Federal Employee Retirement Guide
FERS pension, TSP diversification, FEHB healthcare, and how a Gold IRA protects your federal retirement from inflation and market risk.
Federal employees under FERS receive a retirement pension, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) benefits, and Social Security — the 'three-legged stool.' But each leg carries risk: TSP is 100% market-exposed with zero precious metals options, FERS pensions don't keep up with inflation after retirement due to diet COLAs, and Social Security faces a 2033 trust fund shortfall. Diversifying 10-15% of your TSP into a Gold IRA after separation protects against all three risks.
- FERS pension COLAs are capped at CPI minus 1% when inflation exceeds 3%
- The TSP offers 5 funds — none include gold or precious metals
- TSP to Gold IRA rollovers are tax-free via direct transfer
- Gold has averaged 8.3% annual returns since 2000
- 2.8 million federal/public workers gained from the Social Security Fairness Act
The Federal Retirement "Three-Legged Stool"
Each pillar of federal retirement carries hidden risks that erode your buying power over a 20-30 year retirement.
FERS Pension
1.1% × high-3 salary × years of service. Guaranteed income — but diet COLAs mean it buys less every year.
Risk: Inflation erodes 25-35% of purchasing power over 20 years
Thrift Savings Plan
5 core funds (G, F, C, S, I). Solid for stocks and bonds — but zero exposure to gold, silver, or precious metals.
Risk: 100% paper assets. No hedge against market crashes or dollar devaluation.
Social Security
Full COLAs help, but the trust fund faces a 2033 shortfall. The Fairness Act restored benefits for many federal retirees.
Watch: Trust fund projected to be depleted by 2033 without Congressional action
Add a Fourth Leg: Gold IRA Protection
Gold is the asset class your TSP can't provide. It moves independently of stocks, outpaces inflation, and protects your purchasing power when diet COLAs fall short.
See If You QualifyFederal Retirement Guides
In-depth guides covering every aspect of federal retirement planning — written specifically for government employees and veterans.
FERS Pension + Gold IRA: How Federal Employees Can Protect Their Retirement
Why your FERS pension loses purchasing power every year — and how gold fills the gap.
TSP to Gold IRA: Why Federal Employees Are Diversifying Beyond the G, F, C, S, I Funds
Your TSP has zero precious metals exposure. Here's why that matters — and what you can do about it.
Federal Employee Healthcare in Retirement: FEHB Costs & What to Plan For
Your FEHB continues into retirement — but the costs change. Here's what to budget.
Social Security Fairness Act 2025: What It Means for Federal Retirees
WEP and GPO are gone. Here's how to make the most of your increased Social Security benefits.
Military TSP to Gold IRA: Rollover Guide for Veterans & Service Members
Your military TSP can be rolled into a Gold IRA after separation. Here's what every veteran needs to know.
TSP to Gold IRA Rollover: Complete Steps
Form-by-form walkthrough of the TSP rollover process for federal employees and military.
457(b) to Gold IRA Rollover Guide
State and local government employees: how to roll your 457(b) into a Gold IRA.
Federal Retirement Calculators
Free tools to plan your federal retirement.
FERS Pension Calculator
Estimate your FERS annuity
FERS Annuity Calculator
Detailed annuity projections
FERS Supplement Calculator
Pre-62 supplement estimate
TSP Calculator
Project your TSP growth
Social Security Calculator
Estimate your SS benefits
WEP Calculator
Check WEP impact (pre-repeal)
Gold Allocation Calculator
How much gold in your portfolio
Retirement Calculator
Are you on track?
Why Federal Employees Are Choosing Gold
TSP has zero precious metals — your only option is paper assets
FERS diet COLAs lose 1%+ of purchasing power every high-inflation year
Gold has zero correlation with stocks — true diversification
Central banks bought 1,037 tonnes of gold in 2023 alone
Tax-free direct rollover from TSP to Gold IRA after separation
Physical gold in IRS-approved depository — not paper ETFs