imported post
Working forever isn't even an option for us LEO's, FireFighters and another group I can't remember. So, for those in these categories with mandatory age 57 retirement, we can't even project out as far as the rest. Early retirement could equal early poverty unless we can really push our TSP accounts. When I signed on in 94, the FERS literature used 7% growth as a benchmark. If that's all one could average until age 62 or more, it would be barely enough, and even less than that the lower the GS (or equivilent) level.
The accomodations for mandatory early retirement don't offset the shortage of earnings years we will miss. I will likely have to work 5-7 years after Fed service, either in another Fed agency, or a state or civilian job. Don't mind that so much, but CSRS sure would have been attractive.
However, if I can beat an average of 11% return a year, I will end up in FAT City, which will be much better than CSRS. However, I don't beleive that when FERS was set up, it was intended to produce anywhere near those kind of returns.