Community Home

Preparing for Retirement

NARFE Federal Benefits Institute presents Preparing for Retirement Thursday, June 18, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET Planning for retirement requires time, so it’s wise to begin at least a year in advance. Review your Electronic Official Personnel Folder (eOPF) for accuracy, request annuity estimates, and consult your agency’s HR benefits specialist to help ensure a smooth transition. Attend our second session on this essential topic, where NARFE benefits specialist Tony Opat will guide us through the retirement process and discuss key steps such as: Familiarizing yourself with the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) benefits Finalizing your service credits Adjusting your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions Updating beneficiaries Making decisions about your Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) coverage A Q&A session will follow the presentation. Join Tony Opat and us at 2 p.m. ET on June 18 to discover how proactive planning can lead to a smoother retirement transition.

The Retirement Process

NARFE Federal Benefits Institute presents The Retirement Process Tuesday, July 7, 2026, 2:00 p.m. ET Retiring from federal service requires several key steps, primarily overseen by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). NARFE benefits specialist Tony Opat offers another in-depth overview of the process, which typically takes 3 to 5 months. OPM advises submitting your retirement application to your agency at least 60 days before your planned retirement date. During processing, most retirees receive interim payments equal to 60-80% of their full benefit. Tony will explain each stage of the process, 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 us on July 7 for the second session of our deep dive into the federal retirement process. Learn how to maximize your benefits for a smooth transition.