Retirement Planning for Federal Employees in Maryland and the DC Metro
Federal retirement is a set of decisions with deadlines: when to retire under FERS, what to do with the TSP, whether to keep FEGLI, when to claim Social Security, and how Medicare fits with FEHB. Most of them are irreversible once the paperwork is in, and the guidance from the agency benefits office stops at "here are your options."
Start with the decision in front of you:
- How much you need to retire as a federal employee
- The five mistakes that cost federal retirees the most
- The FERS supplement and its earnings test
- TSP Roth in-plan conversions
- TSP beneficiary rules
- Medicare Part B with FEHB
- How to choose a FERS retirement advisor in Baltimore, and 7 questions to ask
Two Maryland-specific pieces belong on this list: how Maryland taxes a FERS annuity and TSP withdrawals (the $40,600 pension exclusion covers the TSP but not a rollover IRA), and long-term care planning while FLTCIP is suspended.
Written for federal employees and annuitants at NIH, FDA, SSA, NIST, and the agencies across Maryland and the DC metro by Shuo Li, CFP®, CIMA®, ChFC®, and Danni Shen, CFA®. Federal benefits planning is part of our retirement planning service; if you have a retirement date within two years, book a call.
Roth Conversion Strategies for a $1 Million TSP: What Linda’s Case Shows Federal Pre-Retirees (2026)
How a FERS retiree with a $1M traditional TSP could use Roth conversions from 60 to 68: which bracket to fill, IRMAA, paying tax, and what changes the answer.
FERS Retirement Advisor in Baltimore: What to Look For, and 7 Questions to Ask Before You Hire One
Retiring from federal service near Baltimore? What a FERS retirement advisor should know, the Maryland tax break most miss, and 7 questions to ask first.
The 5 Biggest Federal Retirement Mistakes And How to Avoid Them
The five mistakes FERS retirees make: planning for 20 years, keeping FEGLI after 65, a working-years TSP mix, market timing, and uncoordinated Social Security.
How Much Money Do I Need to Retire as a Federal Employee? (FERS + TSP + Social Security) — 2026 Guide
Federal retirement math: estimate your FERS pension (1% or 1.1%), add Social Security, find the income gap, and set your TSP target with three worked scenarios.
Understanding the FERS Special Retirement Supplement
FERS Special Retirement Supplement: who qualifies, the years-divided-by-40 formula, the 2026 earnings limit of $24,480, VERA timing, and the age-62 cutoff.