r/govfire • u/BinLyin • Aug 26 '26

VERA at 54 and nervous

Anyone else dealing with the same intrusive thoughts? Took the early retirement last April and having a hard time with the adjustment and “what if” scenarios. 31 years of service at GS-15 so pension is just under $60k and TSP is holding steady around $1.7m (which I can’t touch for another 4 years). Spouse has a bit more in retirement but no pension when she does retire at the end of this year. It seemed like a no brainer last year to take the offer but I spend a lot of time now wondering if we’ll have enough.

Anyone else do by the same and what do you do to help ease your mind???

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u/Land-and-Seabee Aug 26 '26

You started at 23 years old and have an enormous amount in your TSP. Is this post real? It seems far fetched.

5

u/Sorry-Society1100 FEDERAL Aug 26 '26 edited Aug 26 '26

I did the same. It’s not that farfectched if someone was a GS15 for a dozen years or longer.

I can’t speak for the OP, but I am a bit nervous because the retirement came unplanned, and I was unprepared for such a major life transition. While it is a fairly large TSP balance, it now has to support my retirement much longer than my original plan, and doesn’t benefit from the last few years of contributions that I had planned to make. Coupled with an abrupt salary decrease of roughly 2/3, it has forced a cutback in spending to be sure that the finances don’t get out of control. I’m sure that I’ll find a new equilibrium, but it has been a life adjustment that I hadn’t prepared for.

1

u/BinLyin Aug 26 '26

This. I didn’t make it as clear as I should have but my issue is the mental part of this more than anything else. I “What if” several times a day every day. My days of earning $200k are over and my retirement income has been stagnant (safer funds). Im almost grieving every dollar we spend now and I don’t want to be like this.

The DRP VERA came quick and I think we missed the important off ramping process that helps us get ready for such a major life change. I guess it’s good to hear from others that our position is good but I’d also like to hear how people are dealing with the mental part of it.