Federal Retirement Maximization (Presented by the Federal Bar Association’s Federal Career Service Division)

Lacie Harmon | The Federal Benefits Group

Since 2018, Lacie Harmon has helped FERS and CSRS employees understand their pensions, TSP, survivor benefits, FEHB, and Social Security so they can retire with confidence.

• Education & Credentials

Lacie is a licensed financial professional, holding California insurance license. She attended the University of California, Los Angeles.

• Recognition & Leadership

Lacie founded her practice to help federal employees approach retirement with clarity, and today leads a team of specialists providing guidance tailored to late-career employees nationwide.

• Professional Involvement

She is privileged to have taught federal retirement at several federal agencies, including the FDA, USDA and GAO.

• Experience

Her focus is on providing clear, practical, actionable help: running federal retirement income estimates and helping fill in online retirement applications, along with supporting employees in making health and other insurance decisions.

William Merecki, Benefits Specialist and Founder | The Federal Benefits Group

William Merecki is a Benefits Specialist and founder of The Federal Benefits Group, where he provides federal employees with guidance and education regarding their unique retirement and benefits programs.

• Education & Credentials

B.S. in Accounting, Central Michigan University, 2006.

• Recognition & Leadership

Mr. Merecki founded The Federal Benefits Group in 2018 to give federal employees a reliable source of information on their unique benefits. The firm has since grown to cover territories across the United States, with Mr. Merecki serving federal employees in the Midwest region.

• Professional Involvement

He has taught federal retirement extensively at the FBI and DISA.

• Experience

Throughout his nine years working exclusively with federal employees, Bill has seen firsthand how difficult it can be for employees to receive the personalized support they need from OPM and agency shared-services centers. Recognizing this need, and understanding how proper guidance can save employees significant time, money, and frustration during the retirement process, Bill has dedicated his practice to helping federal employees understand their benefits and develop strategies that allow them to approach retirement with greater confidence and ease.

SESSION 1 – Federal Retirement Maximization | 2:00pm – 3:00pm

This course provides federal employees with the essential information they need to make informed decisions before retirement. Participants will learn how to calculate their CSRS or FERS pension, maximize Social Security benefits, and understand their TSP options, along with all they need to know about Federal Employee Health Benefits in retirement. The course also explains eligibility for the FERS Supplement and the 10% pension bonus available to certain retirees. Participants will leave with a clear understanding of how their federal benefits work in retirement and the “how to” of starting the retirement process once ready.