Federal Retirement Planning in Chicago
Chicago hosts one of the densest concentrations of federal regional headquarters in the country. EPA Region 5, HHS Region 5, DOL, and the VA's Jesse Brown campus all employ thousands of career federal workers. Chicago's high locality pay makes your FERS annuity calculation different from most cities, and we know the math.
Service Areas in the Chicago Metro
Chicago & Near North
Loop, River North, West Loop, Streeterville, Lincoln Park
North Suburbs
Evanston, Skokie, Glenview, Northbrook, Waukegan
West Suburbs
Oak Park, Elmhurst, Wheaton, Lisle, Naperville
South Suburbs
Harvey, Homewood, Olympia Fields, Orland Park, Joliet
Major Federal Employers We Serve
Regional Headquarters
- EPA Region 5 (77 W. Jackson Blvd)
- HHS Region 5 (233 N. Michigan Ave)
- DOL Midwest Regional Office
- GSA Great Lakes Region
- FEMA Region 5
Veterans & Benefits
- VA Jesse Brown Medical Center
- VA Regional Office Chicago
- Social Security Administration Region 5
- SSA Great Lakes Program Service Center
- Railroad Retirement Board headquarters
Law Enforcement & Courts
- FBI Chicago Field Office
- DEA Chicago Field Division
- U.S. Attorney's Office Northern Illinois
- U.S. District Court Northern Illinois
- ATF Chicago Field Division
Upcoming Workshops for Chicago Federal Employees
Three hours. No cost. CFP®-led. Join federal employees who walked away with a real plan.
Serving Chicago Federal Workers Virtually
Whether you ride the Blue Line to the Loop, take the Metra to Ogilvie, or drive the Eisenhower from the suburbs, our virtual workshops eliminate the commute for your financial education.
From the Loop Federal Cluster
EPA Region 5 on Jackson, HHS on Michigan Ave, and DOL on Adams are all within blocks of each other. Loop employees join our virtual sessions from their offices or from home via CTA or Metra.
From Jesse Brown VA on Harrison
The Jesse Brown VA Medical Center sits on Harrison Street in the Illinois Medical District. Clinical and administrative staff attend our free workshops via Zoom without leaving the Near West Side.
From Suburban Cook and DuPage Counties
Federal workers in Naperville, Downers Grove, Oak Park, and Evanston join via Zoom from home. Chicago's regional scope means suburban commuters make up a big part of the federal workforce.
Why Chicago Federal Employees Choose PlanWell
PlanWell Financial Planning
- Certified Financial Planners (CFP®)
- ChFEBC℠ Federal Benefits Specialists
- Fee-Based Fiduciary
- Free 3-Hour FERS Workshop
- Chicago Locality Pay Expertise
- Central Time Zone Availability
Many Chicago Advisors
- General financial credentials typical
- Limited FERS pension knowledge
- Commission-based product sales
- No federal-specific workshops
- Unfamiliar with locality pay effects on annuity
- No experience with FERS supplement rules
Chicago Federal Retirement FAQs
Do Chicago federal employees at EPA Region 5 qualify for FERS retirement?
Yes. EPA Region 5 headquarters employees in the Loop are covered by FERS the same as any other federal civilian. Your pension calculation uses your high-3 average salary and years of creditable service. Because EPA Region 5 salaries in Chicago often include locality pay for the Chicago-Naperville locality, your high-3 can be higher than at comparable agencies in smaller cities, which directly increases your annuity.
What is the Chicago-Naperville locality pay adjustment and how does it affect my FERS pension?
The Chicago-Naperville-Elgin locality pay area has one of the highest General Schedule pay adjustments in the country, currently over 29%. Since your FERS pension is based on your high-3, earning locality pay throughout your federal career meaningfully boosts your annuity compared to federal employees in lower-pay areas. A GS-13 Step 5 in Chicago earns roughly $25,000 more annually than the same grade outside a locality zone, which compounds over your high-3 years.
Can I keep my FEHB coverage after retiring from Jesse Brown VA Medical Center?
Yes, if you were enrolled in FEHB for the 5 consecutive years immediately before your retirement date. VA employees, like all FERS employees, carry FEHB into retirement with the same federal government premium share. This is worth thousands of dollars annually compared to buying individual health insurance at retirement age.
I work at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. Am I under FERS?
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago employees are not federal civilian employees under FERS. The Fed has its own retirement system. If you previously worked for a federal agency and then moved to the Fed, you may have a deferred FERS annuity from that earlier period. Bring your federal employment history to a consultation and we will help you identify what you have.
Are there FERS retirement workshops available for Chicago federal employees?
Yes. PlanWell runs free virtual 3-hour FERS workshops that Chicago federal employees attend from their Loop offices or from home. Whether you work at EPA Region 5 on Dearborn, the DOL regional office on Jackson, or HHS Region 5 on Dearborn, you can join via Zoom without fighting downtown traffic.
Ready to Plan Your Federal Retirement in Chicago?
Join EPA Region 5 employees, VA workers, DOL staff, and federal law enforcement across the Chicago metro who have mapped out their FERS pension with a CFP who knows federal benefits.