Retiree VP Voice

BY JOHN K. NALAND

After eight years, this is my final column as your retiree vice president. Drawing on my earlier experience as the director of the Department of State’s Office of Retirement, most of my columns focused on the nuts and bolts of Foreign Service retirement rules and procedures.

I wrote these columns because, when it comes to federal retirement benefits, what you don’t know can hurt you. Lack of knowledge of long-standing or newly implemented policies can result in a benefit being denied, to the financial detriment of you or your survivors.

I will have a final bite at the apple in the September-October Foreign Service Journal, which is scheduled to print my article “Twelve Retirement Pitfalls to Avoid.”

When it comes to federal retirement benefits, what you don’t know can hurt you.

After that, I defer to AFSA’s knowledgeable retirement services team to keep you updated via content in this journal, the AFSA website, the bimonthly AFSA Retirement Newsletter, and the front section of each annual AFSA Directory of Retired Members.

As I step down, my bottom-line advice is to take ownership of your retirement financial plan. Pay attention to AFSA updates on retirement issues. Monitor your Thrift Savings Plan account and any other investments to ensure that stocks-versus-bonds balance is appropriate for your investment timeline and risk tolerance.

Maintain your AFSA membership to help fund the salaries of staff members who keep you updated on retirement issues and defend your earned retirement benefits on Capitol Hill.

I wish you a long, happy retirement.