There is a revolution trying to improve how people work with Financial Advisors. Unfortunately, many people still work with salespeople that are primarily focused on their own revenue. We know there is a better way. In this episode we will go over: - Discuss how to match your needs with the best advisor for you - Provide insight on the unique questions Federal Employees should ask - Share questions that match the changing times to help you get better results Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. 0:47 Introduction 3:06 The Basics 8:01 Services 11:44 Qualifications 15:58 Fiduciary Status 17:09 Cost and Compensation 19:05 Investment Management 23:43 Technology 24:44 Why? 25:23 Research Them Thoroughly DOWNLOAD THE LIST OF QUESTIONS Valor Wealth Partners’ List of Questions to ask Financial Advisors: https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/our-services Resources: Check out Your Financial Professional at SEC: https://www.investor.gov/introduction-investing/getting-started/working-investment-professional/check-out-your-investment BrokerCheck on FINRA: https://brokercheck.finra.org/ Certified Financial Planner Website: https://www.cfp.net/ NAPFA – The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors Website: https://www.napfa.org/ CFP - 10 Questions to Ask Your Financial Advisor: https://www.letsmakeaplan.org/choosing-a-planner/10-questions-to-ask-your-financial-advisor NerdWallet - 10 Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor: https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/10-questions-ask-financial-advisor Investopedia - 10 Key Questions to ask Your Financial Advisor: https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/050416/6-key-questions-ask-your-financial-advisor-2016.asp Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/category/podcasts/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/ https://www.fedsmith.com/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

Federal Employee Group Life Insurance, otherwise known as FEGLI, is a set of complex life insurance plans offered to federal employees while in service and in retirement. It provides financial coverage if something catastrophic were to happen to you. As you proceed from newly employed by the Federal government to mid-career and then closer to retirement the value and complexity of these benefits change. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. In this episode, we will chat about o How to think about FEGLI as you progress in life. o Provide a profile of early and mid-career employees and how they consider insurance options. o If you are not familiar with FEGLI, please watch the 1st episode in this series. Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/category/podcasts/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/ https://www.fedsmith.com/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

Because of the incredible benefits Federal Employees have, they need to be more vigilant than most about long-term tax planning. We focus on 2 federal benefits during this video. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize the value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. In this episode we: • Educate on the most impactful tax strategies for Feds. • Provide examples of how federal employees use tax planning to their advantage. • List action items to maximize these tax strategies. 0:00 Intro 0:42 Long-term tax planning defined 3:44 4 types of accounts based on taxation 7:00 FEHB tax benefits 11:33 TSP tax benefits Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/category/podcasts/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/ https://www.fedsmith.com/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance, or FEGLI, is an important benefit that many employees might set and forget. Like all benefits, it is important to be educated about the benefits you receive but more importantly to evaluate your needs and adjust as needed. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. 0:56 Introduction 1:11 Types of life insurance 1:41 FEGLI Overview 2:25 Details on Your FEGLI Options Visit this link for more information on FEGLI from OPM: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/life-insurance/ Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/category/podcasts/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/ https://www.fedsmith.com/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

The Thrift Savings Plan is one of your best benefits as a federal employee. Unfortunately, not everyone is making the most of their TSP. In this episode we share 10 of the biggest TSP missteps we have seen over the years, so you can save money, time and feel more confident in how you are saving for retirement. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. 0:40 Intro 1:15 None or outdated beneficiaries 2:33 Missing the full match 4:05 Treating the TSP in retirement the same as when working 5:16 Allocation not meeting your comfort for volatility risk 6:42 Overreliance on Lifecycle Funds 7:45 Ignoring your TSP for years 8:40 Not considering a TSP Loan as a solution 9:44 Underutilizing tax strategies 11:38 Overfunding when younger or not financially secure 13:55 Believing cheaper is better 16:00 Bonus Tip Links mentioned in this video: TSP website: https://www.tsp.gov/ 3% Benefit of using a financial professional: https://www.morningstar.com/content/dam/marketing/shared/research/foundational/831611-GammaEfficientPortfolio.pdf Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/category/podcasts/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/ https://www.fedsmith.com/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

Most federal employees don’t know where to go for competent advice on their Federal Employee Health Benefits. We enjoy finding the inefficiencies and best practices to make the most of your federal benefits. Today we share our insights on FEHB. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. In this episode we will go over: • Share our favorite tool for comparing FEHB plans and • Provide 5 of the best ways we have found to maximize your FEHB 0:44 Intro 1:09 Tools to Compare FEHB Plans 3:18 High Deductible Health Plans 6:09 Complacency with Your Current Plan 7:58 Evaluating Your Current Plan for Changes 9:50 Evaluating Medicare and FEHB Options 12:05 Understanding Dental and Vision Plans Links Mentioned in this video: OPM Comparison Tool: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/plan-information/compare-plans/ Consumer Checkbook FEHB Comparison Tool: https://www.checkbook.org/newhig2/year25/membership/orderonline.cfm Medicare Analysis Help: https://www.65-incorporated.com/ Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/category/podcasts/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/ https://www.fedsmith.com/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

The threat of a government shutdown has become a frequent political game. We managed to avoid one this time, but there will be shutdowns in the future. As a federal employee you experience both financial and emotional stress during these periods of uncertainty. Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. In this episode we… • Give you the facts on past shutdowns and what Agencies may furlough staff. • List some helpful tips on what to do if you are furloughed. • Describe what will happen to the income for retirees. • Provide ways to prepare for the next shutdown. • Share what we will be doing to help you and your fellow federal employees. 0:00 Intro 2:23 History of Government Shutdowns. 3:28 What Agencies will be affected? 4:37 What will happen if you are furloughed. 5:06 Tips to get through a furlough. 7:54 Preparing for the Next Shutdown. 11:20 Retirees and a federal shutdown. 13:57 Helping Fellow Feds. Referenced Links: OPM - Guidance for Shutdown Furloughs: https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/pay-leave/furlough-guidance/guidance-for-shutdown-furloughs.pdf Government Executive - See who would get furloughed in a shutdown this year: https://www.govexec.com/workforce/2023/09/see-who-would-get-furloughed-shutdown-year/390517/ Axios – The history of government shutdowns and how long they last: https://www.axios.com/2023/09/24/federal-government-shutdown-history-list Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/category/podcasts/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/ https://www.fedsmith.com/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners

Picking the worst Thrift Savings Plan fund is not about performance. That is easy. What is more important is how federal employees use the fund and the potential false sense of security it promises. In this episode we… • We share our choice for the worst TSP fund • Discuss why this fund can be dangerous to federal employees • Provide positive alternatives for you Welcome to Financial Planning 4 Feds. We are dedicated to educating federal employees on how to maximize value from their government benefits by developing and executing a financial plan. 0:00 Intro 0:40 Our Choice for the Worst TSP Fund 1:11 Historical Performance 2:11 Why we Voted this Fund the Worst 4:49 Alternatives for You Federal employees and their spouses are invited to complimentary educational workshops covering their federal benefits. For details, visit: https://fedimpact.com/VWP Federal Benefit Resources: https://www.opm.gov/ https://www.tsp.gov/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/category/podcasts/ https://www.myfederalretirement.com/ https://www.fedsmith.com/ Would you like to know more? https://www.valorwealthpartners.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/smithec/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/valor-wealth-partners https://www.facebook.com/ValorWealthPartners