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Early Career: Federal Retirement

Build the foundation: how FERS works and why your first decade matters most.

For0–10 years of service
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What you’ll learn

If you are new to federal service, this track explains the federal retirement system from the ground up: the three parts of FERS, how the Thrift Savings Plan works, and the contribution habits that compound into the largest part of your retirement. No prior knowledge assumed.

Lessons

9 lessons · 5 available
  1. 01The three pillars of FERSHow your federal retirement income is built from three pillars: the FERS pension, the Thrift Savings Plan, and Social Security.
  2. 02The 5% match: free money you can leave behindWhy contributing less than 5% of your salary to the TSP forfeits part of the agency match.
  3. 03FERS vs. CSRS vs. a private 401(k)What makes federal retirement different from the older CSRS system and from a typical private-sector plan.
  4. 04How the TSP works: the G, F, C, S, I, and L fundsA plain-English tour of the Thrift Savings Plan investment options and what each fund holds.
  5. 05Traditional vs. Roth TSPHow the two TSP tax treatments differ and which one fits where you are in your career.
  6. 06Creditable service and buying back military timeWhat counts toward your years of service and how a military deposit can increase your pension.Soon
  7. 07Pay, steps, and how today’s raises drive your future High-3How the GS step and grade system feeds the salary average your pension is built on.Soon
  8. 08Beneficiary designations on TSP and FERSWho inherits what if something happens to you, and why these forms override your will.Soon
  9. 09Your first 10 years: the compounding mathWhy contributions made early in your career do the heaviest lifting in your final TSP balance.Soon

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