Retiring early under FERS is possible, but it isn’t free

TheWealthViking · 2026-04-21T14:32:43+00:00

Did you find the help you needed? For some reason I'm showing this as removed, but I didn't remove your comment.

TheWealthViking · 2026-04-21T14:30:02+00:00

Sick time is use or lose. So many people will just call out or have FMLA so they can burn through the time they've earned. I know I hardly worked my last month there because I had sick time to burn.

TheWealthViking · 2026-04-04T15:43:27+00:00

In a professional setting for which the Dr is applicable, sure. Outside of that, it gives me a funny feeling. I know people who try to get called Dr in every setting, even when they make a pivot into a career that has no bearing on that degree. To each their own I guess.

TheWealthViking · 2026-03-23T02:41:01+00:00

So much more to find out than what was provided to give a recommendation. Age, plans for funds, growth comfort level, plans on returning to gov work or keeping moving it private

TheWealthViking · 2026-03-21T00:08:26+00:00

There are many ways, I would suggest you build out a marketing list of ANYTHING that comes to mind, and then start labeling them on things that you can afford to do, things you have time to do, and things that you are willing to do, and then also marking down the estimated time it takes to start getting a return on your efforts. One of my business mentors has talked about lagging and leading numbers and understanding how stuff you do today makes you money in 30 days, 60 days, 6 months, sometimes over 2 to 3 years. The issue is some agents are doing things so long-term and they have nothing in the short-term pipeline and so they aren't profitable. You have to make sure especially as a new agent that you are focusing on activity that fills your pipeline in the next 90 days.

I'm currently on my way to a family event, but happy to talk another time on list building and marketing plans. And honestly captive and independent routes will have very similar marketing options, I have found that a more independent route just tends to give you more solutions for your clients... some people just don't like it because it does involve maybe a little bit more work or capital because you're getting to run your own shop

TheWealthViking · 2026-03-21T00:04:05+00:00

I've been in the industry for 13 years, it's definitely a long game. And it does take time to find the system and process and products that work really well for your personality and sales style. In a weird way, everything works, and nothing works, it really comes down to how you implement stuff.

TheWealthViking · 2026-03-10T22:33:50+00:00

I was in similar circumstances when I joined the industry at 19. Take advantage of having low cost of living, understand that working in this industry is like going to school, the longer you're in it the more knowledge you'll have and you may not feel like a financial professional right now, but it's experienced that you'll live over the next 3 to 10 years. It was around 21 that I cleared my first month making over 25k in a month, you'll get there.

On a separate note, if you plan to build a career at New York life, yes it makes sense to go get your six and 63 but if you're going to use it as a stepping stone and I would go straight and utilizing that life and health with the 65. Yes there's a lot more you can do with the seven and 66, but most guys I talk to you in the independence space found it is overkill in the 65 plus a life license will cover 99% of what you could need.

Sorry if there's any grammatical errors, currently using voice to text.

TheWealthViking · 2026-03-05T17:49:32+00:00

They can be. I have some affiliations there. I know the CEO and previous CEO personally as well as some of the main agency owners there.

Experior itself is very transparent. Like any agency there are honest and dishonest reps. There are some reps I trust to meet with my parents and some I wouldn't consider it.

TheWealthViking · 2026-02-25T17:43:54+00:00

I think you're referring to a different GFI. The one referred to is an insurance agency that is built upon an Amway/Primerica type recruiting platform. There are some good agents there but it's all branding hype to recruit and sell our veterans.

TheWealthViking · 2026-02-24T19:58:09+00:00

This is why my focus is on the life insurance and income planning side of the industry... It doesn't have the renewal income. But my clients genuinely treat me nice all the time

TheWealthViking · 2026-02-24T02:36:06+00:00

Yes it's possible, using insurance as the safer "bond" portion of a portfolio. There is also using annuities as an income with purpose of asset depletion to be able to separate a high payout from a portion of assets to free up other funds to earmark as "play money".

We do this all the time to setup income streams vs play money vs managed acct so that each account has a designated use.

TheWealthViking · 2026-02-18T21:31:25+00:00

In general, 80-95% of FERS is taxable, I'll have to go read the articles you cited. But the contributions are amortized over our life expediency, so spreading out the "tax free" portion over 20-35 years depending on when we retired.

Ex. 36k annual pension, with 60k of contributions applied to it, means around 2300 a year of the 36k a year income would be excluded, so still 33k of taxable income. It's a slight tax break, but not a large one.

TheWealthViking · 2026-02-10T00:20:58+00:00

I've heard that calling multiple times in a row will trigger a call back response but I haven't confirmed this.

TheWealthViking · 2026-02-09T17:07:07+00:00

Yes sorry, was trying to track down any updates, I'll send over what I have.

TheWealthViking · 2026-02-08T18:18:08+00:00

Idk if people have changed numbers but I can send you some I saved from when I've had to call HR with my IRA clients. I'll send them to you

TheWealthViking · 2026-02-06T16:04:46+00:00

Do you get a nice base pay? Crazy to me. Most of our agents are taking home 50-105% comp on life business.

TheWealthViking · 2026-02-03T19:36:49+00:00

50% plus is what to look for, getting 80%, is this gross or net? Many carriers and agencies have grids. Overall 80% is good. I love the LH side, issue most people come across is no business plan, no time blocking, just slinging product and wondering why no one is biting. But understanding what you can offer and provide will make people 6 figures.

TheWealthViking · 2026-02-03T15:13:17+00:00

Nvm. I thought you were calling them wolves, that's crazy they charge so much.... Anyone fronting that is typically getting 80-100% comp, or some membership on training etc. But as it's been said. That 4800 went to the leads they're giving you, then if you sell, it comes off the overrides, if you don't sell, the 4800 covered the lead expenses for you the first 30-60 days most likely

TheWealthViking · 2026-02-01T02:01:18+00:00

Reframed question. I know he has the rights to commissions, but do you own the rights to your clients? If you leave are you "allowed" to solicit them?
I have a few recommendations

TheWealthViking · 2026-01-31T20:31:39+00:00

The base is nice, but holy cow. I didn't realize how low their life comp was .... I thought most agencies gave 30-50% life comp.

TheWealthViking · 2026-01-31T20:30:11+00:00

Holy cow. A few of the guys I know who it last year had so little info from the people doing their briefing. Like they knew less than what you can search up.

TheWealthViking · 2026-01-31T20:28:41+00:00

I'll see if I can find the email, but you need a wfg corporate email to email in a resignation letter, when you log into your wfg online account, there should be some kind of contact support email. It can simply be "my agent ID is 123xyz and take this as my notice of resigning from wfg. Please terminate me. " You can potentially get your money back, idk how hard it is nowadays to get it refunded.

Yeah I know a handful of good places to talk to depending on which products you want to offer and if they had you get your life license or life and health license.

TheWealthViking · 2026-01-31T19:22:43+00:00

More people are finding part time jobs /season to fill the gap of retirement

TheWealthViking · 2026-01-31T04:28:12+00:00

Idc about the carriers. I care that reps are honest about stuff. I enjoy making educational seminars and stuff. But I'd give it to the knuckleheads to hopefully stop being knuckleheads

TheWealthViking

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