Federal Employee Need to Knows: The Thrifft Savings Plan for Federal Employees

Parting Words

Bestselling Author and Retirement Expert, Dale McGregor, shares his closing guidance from The Retirement Voyage. He highlights the danger of universal “always” or “never” financial advice and explains why fiduciaries must understand each client’s complete picture before making recommendations. Dale describes how his team uses advanced planning software to model market downturns, rising healthcare costs, long-term care events, and other retirement “storms.” With the right guidance, retirees can chart a personalized route that leads to stability, security, and confidence.

Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance

Bestselling Author and Retirement Expert, Dale McGregor, breaks down FEGLI—how it works, why it's affordable early in a federal career, and how hidden price increases erode its value over time. He explains the five-year premium jumps, the sticker shock many employees discover in their 50s and 60s, and why most retirees cannot afford FEGLI later in life. Dale also covers strategies to preserve a portion of coverage at no ongoing cost and why employees should never cancel FEGLI without a replacement in place.

The Fedral Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program

Bestselling Author and Retirement Expert, Dale McGregor, walks through the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program and why it remains one of the most valuable benefits in federal service. He explains government premium contributions, coverage options, and why FEHB becomes a strategic asset in retirement. Dale also details how Medicare and TRICARE integrate, including the little-known ability to suspend (not cancel) FEHB—preserving future access without penalty. This episode highlights why federal employees can’t rely on agencies for personalized advice.

Federal Employee Need to Knows: The Thrifft Savings Plan for Federal Employees

Bestselling Author and Retirement Expert, Dale McGregor, explains why he began specializing in federal employee benefits more than a decade ago—and why this group desperately needs clear retirement guidance. He breaks down the Thrift Savings Plan, its five simple fund options, government matching rules, lifecycle funds, and key differences from traditional 401(k)s. Dale also warns about upcoming Roth conversion changes, distribution limitations, and traps that can lock employees into irreversible mistakes.

Roth Conversions and Retirement Planning

Bestselling Author and Retirement Expert, Dale McGregor, digs into Roth conversions and why he believes everyone who’s eligible should consider having Roth money. He contrasts traditional tax-deferred accounts—sold on the promise of lower taxes in retirement—with today’s reality of rising tax pressure. Dale explains how to strategically convert portions of pre-tax accounts to Roth over time, how to watch your tax brackets while you do it, and the role of required minimum distributions at age 73. With careful planning, Roth conversions can shrink or even eliminate future RMDs and build a pool of tax-free income for later years.