Planning for a retirement outside the United States? In episode 145 of The Federal Retirement Show, Val discusses the pros and cons of retiring abroad, and the specific countries that could be beneficial and fit into your plans in retirement!

Don’t miss this episode if you’re looking to secure your financial future as a federal employee. Make sure to subscribe to The Federal Retirement Show for more episodes and leave us a review!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Connect with Val and the topic could be featured in future episodes! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

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Listen to Previous Episodes: 
https://federalretirementshow.com/podcasts/

Subscribe to the show’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@americanbenefitsexchange

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Connect with Val:
Phone --- (512) 582-6050
Email --- [email protected]
American Benefits Exchange --- thinkabx.com
Federal Retirement Show --- federalretirementshow.com/podcasts
LinkedIn --- https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-benefits-exchange/

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About American Benefits Exchange:
American Benefits Exchange focuses on providing solid financial solutions to Federal, postal, and state employees as well as members of the United States Armed Forces and small businesses. American Benefits Exchange brings years of experience and knowledge to support these niche markets.

American Benefits Exchange, along with its provider companies, truly understands the needs of civil service employees. A portfolio of products is available to address important financial issues such as planning for retirement, FEGLI Option B replacement, Thrift Savings Plan Rollovers, and Pension Maximization.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Retirement shouldn't be a question mark - it should be a plan. In episode 144 of the Federal Retirement Show, Val explains a recent situation he came across in helping a federal employee and goes on to explain how federal employees can create guaranteed lifetime income streams and build a rock-solid financial foundation for retirement.

He breaks down:
✅ What "guaranteed income" really means—and why it matters
✅ Smart strategies within your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
✅ How to balance growth and safety as you near retirement
✅ The role annuities can play in creating predictable income
✅ Tips to build up your TSP and convert savings into retirement paychecks

Federal benefits are powerful—but only if you know how to use them. Don’t leave your retirement to chance. Learn how to turn your federal career into a future of financial confidence.

Don’t miss this episode if you’re looking to secure your financial future as a federal employee. Make sure to subscribe to The Federal Retirement Show for more episodes and leave us a review!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Connect with Val and the topic could be featured in future episodes! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

---

Listen to Previous Episodes: 
https://federalretirementshow.com/podcasts/

Subscribe to the show’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@americanbenefitsexchange

---

Connect with Val:
Phone --- (512) 582-6050
Email --- [email protected]
American Benefits Exchange --- thinkabx.com
Federal Retirement Show --- federalretirementshow.com/podcasts
LinkedIn --- https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-benefits-exchange/

---

About American Benefits Exchange:

American Benefits Exchange focuses on providing solid financial solutions to Federal, postal, and state employees as well as members of the United States Armed Forces and small businesses. American Benefits Exchange brings years of experience and knowledge to support these niche markets.

American Benefits Exchange, along with its provider companies, truly understands the needs of civil service employees. A portfolio of products is available to address important financial issues such as planning for retirement, FEGLI Option B replacement, Thrift Savings Plan Rollovers, and Pension Maximization.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 143, Val breaks down the key points of the updated retirement process for Federal Employees, including the OPM/Online retirement application process and various FEGLI options available during this process.

Don’t miss this episode if you’re looking to secure your financial future as a federal employee. Make sure to subscribe to The Federal Retirement Show for more episodes and leave us a review!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Connect with Val and the topic could be featured in future episodes! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

 

---

Listen to Previous Episodes: 
https://federalretirementshow.com/podcasts/

Subscribe to the show’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@americanbenefitsexchange

---

Connect with Val:
Phone --- (512) 582-6050
Email --- [email protected]
American Benefits Exchange --- thinkabx.com
Federal Retirement Show --- federalretirementshow.com/podcasts
LinkedIn --- https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-benefits-exchange/

---

About American Benefits Exchange:

American Benefits Exchange focuses on providing solid financial solutions to Federal, postal, and state employees as well as members of the United States Armed Forces and small businesses. American Benefits Exchange brings years of experience and knowledge to support these niche markets.

American Benefits Exchange, along with its provider companies, truly understands the needs of civil service employees. A portfolio of products is available to address important financial issues such as planning for retirement, FEGLI Option B replacement, Thrift Savings Plan Rollovers, and Pension Maximization.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 142, Val dives deep into the complexities of inheriting retirement accounts, specifically comparing the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and Inherited IRAs when the beneficiary is not a spouse. If you've recently inherited a retirement account—or you're planning your estate—this episode is essential listening.

https://www.fedsmith.com/2025/07/23/tsp-inheritance-vs-inherited-ira-rules-for-non-spouse-beneficiaries/

Don’t miss this episode if you’re looking to secure your financial future as a federal employee. Make sure to subscribe to The Federal Retirement Show for more episodes and leave us a review!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Connect with Val and the topic could be featured in future episodes! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

---

Listen to Previous Episodes: 
https://federalretirementshow.com/podcasts/

Subscribe to the show’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@americanbenefitsexchange

---

Connect with Val:
Phone --- (512) 582-6050
Email --- [email protected]
American Benefits Exchange --- thinkabx.com
Federal Retirement Show --- federalretirementshow.com/podcasts
LinkedIn --- https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-benefits-exchange/

---

About American Benefits Exchange:

American Benefits Exchange focuses on providing solid financial solutions to Federal, postal, and state employees as well as members of the United States Armed Forces and small businesses. American Benefits Exchange brings years of experience and knowledge to support these niche markets.

American Benefits Exchange, along with its provider companies, truly understands the needs of civil service employees. A portfolio of products is available to address important financial issues such as planning for retirement, FEGLI Option B replacement, Thrift Savings Plan Rollovers, and Pension Maximization.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 141 of The Federal Retirement Show, Val dives into the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority—better known as VERA—and what it means for federal employees weighing their retirement options. You could be a seasoned civil servant considering early retirement or a mid-career federal employee planning for the future, but understanding the true impact of VERA is critical.

Don’t miss this episode if you’re looking to secure your financial future as a federal employee. Make sure to subscribe to The Federal Retirement Show for more episodes and leave us a review!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Connect with Val and the topic could be featured in future episodes! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

---

Listen to Previous Episodes: 
https://federalretirementshow.com/podcasts/

Subscribe to the show’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@americanbenefitsexchange

---

Connect with Val:
Phone --- (512) 582-6050
Email --- [email protected]
American Benefits Exchange --- thinkabx.com
Federal Retirement Show --- federalretirementshow.com/podcasts
LinkedIn --- https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-benefits-exchange/

---

About American Benefits Exchange:

American Benefits Exchange focuses on providing solid financial solutions to Federal, postal, and state employees as well as members of the United States Armed Forces and small businesses. American Benefits Exchange brings years of experience and knowledge to support these niche markets.

American Benefits Exchange, along with its provider companies, truly understands the needs of civil service employees. A portfolio of products is available to address important financial issues such as planning for retirement, FEGLI Option B replacement, Thrift Savings Plan Rollovers, and Pension Maximization.

 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On this episode of The Federal Retirement Show, Val Majewski tackles one of the most important parts of a federal employee’s career: service separation. Whether you’re preparing to retire, transfer to a new role, or step away from federal service entirely, this phase brings big questions and critical decisions.

📌 Key topics include:

• How to prepare for departure from federal service

• What happens to your FEHB, FEGLI, and TSP

• Common mistakes to avoid during transition

• Where to find help and personalized guidance

🎙 Have a question for Val?
Your topic could be featured on a future episode! Reach out anytime — we’d love to hear from you.

Connect with Val:
📞 (512) 582-6050
📧 [email protected]
🌐 thinkabx.com
🌐 federalretirementshow.com
🔗 LinkedIn – American Benefits Exchange

🎧 Catch Up on Past Episodes:
https://federalretirementshow.com/podcasts/

📺 Subscribe on YouTube:
www.youtube.com/@americanbenefitsexchange

About American Benefits Exchange:
American Benefits Exchange provides tailored financial solutions for federal, postal, and state employees, as well as military personnel and small business owners. With decades of experience, ABX helps clients navigate critical issues like retirement planning, FEGLI Option B replacement, TSP rollovers, and pension maximization — all with a deep understanding of the civil service landscape.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode 139 Val explains the top 10 mistakes made by Federal Employees when planning for retirement.

Don’t miss this episode if you’re looking to secure your financial future as a federal employee. Make sure to subscribe to The Federal Retirement Show for more episodes and leave us a review!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Connect with Val and the topic could be featured in future episodes! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

---

Listen to Previous Episodes: 
https://federalretirementshow.com/podcasts/

Subscribe to the show’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@americanbenefitsexchange

--- 

Connect with Val:
Phone --- (512) 582-6050
Email --- [email protected]
American Benefits Exchange --- thinkabx.com
Federal Retirement Show --- federalretirementshow.com/podcasts
LinkedIn --- https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-benefits-exchange/

---

 About American Benefits Exchange:
American Benefits Exchange focuses on providing solid financial solutions to Federal, postal, and state employees as well as members of the United States Armed Forces and small businesses. American Benefits Exchange brings years of experience and knowledge to support these niche markets.

American Benefits Exchange, along with its provider companies, truly understands the needs of civil service employees. A portfolio of products is available to address important financial issues such as planning for retirement, FEGLI Option B replacement, Thrift Savings Plan Rollovers, and Pension Maximization. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode 138 of The Federal Retirement Show, Val answers sought out questions asked frequently by federal employees including, submitting early retirement paperwork, buying back military time after 12 years, FEGLI Option B alternatives, and a lump sum option for retirement!

Don’t miss this episode if you’re looking to secure your financial future as a federal employee. Make sure to subscribe to The Federal Retirement Show for more episodes and leave us a review!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Connect with Val and the topic could be featured in future episodes! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

---

Listen to Previous Episodes: 
https://federalretirementshow.com/podcasts/

Subscribe to the show’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@americanbenefitsexchange

---

Connect with Val:
Phone --- (512) 582-6050
Email --- [email protected]
American Benefits Exchange --- thinkabx.com
Federal Retirement Show --- federalretirementshow.com/podcasts
Linkedin --- https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-benefits-exchange/

---

About American Benefits Exchange:
American Benefits Exchange focuses on providing solid financial solutions to Federal, postal, and state employees as well as members of the United States Armed Forces and small businesses. American Benefits Exchange brings years of experience and knowledge to support these niche markets.

American Benefits Exchange, along with its provider companies, truly understands the needs of civil service employees. A portfolio of products is available to address important financial issues such as planning for retirement, FEGLI Option B replacement, Thrift Savings Plan Rollovers, and Pension Maximization.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On episode 137 of The Federal Retirement Show, Val takes a deeper look into the world of retirement tax planning—because keeping more of your money matters just as much as saving it. He discussed what will be taxed and whether your FERS contributions, TSP Roth, and Roth IRA will be eligible to be taxed once you retire.

Don’t miss this episode if you’re looking to secure your financial future as a federal employee. Make sure to subscribe to The Federal Retirement Show for more episodes and leave us a review!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Connect with Val and the topic could be featured in future episodes! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

---

Listen to Previous Episodes: 
https://federalretirementshow.com/podcasts/

Subscribe to the show’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@americanbenefitsexchange

---

Connect with Val:
Phone --- (512) 582-6050
Email --- [email protected]
American Benefits Exchange --- thinkabx.com
Federal Retirement Show --- federalretirementshow.com/podcasts
Linkedin --- https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-benefits-exchange/

---

About American Benefits Exchange:
American Benefits Exchange focuses on providing solid financial solutions to Federal, postal, and state employees as well as members of the United States Armed Forces and small businesses. American Benefits Exchange brings years of experience and knowledge to support these niche markets.

American Benefits Exchange, along with its provider companies, truly understands the needs of civil service employees. A portfolio of products is available to address important financial issues such as planning for retirement, FEGLI Option B replacement, Thrift Savings Plan Rollovers, and Pension Maximization.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 136 of The Federal Retirement Show, Val explains the newest budge legislation update affecting the retirement of federal employees. Val discusses the intricate details within the new legislation, eliminated provisions, and the next steps you should take to secure your retirement around the parameters of this new legislation.

Don’t miss this episode if you’re looking to secure your financial future as a federal employee. Make sure to subscribe to The Federal Retirement Show for more episodes and leave us a review!

Have questions about retirement planning or other financial topics? Connect with Val and the topic could be featured in future episodes! Don't forget to leave a review and share this podcast with anyone looking to boost their financial knowledge.

 

---

Listen to Previous Episodes: 
https://federalretirementshow.com/podcasts/

Subscribe to the show’s YouTube channel:
www.youtube.com/@americanbenefitsexchange

---

Connect with Val:
Phone --- (512) 582-6050
Email --- [email protected]
American Benefits Exchange --- thinkabx.com
Federal Retirement Show --- federalretirementshow.com/podcasts
Linkedin --- https://www.linkedin.com/company/american-benefits-exchange/

---

About American Benefits Exchange:

American Benefits Exchange focuses on providing solid financial solutions to Federal, postal, and state employees as well as members of the United States Armed Forces and small businesses. American Benefits Exchange brings years of experience and knowledge to support these niche markets.

American Benefits Exchange, along with its provider companies, truly understands the needs of civil service employees. A portfolio of products is available to address important financial issues such as planning for retirement, FEGLI Option B replacement, Thrift Savings Plan Rollovers, and Pension Maximization.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.