A VERA offer is one of the most important financial decisions of your career. Don't navigate it alone.
Whether your agency has announced an offer or you want to be ready when one comes, this free guide walks you through everything you need to know — pension impact, TSP options, FEGLI, FEHB, the FERS Supplement gap, and more. Written in plain English, the same way I'd explain it to a member of my own family.
What's Inside
✓VERA Eligibility Checklist — confirm you actually qualify before you get excited
✓Financial Impact Questions — pension, High-3, sick leave months, survivor benefits, and more
✓The FERS Supplement Gap — the $500–$900/month income gap most employees don't know about
✓The Decision Framework — clear side-by-side of when to take it vs. when to stay
✓TSP Options & the 10% Penalty Exception — what changes when you retire and what to watch
✓FEGLI & FEHB/PSHB Coverage — what your benefits cost in retirement and what to review
✓USPS/Postal Worker Section — PSHB, the 2025 VERA details, and what's coming next
✓Estate Planning Checklist — the documents every federal retiree should have in place
✓9 Action Steps — exactly what to do right now, before any offer is announced
This Guide Is For
Federal employees considering or anticipating a VERA offer
USPS, postal, and mail handler employees watching the 2026 situation
FERS employees within 5 years of retirement who want to be prepared
NAPS, APWU, NPMHU, NALC, and NRLCA members
Anyone who wants their numbers ready before an offer drops
A Note from Mia
"I created this guide because the employees who make the best VERA decisions are the ones who ran their numbers first — not the ones who decided based on how they felt in the moment. This is your career and your retirement. You deserve real information, not a sales pitch."
— Mia Smith, MBA, FPWM, FRC, NSSA® · Federal Retirement Consultant
