Your TSP Balance Is Not the Plan.
Published on: 01/08/2026
A large TSP balance feels good. It is visible. It is measurable. It gives you a number to point to. But that number alone does not tell you whether retirement works.
The Hidden Traps of FERS
Published on: 01/07/2026
Two things happened this week that every federal employee nearing retirement should pay attention to. First, a wave of articles about FERS early retirement reminded us that eligibility is not the same as readiness.
The FERS Backlog Trap
Published on: 01/06/2026
Average FERS wait times drag to 76 days while OPM executes structural policy shifts and drafts more aggressive RIF guidelines.
Strong TSP returns mask hidden risks.
Published on: 01/05/2026
Year-to-date gains look healthy on paper but volatility, elevated valuations, and sequence of return risk create a dangerous environment for federal employees within 3 years of retirement.