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PODCAST

Rayna Retirement

American Federal Benefits Consultants

Rayna Retirement is the go-to podcast for federal employees – or anyone – looking to make smarter financial decisions with clarity and confidence. Hosted by Rayna Reyes, co-founder of American Federal Benefits Consultants, this show simplifies the complexities of retirement, benefits, and financial planning. Whether you"re navigating your FERS or CSRS pension, maximizing your TSP, or seeking expert advice on 401(k)s or IRAs, Rayna is here to guide you every step of the way. Tune in for practical

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All Episodes

00:07:33

What Do You Think I’m Doing This For—My Health? Open...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/10/22

It’s that time of year again—open enrollment season for federal employees and postal workers! In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes takes a fun but practical look at one of the most important decisions you’ll make each year: choosing your health insurance plan. With her trademark humor (“What do you think I’m doing this for—my health?”), Rayna explains what you need to know before making changes to your FEHB or PSHB plan this November. You’ll

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00:07:33

What Do You Think I’m Doing This For—My Health? Open...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/10/22

It’s that time of year again—open enrollment season for federal employees and postal workers! In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes takes a fun but practical look at one of the most important decisions you’ll make each year: choosing your health insurance plan. With her trademark humor (“What do you think I’m doing this for—my health?”), Rayna explains what you need to know before making changes to your FEHB or PSHB plan this November. You’ll

en

00:08:48

How Much Should You Contribute to Your TSP? Get the...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/10/17

Are you making the most of your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)? In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes breaks down exactly how much you should be contributing to your TSP—so you’re not leaving free money on the table. Rayna explains: Why 5% is the minimum you should contribute to get your full government match How to calculate your per-pay-period contribution to hit your yearly maximum ‍ What’s new for 2025, including the Super Catch-Up for

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00:08:48

How Much Should You Contribute to Your TSP? Get the...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/10/17

Are you making the most of your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)? In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes breaks down exactly how much you should be contributing to your TSP—so you’re not leaving free money on the table. Rayna explains: Why 5% is the minimum you should contribute to get your full government match How to calculate your per-pay-period contribution to hit your yearly maximum ‍ What’s new for 2025, including the Super Catch-Up for

en

00:13:07

TSP Modernization: What Changed and How It Impacts You

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/10/14

Remember when the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) used to be full of restrictions? Those days are gone—thanks to the TSP Modernization Act. In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes dives into what the law changed, how it benefits federal employees, and what smart planning looks like today. From multiple partial withdrawals to flexible installment payments and separate Roth access, Rayna breaks down the updates in plain English and shows how they can

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00:09:44

Rollover Ready: What You Need to Know Before Moving...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/10/10

Rolling over your TSP or other retirement plan can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes breaks down the do’s and don’ts of rollovers in plain English. She explains how to move your money safely, avoid unnecessary taxes, and understand what Uncle Sam is really waiting for when it comes to your retirement savings. You’ll also hear how different IRA options—like fixed, indexed, or variable—can fit your

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00:09:44

Rollover Ready: What You Need to Know Before Moving...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/10/10

Rolling over your TSP or other retirement plan can be confusing—but it doesn’t have to be. In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes breaks down the do’s and don’ts of rollovers in plain English. She explains how to move your money safely, avoid unnecessary taxes, and understand what Uncle Sam is really waiting for when it comes to your retirement savings. You’ll also hear how different IRA options—like fixed, indexed, or variable—can fit your

en

00:10:12

Why You Don’t Have to Give Up Your Nest Egg for...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/10/07

Pensions are disappearing, 401(k)s are everywhere, and federal employees often face confusing decisions about lifetime income. In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes explains the critical difference between annuitization and other lifetime income strategies that let you keep access to your retirement savings. Rayna breaks down what happens when you annuitize your balance—why it may leave you with guaranteed income but no bucket of money to pull

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00:06:59

Postponed or Deferred? Making Sense of Federal...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/10/03

Do you know the difference between postponed retirement and deferred retirement under the federal benefits system? In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes clears up one of the most confusing topics for federal employees. Rayna explains what happens when you leave federal service before full eligibility, how your pension and benefits are affected, and why choosing to postpone instead of defer can mean keeping your health and life insurance

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00:06:59

Postponed or Deferred? Making Sense of Federal...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/10/03

Do you know the difference between postponed retirement and deferred retirement under the federal benefits system? In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes clears up one of the most confusing topics for federal employees. Rayna explains what happens when you leave federal service before full eligibility, how your pension and benefits are affected, and why choosing to postpone instead of defer can mean keeping your health and life insurance

en

00:10:08

Don’t Leave Money on the Table: Why Military Buyback...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/09/30

In this episode of Rayna Retirement, host Rayna Reyes tackles one of the most valuable—but often overlooked—benefits for federal and postal employees with prior military service: buying back your military time. Rayna breaks down the process step by step: how to apply for VA disability, why it matters, what “military buyback” really means, and how it can dramatically increase your federal pension. With real-world math examples and practical comparisons

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00:16:50

Burn, Baby, Burn: Maximizing Your Federal Sick Leave...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/09/26

In this episode of Rayna Retirement, host Rayna Reyes breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of federal retirement planning: unused sick leave. Using humor, real-world stories, and practical math, Rayna explains why federal and postal employees may be leaving thousands of dollars on the table by holding on to their sick leave instead of using it strategically. From specialist appointments to preventive care and even Lasik surgery, Rayna

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00:16:50

Burn, Baby, Burn: Maximizing Your Federal Sick Leave...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/09/26

In this episode of Rayna Retirement, host Rayna Reyes breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of federal retirement planning: unused sick leave. Using humor, real-world stories, and practical math, Rayna explains why federal and postal employees may be leaving thousands of dollars on the table by holding on to their sick leave instead of using it strategically. From specialist appointments to preventive care and even Lasik surgery, Rayna

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00:20:09

Quit Smoking? Maybe. Quit Overspending? Definitely:...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/09/24

They say the little things add up—and when it comes to your money, that couldn’t be more true. In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes shares practical budgeting and savings strategies that help you cut costs, reduce debt, and free up cash for what really matters in retirement. From brewing your coffee at home to eliminating recurring fees, from rethinking your cell phone bill to leveraging employer benefits, Rayna shows how small daily

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00:08:06

Small Business, Big Opportunity: Retirement Planning...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/09/19

This week on Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes takes a step outside the world of federal benefits to focus on a topic that affects many federal families—small business ownership and retirement planning. Whether you’re self-employed, married to a federal employee, or planning to start a business after retirement, Rayna breaks down options like solo 401(k)s, SEP IRAs, Roth IRAs, and cafeteria plans in plain English. She also explains how post-retirement

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00:10:37

What You Gonna Do When the 401(k) Comes for You?

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/09/17

What happens to your TSP or 401(k) when you retire? In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes takes a lighthearted but practical approach to a serious topic—Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), early retirement programs, and what to do when outside 401(k)s send you unexpected tax surprises. Along the way, Rayna shares memorable stories, from the “Bad Boys” theme song in Best Buy to federal retirement nicknames like “Twinkies” and “Ding Dongs.”

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00:10:33

Civil Service vs. FERS: Understanding Your Retirement...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/09/12

Are you a federal employee wondering about the differences between CSRS and FERS retirement systems? In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes uses her signature clarity (and a memorable Gatorade analogy!) to explain how pensions are funded, what “41/11” really means, and why CSRS employees may face excess contributions after decades of service. She also shares what happens when you get that refund check, the tax implications, and smart ways to

en

00:10:33

Civil Service vs. FERS: Understanding Your Retirement...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/09/12

Are you a federal employee wondering about the differences between CSRS and FERS retirement systems? In this episode of Rayna Retirement, Rayna Reyes uses her signature clarity (and a memorable Gatorade analogy!) to explain how pensions are funded, what “41/11” really means, and why CSRS employees may face excess contributions after decades of service. She also shares what happens when you get that refund check, the tax implications, and smart ways to

en

00:09:36

Understanding Your OPM Annuity Statement: What...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/09/10

For federal employees, retirement doesn’t mean the paperwork ends—it just changes forms. In this episode of Rayna Retirement, host Rayna Reyes walks through the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Services Online system and explains how to read and understand your monthly annuity statement. From interim checks to survivor benefits, deductions for insurance, and annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), Rayna breaks down what every retiree should know

en

00:09:36

Understanding Your OPM Annuity Statement: What...

Rayna Retirement ·

2025/09/10

For federal employees, retirement doesn’t mean the paperwork ends—it just changes forms. In this episode of Rayna Retirement, host Rayna Reyes walks through the Office of Personnel Management’s (OPM) Services Online system and explains how to read and understand your monthly annuity statement. From interim checks to survivor benefits, deductions for insurance, and annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), Rayna breaks down what every retiree should know

en

115 results

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