The Retirement Process

NARFE Federal Benefits Institute presents The Retirement Process Thursday, March 26, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET Retiring from federal service involves several key steps, primarily managed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). The process typically takes three to five months to complete. OPM recommends you submit your application to your agency at least 60 days prior to your planned retirement date. During processing, most retirees receive interim payments of 60 to 80 percent of their full benefit. Join NARFE benefits specialist Tony Opat for a comprehensive overview of the federal retirement process, covering each stage from start to finish, including the following topics: Preparation timeframe (how soon should you start preparing?) Creating an actionable checklist Verify total years of service, and understand how your high-three average salary is determined Confirm life and health insurance coverage Set up direct deposit and decide how your taxes should be withheld Learn about common application mistakes Confirm that your application is complete and finalized Learn what happens at OPM after you submit your application A Q&A session will follow the presentation. Join our session on March 26 to find out how the federal retirement process works and get tips on making the most of your benefits for an easy transition.

2026 Federation Presidents Meeting

Welcome! We are excited to welcome you to Indianapolis for the 2026 Federation Presidents Meeting, taking place August 21-23. Registration is now open! **Registration for Presidents or Their Representatives:** The registration fee is $225, including breakfast and lunch on Friday, August 21, through Sunday, August 23. Please note that the registration deadline is Friday, August 7, 2025. The meeting will be held from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET on August 21 through August 22. On Sunday, August 23, the meeting will be part of a joint session, in the morning, with NARFE’s National Executive Board (NEB). Additional details regarding the agenda will be provided as they become available. Please check back for updates as the event date approaches.

FEDCon26

NARFE presents FEDcon26, NARFE’s biennial national training conference, will be held from August 23 to August 25, 2026, at the Hyatt Regency Indianapolis in Indianapolis, IN. We hope you will join us for this important event. Advancing NARFE’s mission begins with you! Gain the knowledge you need to LEARN how to maximize your benefits, ADVOCATE for the protection of those earned benefits, and LEAD the organization that safeguards them into the future. LEARN. ADVOCATE. LEAD. To complete your registration, please use the link below. After registering, visit My-Account/My-Invoices and uncheck the "Show Only Unpaid Invoices" box to view your paid invoice. For hotel information, program updates, and speaker profiles, please visit fedcon.narfe.org .