As a fiduciary financial advisor in Warner Robins, Holland Capital helps veterans now working as federal civilians at Robins decide whether a military service deposit makes sense for their FERS retirement. Conversations happen by video and phone, and we can sit down at your home by appointment.
Years in uniform. A civilian pension that may not count them yet.
Robins Air Force Base sits just east of Warner Robins and is the largest single-site industrial complex in Georgia. About 15% of adults in the city are veterans, and about one in four workers holds a government job.
If you served on active duty and now work for the federal government, your military years may count toward your FERS pension. To get that credit, you generally pay a military service deposit before you separate for retirement. Whether it is worth it depends on your service, your pay and your plans.
The advice you get on it should come from a fiduciary. It also helps to know how your advisor is paid.
What the Deposit Does
The deposit lets eligible active duty service count toward your FERS service. That can increase the service credited toward your FERS retirement.
The deposit is generally based on your military basic pay. Interest applies after the interest-free period. We work from your agency’s estimate, not a guess.
If You Already Receive Military Retired Pay
The rules change if you receive military retired pay. In most cases, you would have to waive that retired pay to count the same years toward FERS. Reserve retired pay and certain combat-related disability retired pay are exceptions. We compare both choices with your numbers.
Fitting It into the Rest of Your Plan
A deposit uses cash today in exchange for additional credit toward your future pension. We compare the cost with the effect on your retirement benefit, and we look at where the money would come from.
Our guide to FERS retirement planning covers the pension rules in more detail.
Your TSP and Other Savings
Your TSP, any IRAs and other savings round out the plan. Our investment management covers the accounts you choose to have us manage, invested to match your retirement date.
How We Work with Clients in Warner Robins
Holland Capital Management is an independent registered investment adviser and a fiduciary. M. Chad Holland, CFA, CFP® works directly with clients and is responsible for the planning and advice.
Bring your DD Form 214, a recent civilian pay statement, your TSP statement and any service deposit estimate you have requested.
The result is a written comparison of paying the deposit and not paying it, with the effect on your pension and your savings.
The first conversation is free. If there is work worth doing after that, we will define the scope and cost before you decide whether to move forward.
Our offices are in Charlotte, North Carolina and Winter Park, Florida. We work with clients in Warner Robins primarily by video or phone. When an in-person meeting makes sense, we can meet at your home by appointment.
We work with clients throughout Georgia. You can see the other Georgia communities we serve here.
Our what we do page explains how a planning engagement works.
RETIREMENT ENGINEERING™
The Order Matters
Five retirement decisions and why timing matters.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Military Service Deposit Worth It?
It depends on how many years you would add, what the deposit costs and how long you expect to collect the pension. For some people, it adds a lot. For others, it changes little. We run the numbers with you.
Why Ask a Fiduciary Financial Advisor About a Service Deposit?
Holland Capital acts as a fiduciary when providing financial planning and investment advice. For a federal civilian with prior service, that means advice on the deposit, your pension and your TSP together, with your interests first.
If your TSP later moves to an account we manage, our pay rises, and we explain that before you choose.
Do You Meet with Clients in Warner Robins?
Yes, at your home by appointment. Most updates can happen by phone or video.
Photo: Michael Rivera / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 4.0, cropped.
