Gus

Sample plan

Mail Carrier · 57 · Dayton, OH

married to Bev, a part-time vet tech

Federal retirement pays a bridge paycheck from 57 to 62 that most carriers have never heard of — and it stops the moment you earn your way out of it.

Earns now

$86k

per year

Saved

$60k

nest egg

Spends

$79k

per year, incl. health

Retirement income

$69k

SS + pensions

The outcome as-is

Runs short in the 70s as-is — even with the pension, the plan closes the gap

Income streams

Carrier salarywork

active now → now

$65,000/yr

FERS pensionretirement

active now → for life

$20,000/yr

FERS supplement (stops at 62)retirement

active now → age 62

$13,800/yr

Bev — vet tech (part-time)work

active now → age 64

$21,000/yr

Social Securityretirement

claim at 67 / 67

$35,400/yr

Brokerage (taxable)$10,000

401(k) / IRA (tax-deferred)$50,000

Living budget$6,167/mo

Health bridge (pre-65)$417/mo

Total, pre-65$6,584/mo

12 months out
Confirm the magic combination: minimum retirement age plus 30 years of service = an immediate, unreduced pension. Audit the service record now, not at the party.
9 months out
Map the three income phases: 57–62 pension plus the supplement · 62–67 the claiming decision · 67+ pension plus Social Security. Retirement income arrives in windows — plan each window.
6 months out
The TSP decision: it can stay put as the safe sleeve while taxable savings go first in the withdrawal order.
3 months out
The quiet crown jewel: federal retiree health coverage continues for life at employee rates. The insurance bridge that wrecks every civilian plan basically doesn't exist here.

Open the What-If board with Gus’s exact numbers — drag a lever and watch the earliest age Gus can actually retire.