The Foreign Service Journal, April 2023

52 APRIL 2023 | THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL RETIREMENT SUPPLEMENT possessions instead of just trashing them. It is best to start this process long before you face a deadline such as mov- ing to a smaller residence. Many books and websites offer downsizing advice. For Foreign Service–focused suggestions, see Ambassador Eileen Malloy’s “The Big Downsizing: Retirement Lessons,” in the July-August 2015 FSJ (https://afsa.org/ big-downsizing-retirement-lessons) . 11. Get Assistance fromAFSA. Bureaucratic glitches do not end at retire- ment. Fortunately, AFSA has your back if you encounter difficulties with your federal retirement benefits. Contact AFSA Counselor for Retirees Dolores Brown at Brown@afsa.org . She has contacts in State’s Office of Retirement and the Bureau of the Comptroller and Global Financial Services (CGFS) with whom she can raise individual cases when needed. 12. Maintain Your AFSAMember- ship. Help AFSA defend the active-duty Foreign Service and your earned retire- ment benefits by maintaining your AFSA membership. AFSA membership keeps you in the loop and keeps you in the community. If your membership depends on you writing a check each year, please consider switching from annual billing to paying dues via annuity deduction. Switching will ensure that your member- ship does not inadvertently lapse due to lost or unnoticed mail. Email member@ afsa.org for more information. n Essential References Available at https://afsa.org/retirement • State Department Office of Retirement: Foreign Service Annual Annuitant Newsletter • AFSA Directory of Retired Members: Guidance Section • AFSATool: Retirement Planning Checklist for Current Retirees • AFSATool: Financial Planners, Tax Help, and Estate Planners • AFSATool: Retirement Benefits FAQ for Retired Personnel • AFSAVideo: Reviewing Your Retirement Plan