Federal Employee Financial Planning Podcast

Episode 126: When Should I Start Taking Social Security?

When should you claim Social Security, and how do you know if the "optimal" strategy actually fits your retirement plan? In this episode, we react to a White Coat Investo

Episode 125: Retirement Intelligence: Preparing Federal Employees for the Emotional Side of Retirement with Bob Laura

What if being financially ready for retirement is only half of the equation? In this episode, we sit down with Bob Laura, financial planner, speaker, author of Retirement

Episode 124: Retirement Readiness

How do you know if you're truly on track for retirement? And what should you be doing differently at 30, 40, 50… or just six months from leaving federal service? In this

Episode 123: Mailbag Part Two: Questions from Federal Employees

Could a single dollar cost you hundreds more in Medicare premiums? In this mailbag episode, we answer some of the most common retirement planning questions from listeners

Episode 122: Mailbag Part One: Questions from Federal Employees

What questions do federal employees need answered before making major retirement decisions? In this mailbag episode, John and Tommy tackle listener questions about the FE

Episode 121: The Questions Federal Employees Are Asking in 2026

What really happens behind the scenes after 350+ client meetings in just six weeks—and what do those conversations reveal about how people are thinking about money, life,

Episode 120: TSP Withdrawal Mistakes That Nobody Warned You About

Saving for retirement is only half the battle; knowing how to get your money out without getting burned by taxes or rigid rules is where things get complicated. In this e

Episode 119: Avoiding the Common Financial Planning Mistakes Made by Federal Employees

Are you maximizing the true value of your federal benefits, or are you unintentionally leaving money on the table? In this special episode, John and Tommy present an upda

Episode 118: Think Fastball, Then Adjust: How Federal Employees Navigate Curveballs with a Financial Planner

What happens when the financial plan you created five years ago no longer matches the life you're living today? In this episode, John and Tommy explore why great financia

Episode 117: FEGLI vs. Term Life: When to Replace Your Federal Employee Life Insurance

What should federal employees actually do with their life insurance, and when does FEGLI stop making sense? In this episode, John and Tommy break down everything you need

Episode 116: Life After DRP: What We Learned from Federal Employees Who Took the Offer

What really happens after you accept a Deferred Resignation Program (DRP) offer—and how do you know if it was the right move? In this episode, you'll learn what federal e

Episode 115: Let's Talk Taxes: Trump Accounts, Virginia Tax Changes & NIIT for Federal Employees

Do you actually understand how recent tax changes could impact your financial plan? In this episode, we break down several important tax topics, including Trump accounts,

Episode 114: When Should Federal Employees Claim Social Security?

Is claiming Social Security early really the smartest move, or could it cost you more in the long run? In this episode, you'll learn how financial planners actually think

Episode 113: Your FERS Retirement: Back to the Basics

Are federal employees sitting on far more wealth than they realize? In this episode, financial planners Tommy Blackburn and John Mason break down the fundamentals of the

Episode 112: Medicare in 2026 Part 2: No One Size Fits All for Federal Retirees

Are you choosing your Medicare plan based purely on math or on what truly fits your life? In Part 2 of our Medicare 2026 series, Bryan Gay, owner of Boomer Insurance and

Episode 111: Medicare in 2026: What Changed and What It Means for Federal Retirees

Is your Medicare plan still working for you, or are you just hoping it is? In this episode, we're joined by Bryan Gay, owner of Boomer Insurance and a seasoned Medicare e

Episode 110: The Mason & Associates New Client Experience for Federal Employees

Ever wondered what actually happens after you book an intro call with Mason & Associates? In this updated episode, we walk you through our new client experience from star

Episode 109: 10 Things You Can Do Outside of an Open Season

Think you have to wait for Open Season to make meaningful financial decisions as a federal employee? This episode breaks that myth wide open. John, Ben, and Tommy walk th

Episode 108: Good Financial Hygiene: Cybersecurity, Addressing Scams, and Staying Financially Protected

What if getting hacked isn't a question of if, but when? In this episode, Tommy Blackburn and John Mason break down the real-world cybersecurity risks they're seeing—not

Episode 107: Should Federal Employees Do Roth Conversions? Do They Help Or Hurt?

Do Roth conversions make sense for everyone? In this episode, we unpack the rules, strategies, and potential pitfalls of Roth conversions, as well as the role of taxes, s