Podcasts by FedImpact: Candid Insights for Your Federal Retirement

It's Time for Something New! from 2023-10-11T17:48

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, shares a behind-the-scenes look at the recent updates ProFeds has made to its website and resources for federal employees.

Key takeaways:<...

Retirement - Are You in it to Win it? (Super Bowl Edition) from 2023-02-15T17:13

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, shares Super Bowl insights and what that has to do with your retirement from federal service.

Key takeaways:

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Striving for Financial Freedom in Retirement from 2023-01-03T09:00

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, shares how taking these steps early can help you to retire with financial confidence.

Key takeaways:

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Why Your Agency's Retirement Estimate Isn't Enough from 2022-11-15T12:45

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, talks about three areas where federal employees need to pay special attention to when they’re requesting and reviewing the retirement estimate from their agency:<...

Your Mindset on TSP in a Down Market from 2022-10-25T11:56

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, discusses how your mindset may shift on you when the TSP takes a tumble.

Key takeaways:

• Different stages of yo...
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Playing Offense&Defense in Retirement from 2022-09-20T08:30:10

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, discusses how playing both offense and defense can help federal employees to retire ready.

• OFFENSE: Increasing the money you have to l...
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TSP's Comedy of Errors in 4, 3, 2, 1... from 2022-08-02T11:59:29

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, discusses the legitimate frustrations that federal employees have felt about the TSP's recent transition to its new platform – and how feds can protect themselves...

The 3 Key Professionals to Have in Your Corner from 2022-07-08T13:41:11

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reveals the 3 key professionals federal employees should have in their corner as they prepare to retire – and how to get started.

Why Federal Employees Should Avoid "Rules of Thumb" from 2022-06-24T14:39:54

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reveals common "rules of thumb" and why federal employees are persuaded to follow them – and what to do instead.

5 Places Where Feds Should Not Go to For Advice from 2022-06-07T16:34:16

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, offers insights into where federal employees should not be seeking advice from – and where to go instead.

Key takeaways:

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How the FERS Supplement is Affected if You Work After Retiring from 2022-05-24T12:06:17

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, gives the simple formula to know if federal retirees might work themselves right out of the Special Retirement Supplement if they have a job after leaving federal...

Why High COLAs are Not a Good Thing from 2022-05-10T08:42:12

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reveals why high COLAs actually mean less money in the pockets of federal retirees.

Key takeaways:

• How the Cos...
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FEGLI Option C (When You Have No Eligible Family Members) from 2022-04-26T09:30:20

ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reviews FEGLI Option C coverage and what happens when you no longer have eligible family members who are covered.

Key takeaways:

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Rules for Keeping FEHB in Retirement from 2022-04-12T09:30:44

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, covers the 3 rules that federal employees must follow to be allowed to keep their health benefits (FEHB) in retirement.  

The TSP Early Withdrawal Penalty from 2022-03-29T11:57:32

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, reveals the rules of the early withdrawal penalty (and how to avoid it) when taking money out of the TSP prior to age 59 1/2.

The Goals, the Gap and the Gains from 2022-02-11T21:06:49

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New TSP Withdrawal and Loan Options from CARES Act from 2020-05-20T14:52:57

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, discusses the new guidance just released by the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) with respect to the withdrawals and the loan options for participants affected...

Volatile Market: The TSP and the Coronavirus from 2020-03-10T14:38:13

Federal retirement expert Chris Kowalik discusses the financial impact of the coronavirus is having on federal employees who are investors in the Thrift Savings Plan. Specifically, she addresses...

Understanding the Financial Impact of Proposed Benefits Changes for Federal Employees and Retirees from 2018-05-22T14:20:49

Federal benefits expert Chris Kowalik discusses the financial impact recent proposed changes to federal pay, benefits and retirement will have on both federal employees and retirees.   Chris pro...

Pros and Cons of TSP Lifecycle (L) Funds from 2018-02-26T15:22:33

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, shares the advantages and disadvantages of the Lifecycle Funds (L Funds) within the Thrift Savings Plan .  

Key...

Taxes in Retirement from 2018-02-01T12:58:52

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, provides some practical insight on how federal employees can prepare for income taxes in retirement.  

Is Deferred Retirement A Good Choice? from 2017-09-21T11:25:04

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, brings some clarity on an often-confusing special type of federal retirement -- deferred retirement -- and some potential significant drawbacks to it.

Survivor Benefits: Children and Insurable Interest from 2017-08-24T12:10:28

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, breaks down how the survivor benefit plan works for federal employee who wish to protect income for someone other than a spouse in retirement.

Understanding Spousal Survivor Benefits from 2017-08-08T19:30:39

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, discusses some important considerations on perhaps one of the biggest decisions federal employees nearing retirement have to  make:  the spousal survivo...

Federal Couples: Making Benefits Decisions for Retirement from 2017-06-22T13:54:35

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, provides insight on how federal employees married to one another likely have different choices on some key benefits decisions than employees married to ...

How FEHB and Medicare Work Together in Retirement from 2017-06-08T11:45:31

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik,  provides insight and tips on how the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program and Medicare work together in retirement.

How the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program Works in Retirement from 2017-05-18T15:04:15

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, dispels misconceptions of how the FEHB program works in retirement.

The Ins and Outs of the FERS Special Retirement Supplement from 2017-04-24T09:00:53

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, provides some clarity on how some FERS employees who retire prior to age 62 may receive the Special Retirement Supplement

How Part-Time Service Affects Federal Retirement Eligibility and Annuity Calculations from 2017-04-06T15:54:59

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, breaks down how part-time service may impact a federal employee's eligibility to retire and the calculation of their pension.

Federal Employee Pay Raises vs. Retiree COLAs from 2017-03-23T13:12:09

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, shares important details on the differences between federal employee pay raises and federal retiree cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) to pensions.

Retiring Under the MRA+10 Provision from 2017-01-26T15:16:30

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, shares how FERS employee who may be considering retiring under MRA+10 retirement rules will be affected by swift penalties.

Financial Planning Pep Talk for Federal Employees from 2017-01-12T12:28:17

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, shares how federal employees can get started in the often overwhelming process of planning for retirement.

How to Leverage the Roth Thrift Savings Plan from 2016-12-12T16:53:07

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, discusses how federal employees can leverage the Roth TSP to create tax-free income for themselves in retirement.

Retirement Benefits for Special Provision Employees (Law Enforcement Officers, Firefighters&Air Traffic Controllers) from 2016-11-29T13:49:17

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, shares her candid insights on how federal employees who are Law Enforcement, Firefighters, and Air Traffic Controller ar...

How Making a Military Service Deposit Affects Your Federal Pension from 2016-11-07T16:05:11

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, shares how an employee who has military service may benefit from making a deposit to get credit under the CSRS or FERS programs.

How CSRS Offset Employees’ Pensions and Social Security Benefits Are Impacted from 2016-10-13T12:26:27

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, shares how the CSRS Offset program works, and what employees under this program can expect once they retire from federal...

Tips on Updating Beneficiaries to Your Federal Benefits from 2016-09-28T12:40:30

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, shares tips and insights for federal employees to ensure their federal benefits have the correct beneficiaries assigned.  In this segment, she helps fed...

Annual Leave vs. Sick Leave and Your Federal Retirement from 2016-09-14T13:32:08

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik,helps federal employees to understand how each type of leave is paid out, some special considerations for each, and how to maximize both types of leave u...

How CSRS Employees Are Impacted by Social Security's WEP and GPO Provisions from 2016-08-17T13:51:49

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, helps eligible CSRS employees understand how their Social Security benefit may be financially impacted by two provisions -- the Windfall Elimination Pro...

Why 62 Is the Magic Age for FERS Employees to Retire from 2016-07-30T14:22:14

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, shares her candid insights on why age 62 is a magic age for most FERS employees to retire.  She helps FERS employees to understand the potentially signi...

There's A Lot to Love About the Thrift Savings Plan - and Some Surprises, Too from 2016-07-09T17:22:23

Federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, helps federal employees better understand their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) options while working, and begin to leverage the TSP to be a powerful part of ...