Most federal employees think maximizing their FERS pension means working as long as possible to get the biggest number. But that’s not actually how you maximize it.
In this video, John Mason, CFP®, walks through the FERS pension calculation (years of service x 1% x your high-3 average salary), the strategies that increase each variable, and then reframes the entire question: the real goal isn’t the largest pension on paper. It’s activating your pension the day you’re financially able and emotionally ready to retire.
That crossover point is different for everyone, and figuring out when it actually arrives is harder than it sounds.
In this video, John covers:
0:00 The FERS pension calculation explained
0:45 Strategies to increase your years of service and high-3
1:50 Sick leave, military time, and what counts toward your pension
2:32 Why “maximize” doesn’t mean what most people think
3:16 The real goal: activating your pension at the right time
4:03 How to find the crossover point between financial independence and retirement readiness
If you’re a federal employee trying to figure out when you can actually afford to retire and feel good about it, this video is for you.
🎥 Related Videos:
➡️ Your FERS Retirement: https://youtu.be/6lJaAo00gic?si=5XUFcEfwrL4tT63e
➡️ How to Calculate Your FERS Pension: https://youtu.be/kjgSicdahKU?si=js1WaSbiPqhvPAY7
➡️ The BEST Days to Retire as a Federal Employee: https://youtu.be/6FsPo4h4FEM?si=Ld6BQbcuKrcHEuUH
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📥 The Federal Employee’s Guide to Survivor Benefits: https://www.masonllc.net/federal-employee-guide-to-survivor-benefits/
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Investment advisory services offered through Mason & Associates, LLC. This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be considered specific investment, financial planning, tax planning, legal, or other professional advice.
