Understand the Financial Impact of Retirement Benefit Decisions
Focused Financial Solutions has a partnership with ProFeds to provide federal employees the opportunity to attend top quality education on their federal benefits. ProFeds has been providing specialized, in-depth training on federal benefits to federal employees all over the country since 2008 and Coloradans now have the opportunity to learn from this highly sought expertise. ProFeds is a federal contractor that works with federal agencies and Focused Financial Solutions to provide benefits and retirement training in accordance with OPM’s financial literacy objectives.
Federal Retirement Impact Workshops Hosted by FFS
ProFeds has developed a unique CSRS and FERS benefits workshop that is focused on helping federal employees apply what they learn in the classroom to their own specific situation. Instead of teaching benefit rules at a very technical level, ProFeds educates employees on the financial impact of retirement and benefit decisions so they can make personal choices judiciously based on complete and clear information.
While federal benefits are often confusing and difficult to interpret, ProFeds is able to break down complex concepts into easy‐to‐understand language to show employees how proactive benefit decisions can positively affect their overall financial situation both now and for the future.
Tailoring The Workshop To Meet The Needs Of Employees
With the wide array of federal employees ProFeds trains, ProFeds knows the importance of tailoring the workshop material to suit specific needs. The most common accommodations we make are for audiences of Law Enforcement Officers, Air Traffic Controllers, and Firefighters.
Ideal Candidates
The employees who typically benefit most from this workshop are within 5‐10 years of retirement. Those closer to retirement often have specific questions and concerns regarding retirement decisions to be made — and that makes this workshop particularly relevant to their personal circumstances and objectives.
Following The Workshop
As a strategic partner of ProFeds, Focused Financial Solutions is uniquely equipped to help federal employees evaluate their current benefits and develop a comprehensive, balanced personal financial plan. The importance of working with a financial planner who fully understands how federal benefits work should not be underestimated. One piece of advice, given out of ignorance, can have a significant detrimental impact on a retirement plan or legacy plan.
Focused Financial Solutions offers each employee an opportunity to meet to review their specific situation and develop a personalized Federal Benefits Analysis together. This analysis helps to demonstrate the value of one’s federal benefits and identify optimal decisions to be made while one is working and as one moves closer to retirement. This benefits review is offered at no cost and no obligation to the agency or employee.
What Federal Employees Are Saying
ProFeds workshops have consistently received 5-star reviews by federal agencies and their employees across the country. While agencies are pleased to host such an impactful training session, employees leave feeling confident and empowered to take action to positively affect their plans for retirement — truly a win-win. Click below for testimonials from workshop attendees.
WORKSHOP TRAINING AGENDA
General Information About Planning for Retirement
- Tips for being better prepared for a smooth transition into retirement
- Understanding what you have and what you need to know about decisions to make at retirement
Retirement Systems (CSRS & FERS)
- Eligibility requirements and how to choose an appropriate retirement date
- Deposits, Redeposits & Military Deposits
- Special Considerations for Law Enforcement Officers, Air Traffic Controllers, and Firefighters
- Calculating the CSRS & FERS annuity
- Cost of Living Adjustments in retirement
Survivor Benefit Plan
- Coverage, cost, considerations and who can benefit from SBP
Taxes on Federal Pensions
- Federal and state tax implications
FERS Special Retirement Supplement
- Eligibility requirements and calculation of the benefit
- What happens if you work after retiring
- Social Security
- Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)
- Government Pension Offset (GPO)
Federal Employees Group Life Insurance
- COVERAGE AND COSTS WHILE EMPLOYED
Federal Employees Health Benefits
- Tax advantage of FEHB while working
- Eligibility requirements to keep FEHB in retirement
- Coordination between FEHB and Medicare Part B
Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program
- What services Long Term Care insurance covers
- Coverage and costs for services
- Eligibility requirements to obtain coverage
Thrift Savings Plan
- Fund choices, tax advantages and options within the TSP while working
- How to maximize government contributions
- Options available at retirement
Overview
Tips to be proactive and understand the financial impact of the decisions to be made at retirement
TESTIMONIALS
“Wish we had this 10 years ago…it made the retirement system easy to understand.”
K.F., Department of Justice, Milwaukee, WI
“The most informative retirement workshop I have ever attended thus far. Easy to understand and very straight forward.”
M.M., NTSB, Washington, DC
“Excellent class and information. Loved the opportunities to ask questions – very knowledgeable. I will attend every year until retirement.”
L.G., Department of Defense, Vacaville, CA
“Great seminar. Very helpful information provided, and will make me do my homework.”
S.H., Department of Defense, Dixon, CA
“This session has made me realize how much more planning I need to do before I retire.”
S.A., U.S. Courts Federal Judiciary, Shreveport, LA
“Before you retire this is a class you must go to!”
R.S., Department of Agriculture, Orlando, FL
“Take it! I have a much better understanding of how our retirement system works.”
D.B., Dept of Agriculture, Bozeman, MT
“It’s easy to see why you’re in such high demand. Your material was spot on.”
J.R., Dept of the Army, San Antonio, TX
“The most information I have ever received and heard in my ENTIRE military and federal years.”
L.B., Dept of Defense, Washington, DC
“Didn’t try to sell anything but did give a lot of information about the pros and cons of each federal program.”
M.H., Dept of Defense, San Antonio, TX
“All information discussed was very informative and beneficial. Not just one topic – all topics! Excellent seminar!”
J.P., Dept of Agriculture, Annapolis, MD
“It is better than any seminar provided by HR at work.”
S.M. Dept of Defense, Annapolis, MD
“Such important information. Better to know when you start out, but definitely go to make sure you have all your ducks in a row so you are not surprised when it comes time to retire.”
L.R. Dept of Agriculture, Bozeman, MT
“It is a must…and the sooner the better!”
L.R., Dept of Homeland Security, San Antonio, TX
“I have attended several retirement briefings but this is the only one that has made sense! Great!”
N.R., Dept of the Air Force, San Antonio, TX
“Absolutely essential to retirement planning.”
T.K., Dept of the Navy, Arlington, VA
“Very informative to come to and to learn what you have coming and what to do and what not to do. The things we learned today, I had no idea about. Thank you so much, not just for me but for my family.”
H.S., Dept of Veterans Affairs, Little Rock, AR
“Very informative and logically assembled to translate to easy-to-understand concepts.”
K.A., Dept of Defense, St. Petersburg, FL
