Pulaski Planner Podcast: Your Retirement Lookout

Supporting Wellbeing in the Forest Service with Dr. Kalim Wigfall

Forest Service Chief Wellbeing Officer Kalim Wigfall on EAP, Mental Health Month, and Supporting Wildland FirefightersIn this episode, host Catherine Kirchner speaks with Kalim Wigfall, Chief Wellbeing Officer for the U.S. Forest Service, about how he observes Mental Health Month by “doubling down” on routine check-ins and asking people how they’re really doing. Wigfall shares his background in behavioral health, military service in the Coast Guard and Navy, and how a suicide-ideation incident while serving as a Command Drug and Alcohol Representative led him into employee wellbeing work. He discusses moving beyond “checking the box” by listening at the “deck plate” level, improving trust and education around EAP confidentiality, and reframing mental health as a spectrum distinct from mental illness. The conversation covers financial stress as a workplace issue, EAP’s work-life services (including financial counseling and tax prep), typical low EAP utilization (4–7%), counseling wait times (about 4–7 days), wildfire-season demands, off-season challenges, and the importance of self-care and taking leave.00:00 Mental Health Month Check In01:02 Meet Kalim Wigfall02:10 Becoming Wellbeing Officer04:15 Beyond Checking Boxes06:33 EAP Trust And Stigma08:34 Financial Stress At Work10:09 EAP Financial Help Details13:37 Forest Service Responder Reality15:13 Wildfire Season And Off Season18:31 Self Care As A Tool20:13 Closing Thanks And ResourcesAbout Catherine Kirchner & The Pulaski PlannerHi, I'm Catherine Kirchner, a financial planner and the creator behind the Pulaski Planner. Based in Montana, I specialize in providing financial guidance for career professionals in the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, NPS, and other public lands agencies. I am a registered Investment Adviser Representative, having passed the Series 65 examination and am currently pursuing my CFP® designation. Our firm, Donalies Financial Planning, is a Fee-Only financial planning and investment management practice.Let's Connect:Schedule a Call: Ready to build your own retirement roadmap? Schedule a complimentary "Retirement Lookout Session" here: ⁠www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner [www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner]⁠Subscribe to the Newsletter: Get bi-weekly financial insights via my LinkedIn Newsletter,⁠ "Pulaski Planner: Your Retirement Lookout [https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7379626330017091584]"⁠ Connect on LinkedIn.

Beyond the Forest: Jose Noriega's New Path in Public Service

From Forest Service District Ranger to County Commissioner: Jose Noriega’s Unexpected Retirement PivotHost Catherine Kirchner interviews Jose Noriega, an Ely, Nevada native who spent 34 years with the U.S. Forest Service, including about 10 years as a wildlife biologist and later as a district ranger, retiring earlier than planned after workplace struggles and an early retirement option. His retirement initially felt like a shock: he slept in, stayed busy on his small farm raising goats and chickens, and felt lost because his wife and friends still worked. During local county commission turmoil, community members submitted his name and Nevada’s governor appointed him as a White Pine County commissioner; he is now running for the seat. Noriega discusses transferring community-connection skills to county work, frustration with bureaucracy, highlights like handling a tranquilized wolverine and being redirected from transporting wolves due to armed opposition, and retirement planning success through disciplined TSP investing.00:00 No More Excuses00:08 Show Intro00:53 Meet Jose Noriega01:29 Retirement Plans Upended02:48 Appointed Commissioner03:40 First Weeks Retired04:46 Forest Service Family06:56 Community Connections07:52 From Ranger to Commissioner09:24 Fighting Bureaucracy12:30 Campaign Update13:31 Wild Career Stories16:43 Retirement Money Lessons20:02 Wrap Up and Farewell20:17 Final TakeawaysAbout Catherine Kirchner & The Pulaski PlannerHi, I'm Catherine Kirchner, a financial planner and the creator behind the Pulaski Planner. Based in Montana, I specialize in providing financial guidance for career professionals in the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and other public lands agencies. I am a registered Investment Adviser Representative, having passed the Series 65 examination and am currently pursuing my CFP® designation. Our firm, Donalies Financial Planning, is a Fee-Only financial planning and investment management practice.Let's Connect:Schedule a Call: Ready to build your own retirement roadmap? Schedule a complimentary "Retirement Lookout Session" here: ⁠www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner [⁠www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner]⁠Subscribe to the Newsletter: Get bi-weekly financial insights via my LinkedIn Newsletter,⁠ "Pulaski Planner: Your Retirement Lookout [https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7379626330017091584]"⁠ Connect on LinkedIn.

Navigating the USFS Reorganization: Financial Considerations

Four Financial Rules to Consider During Agency ReorganizationCatherine Kirchner, the Pulaski Planner, addresses public land professionals processing news of an agency reorganization and shares four financial considerations for deciding next steps. She explains that refusing a geographic reassignment can be an involuntary separation that may qualify for OPM discontinued service retirement (DSR) with an immediate annuity and continued health insurance if eligibility requirements are met. She advises seeking voluntary programs before leaving, including VERA (early retirement) and VSIP (a buyout capped at $25,000). For mid-career employees considering a deferred FERS pension, she highlights the lack of COLA while waiting and illustrates how inflation can reduce purchasing power. Finally, she reviews retirement options that allow keeping FEHB coverage, notes the costs of temporary continuation coverage, and reminds viewers to prioritize self-care and run the numbers before making major decisions.00:00 Reorg News Overview01:02 Rule One DSR Basics02:18 Rule Two VERA VSIP03:33 Rule Three Deferred Pension04:52 Inflation Impact Demo06:27 Rule Four Keep FEHB08:49 Wrap Up Self Care To learn more about working with a Fee Only Financial Planner that specializes in public land professionals, check out our website. https://www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner [https://www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner] Or subscribe to the Pulaski Planner newsletter on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7379626330017091584 [https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7379626330017091584]

New for 2026: The TSP In-Plan Roth Conversion (And How to Use It)

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) just launched a feature that changes the game for tax planning. As of January 2026, you can now convert Traditional TSP funds to Roth TSP funds without ever leaving the plan. In this episode, Catherine breaks down the logistics of this new tool and explains why federal employees—specifically those with a FERS pension—might want to consider paying taxes today to avoid a "tax bomb" in retirement. We discuss: * The "Old Way" vs. "New Way" of doing Roth conversions. * The Pro-Rata Rule: Why you can't choose which funds to convert. * The Danger Zone: The TSP will not withhold taxes for you—here is how to handle the bill without getting penalized. * The W-4 Hack: A simple trick in MyEPP/Employee Express to automate your tax payments. Links & Resources: * Book a Call: https://www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner [https://www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner] * Visit the Website: https://www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner [https://www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner] * Connect on LinkedIn: Subscribe to the Pulaski Planner newsletter. [https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7379626330017091584] This episode is for educational purposes only and is not financial advice.

Protecting Public Skies: Wildlife Conservation in Military Spaces, Interview with Will Boss

An Interview with US Air Force Wildlife Biologist Will BossIn this episode of the Pulaski Planner, host Catherine Kirchner interviews Will Boss who is both a wildlife biologist and an active-duty member of the Air Force. He shares his journey from working with animals in Iraq to becoming a certified wildlife biologist in the Air Force. They delve into the importance of having clear goals and accountability partners, discuss current projects focused on mitigating bird and wildlife hazards to aircraft, and highlight the significance of combining military service with wildlife conservation. Additionally, Will shares crucial tools and equipment that aid in his work, emphasizing the importance of effective boots, GIS technology, and thermal vision for night surveys.00:00 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG9I1WuQMAk] Introduction and Bird Control Techniques00:17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG9I1WuQMAk&t=17s] Welcome to the Pulaski Planner00:41 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG9I1WuQMAk&t=41s] Journey to Becoming a Wildlife Biologist03:49 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG9I1WuQMAk&t=229s] The Importance of Setting Goals06:51 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG9I1WuQMAk&t=411s] Current Projects and BASH Program13:24 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG9I1WuQMAk&t=804s] Combining Passions: Military and Wildlife15:54 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG9I1WuQMAk&t=954s] Essential Tools for a Wildlife Biologist19:43 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dG9I1WuQMAk&t=1183s] Personal Stories and Final ThoughtsAbout Catherine Kirchner & The Pulaski PlannerHi, I'm Catherine Kirchner, a financial planner and the creator behind the Pulaski Planner. Based in Montana, I specialize in providing financial guidance for career professionals in the U.S. Forest Service, BLM, and other public lands agencies. I hold a Series 65 license and am currently pursuing my CFP® designation.Let's Connect:Schedule a Call: Ready to build your own retirement roadmap? Schedule a complimentary "Retirement Lookout Session" here: ⁠www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner [⁠www.donaliesfp.com/pulaski-planner]⁠Subscribe to the Newsletter: Get bi-weekly financial insights via my LinkedIn Newsletter,⁠ "Pulaski Planner: Your Retirement Lookout [https://www.linkedin.com/build-relation/newsletter-follow?entityUrn=7379626330017091584]"⁠ Connect on LinkedIn.