Federal Retirement Planning in Boston
Boston's federal workforce spans downtown agency offices, the VA's Jamaica Plain and West Roxbury campuses, EPA and HHS regional headquarters on High Street, and the Hanscom AFB civilian community in Bedford. High locality pay makes Boston one of the best cities to retire from as a federal employee, and we help you capture every dollar.
Service Areas in the Boston Region
Boston & Inner Suburbs
Downtown, Jamaica Plain, West Roxbury, Brookline, Cambridge
Route 128 Corridor
Bedford, Lexington, Waltham, Woburn, Burlington
South Shore
Quincy, Braintree, Weymouth, Norwell, Plymouth
MetroWest & Worcester
Framingham, Natick, Marlborough, Westborough, Worcester
Major Federal Employers We Serve
Health & Environment
- HHS Region 1 (5 Post Office Square)
- EPA Region 1 (5 Post Office Square)
- FDA New England District Office
- OSHA Region 1
- NIH Fogarty International Center NE
Veterans & Defense
- VA Boston Healthcare System (Jamaica Plain)
- VA Boston Healthcare System (West Roxbury)
- Hanscom AFB civilian workforce (Bedford)
- Coast Guard District 1 (North Atlantic)
- Army Corps of Engineers New England District
Courts & Enforcement
- U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts
- FBI Boston Field Division
- DEA New England Field Division
- U.S. Attorney's Office Massachusetts
- SSA Boston Regional Office
Upcoming Workshops for Boston Federal Employees
Three hours. No cost. CFP®-led. Join federal employees who walked away with a real plan.
Serving Boston Federal Workers Virtually
Whether you take the Red Line to Downtown Crossing, drive Route 2 to Hanscom, or take the Orange Line to the VA in Jamaica Plain, our virtual workshops skip the commute entirely.
From EPA and HHS at 5 Post Office Square
Both EPA Region 1 and HHS Region 1 share the Post Office Square building near South Station. Employees join our workshops from downtown via MBTA Silver Line or commuter rail, or from home after their commute.
From VA Boston (Jamaica Plain)
The Jamaica Plain campus is at 150 South Huntington Ave, served by the Orange Line (Green Street stop) and multiple bus routes. Clinical and administrative staff attend virtual sessions without leaving the campus or neighborhood.
From Hanscom AFB in Bedford
Hanscom sits off Route 2A in Bedford, about 17 miles northwest of Boston. Civilian employees drive or carpool via 128 and Route 2. Virtual workshops eliminate the coordination entirely.
Why Boston Federal Employees Choose PlanWell
PlanWell Financial Planning
- Certified Financial Planners (CFP®)
- ChFEBC℠ Federal Benefits Specialists
- Fee-Based Fiduciary
- Free 3-Hour FERS Workshop
- Boston Locality Pay Expertise
- Eastern Time Zone Availability
Many Boston Advisors
- General financial credentials typical
- Limited FERS pension knowledge
- Commission-based product sales
- No federal-specific workshops
- Unfamiliar with military deposit rules
- No experience with FERS supplement timing
Boston Federal Retirement FAQs
Does Boston locality pay affect my FERS pension calculation?
Yes, significantly. Boston is in the Boston-Worcester-Providence locality pay area, one of the highest in the country. Locality adjustments over 30% mean your high-3 average salary is meaningfully higher than it would be in a non-locality area. A GS-13 in Boston earns tens of thousands more annually than the same grade in a low-pay area, and that difference flows directly into your annuity calculation.
Can VA Boston Healthcare System employees carry FEHB into retirement?
Yes. VA Boston employees enrolled in FEHB for the 5 consecutive years before retirement keep their FEHB coverage in retirement, with the same federal government premium share. Given Massachusetts health insurance costs, keeping FEHB in retirement typically saves Boston-area retirees $8,000 to $15,000 per year compared to the individual market.
I work at the Hanscom AFB civilian workforce. How does my FERS creditable service count?
All years in a FERS-covered civilian position count toward your creditable service and pension calculation. If you also served in the military before joining the Hanscom civilian workforce, you can count that time by making a military service deposit to OPM. The deposit is 3% of military base pay per year served, plus interest after the first year. Many Hanscom civilians find the deposit pays for itself many times over in additional annuity.
What happens to my TSP when I retire from EPA Region 1 in Boston?
Your TSP balance stays in TSP until you choose to withdraw or roll it over. You can begin penalty-free withdrawals at 55 if you separate from service in or after the year you turn 55 (the "Rule of 55"). This is earlier than the 59.5 IRA rule and gives Boston federal retirees more flexibility. Our workshops walk through TSP withdrawal strategies and how to sequence TSP, your FERS annuity, and Social Security.
Are there virtual FERS retirement workshops for Boston area federal employees?
Yes. PlanWell offers free 3-hour virtual workshops that HHS Region 1, EPA Region 1, Coast Guard District 1, and VA Boston employees attend via Zoom. No Red Line or commuter rail trip required. Sessions include a live Q&A with CFP professionals who specialize in federal benefits.
Ready to Plan Your Federal Retirement in Boston?
Join VA Boston employees, EPA Region 1 staff, Hanscom civilians, and Coast Guard workers across Greater Boston who have built their retirement plan with a CFP who knows FERS inside out.