date to Retire Tips March 9, 2012

Getting Ready

• Predicting the Future Sept. 2, 2011
• Overwhelmed August 26, 2011
• Retirement Checkup April 29, 2011
• The Top Five April 16, 2010
• Communication Mistakes Aug. 28, 2009
• It Pays to Know Jan. 23, 2009
• Who’s Responsible? Sept. 12, 2008
• To-Do List June 13, 2008
• Countdown to Retirement March 14, 2008
• Last-Minute Tips Dec. 14, 2007
• The Retirement Process June 22, 2007
• Retirement Checklist June 8, 2007
• Getting Ready Jan. 5, 2007
• Are You Ready? July 14, 2006
• Smoothing the Transition June 23, 2006

The Index

If you’re looking  for more information on other specific topics, be sure to check out my annual index to previous columns, categorized by subject.