Gratitude in Action: Thanking Our Community for Their Support

6.7.24: Audio automatically transcribed by Sonix

6.7.24: this mp3 audio file was automatically transcribed by Sonix with the best speech-to-text algorithms. This transcript may contain errors.

Speaker1:
Well, welcome back to the Federal Retirement Show. I am your host, Val Majewski with American Benefits Exchange. As always, appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to view our content. It is meant for you, the federal employee, just looking for information regarding benefits and retirement. Um, some guidelines, some keys, some things that we believe you need to know so you can make the best decisions for you and your family. And the two words that we like to use so you can maximize or optimize your situation as you go through your working career and into retirement. And in today's episode, I want to highlight an event that we attended last week. There's there are several groups that we are, uh, corporate partners on a national level. And there was a large national event, um, held last week for federal employees. There were a lot of different trainings and things of that nature, and we got the opportunity to not only be there as a partner, as a sponsor, but also as a speaker at the event. And what I want to highlight is, is some of the feedback that we've been getting, not only about, you know, this channel, but some of the the things that we're helping federal employees out with, uh, the content we're putting out there, the book that, uh, that we wrote in order to help you all, again, federal employees. So while at this event, there were there were several people that came up to me and said, hey, I follow you.

Speaker1:
I watch the show. Um, I love the content you're putting out there. And they were giving us some feedback. And this is part of, of this episode is making sure that not only do you view and watch the content, but I want to hear commentary because I heard some, some great things and I heard some things that were a little critical of what we're giving out. I want to hear that. Why? Because I want to make this the best channel, the best podcast, the best radio show that we can for you, the federal employee. Because it is about you. It's not about us, it is about you. So we heard some great things about the information. They love the content. They love the the material that's going out there. Find it to be very beneficial. The the folks were extremely encouraging and keep putting that out there. Keep talking about benefits because they do not get this stuff. You do not get this stuff. This is not something that is prevalent. I talked to a federal employee that was hired in March. So just a few months in brand new super green, and I said, do me, do me a favor. I got a couple questions for you, if you don't mind, and I don't want to take up too much of her time, but I had said, you just got hired in March, so tell me, you know, how much benefits and retirement training did they do with you before they turned you loose and said, hey, let's let's get to work.

Speaker1:
And essentially she said nothing. None. Zero. There was no training on TSP. There was no education on the Fers retirement system. There was no training on, you know, how to access certain websites or fegli insurance or any of the other things that she had signed up for. She got to fill out the paperwork, made some elections that she may or may not have known what the benefits or consequences were of those choices, and then got to work. So I found immediately again. And I knew this from when I first got started over 12 years ago. But just a refresher for me to say, yeah, this information is needed. The government does some things for you as far as getting you employed, hired, filling out, making sure your paperwork is completed, getting you paid all that. But when it comes to educating and training you on your benefits and retirement information, I got confirmation again and again and again this past week that there is a a lack of education, there's a lack of information, there's a false sense of security with some folks when it comes to working for the government, thinking, hey, I put in my time, I'm going to retire, I'm going to be taken care of.

Speaker1:
And that was confirmed. And the people's feedback was like, yes, we need this information. We desperately want to hear things like this. And I'll give you an example of what happened while I was there. Also, that just made me realize how impactful we may think. It's simple. I might think it's simple because this is a language that I speak on a daily basis. You know, I'm not doing anything, in my opinion, earth shattering. It's just I'm relaying information that I've gathered over the years and I want to share it with better employees. So again, they can make the best decision. So if you're watching this, you might think, well, what? What are you talking about? Well, I gave, uh, two talks at this event, and I must tell you that, um, you know, I was very humbled and flattered at the attendance. Both of our sessions. We were in a room that probably held, uh, over 400 people. And both sessions that we gave were completely, I say, sold out, but jam packed. There were people sitting on the floor. It was standing room only. Uh, we had folks, you know, coming in and out trying to trying to get a seat, find an opportunity, come in and listen. Because this information was. Extremely valuable to them. They don't get this on a daily basis.

Speaker1:
So I say humbled and flattered that people wanted to come hear me speak. I joked around, I said, well, I appreciate you all coming in. Uh, we'll get through this together. I know it may not be the most comfortable because we were kind of crammed in there, but it's up to me now to perform. You're coming to see me and hear this content now it's up for me to deliver. And we got a lot of, again, great feedback that this information is needed. So all the things that we discuss on this, uh, radio show, on this podcast, all the episodes that we've done previously, this is information that people are yearning for. People are seeking, people are looking for. Federal employees need this information. So I got some feedback also about the show itself and most of it extremely positive. Uh, there are a couple of folks and I say it's not necessarily negative, but just, hey, hey, can you talk more about this or can you clarify what you meant on that? And different people have different opinions, you know, like when we talk about Social Security, not everybody has the same situation. Not everybody has the same opinion on when to take Social Security. And I appreciate that. I can appreciate everybody's opinion on when is the best time, what is the best way to take Social Security or tackle Social Security.

Speaker1:
And I love that conversation. I love opening up to discussion because there's not just one way to do things. We're going to give you information based on our experience and our opinions that we've seen other federal employees in similar situations, but it is up to you to take that info, take everything we're giving you, um, digest it, uh, translate it, you know, look at it and see how you can apply it. And everybody's going to apply it a little differently. So I do appreciate the feedback. So for you, if you're watching this episode and you've got some some feedback, you know, reach out to us. Put it put in the comment section. Send send me a message, an email. Uh, fill out the form on our website, your federal retirement show. Com fill that out. I'd love to hear what you have to say. The good, the bad, the ugly, because we want to make this site. We want to make this podcast, this radio show as as good as we possibly can for you. Another thing uh, I heard some great feedback from was the book. Now, if you have not seen the book in the previous episodes, uh, if you go to our website again, you can request a copy of the book. The book is called There's No Excuse Your Guide to Maximizing Your Federal Employee Benefits. It's a book that I wrote to make it very simple to understand all of the ins and outs when it comes to your benefits and retirement information.

Speaker1:
A gentleman came up to me at the event, said, hey, I got a copy of your book. I read it, uh, it really helped me out prior to retirement, had just retired, just retired, and then got a job with a government contractor and was there with the contractor and it said I even referenced it again as I was going through the process, as I was completing the retirement paperwork, I just wanted to make sure I was doing things correctly. And I think it's a great read. Now, I'm not trying to toot my own horn, but it it was great to hear that kind of feedback. Why is it great? Because I want to know that the information we're putting out there in this book, uh, is easy to understand, but is also useful. It's also helpful. It's something that can be applied, something that can be utilized and gone back to. I want to use it as a reference material, as a, as a, as a guide of something you can go back to and just confirm some things, validate some things, kind of fact check some things. Right. And if you ever have feedback on that, like, hey, why didn't you write a chapter on this? Or why didn't you write a chapter on that? I wish we had seen some information on such and such in this book.

Speaker1:
Be happy to hear your feedback there. We want to again make sure you're getting the most out of this. I don't want to make it so complicated that it's confusing, but I want to make sure that it's valuable. It's something that can be utilized. So while we were there again, we heard a lot of different things at this event from federal employees that were just verified, validated. What we're doing that we're on the right track here with this radio show, with this podcast, with the federal retirement show. And we want to hear from you. Right. I want to make sure that we are getting the information that you need. So feedback is appreciated. Feedback is actually wanted. We desire the feedback. It's not just about us preaching here and us giving information out and having guests on that that share their opinion. We want to hear, hey, is this stuff helping? Are there topics? Are there things that you want us to discuss that we are not discussing? Do you have comments? Do you disagree with us? Do you agree with what we're saying? I want to hear all of that because I'm open to the conversation. I think that helps you, that helps others, and that helps us grow as well as as an organization, as a radio show, as a podcast, as being an individual who I consider myself an expert in federal employee benefits and retirement information, I'm always learning something new.

Speaker1:
You know, I remember when I go back to baseball, um, and I if you don't know my past, I. Played baseball professionally for ten years. I use a lot of baseball analogies when I talk, when I speak in public, and I just I love everything about the game of baseball. So excuse me, making a baseball reference. But I had a manager that was in the game for 50 years, got signed as an 18 year old and was now coaching at 68 and never had a gap. Been in the game for 60 years. And he would say, when it's up to what happened on the field, that was a little bizarre, a little odd. I've never seen that before. And even at 50 years in the game had always had there was something that maybe he had never seen. Right? Can't say that he's seen it all, but every now and then, never seen that before. That's the same with me in the fed space. I've only been at it for 12 plus years, not 50 yet. Hopefully I'll get there, but there are still questions that I get. There are still things or little nuances within the benefit structure that I've not seen before. You know, it's almost impossible to know everything.

Speaker1:
It's like knowing the entire tax code, right? There's billions of that. You're not going to see or memorize the entire tax code. So that's why I want to hear your feedback. Maybe there are topics that we haven't thought of. Maybe there are subjects that we just didn't think to discuss with you, information we didn't know to provide that was valuable. So if there is something that you want to hear about, reach out to us again. If you agree with the things I love hearing positive feedback, but as a being a former athlete, I like the criticism as well. Hey, what can I continue to work on? How can we improve ourselves? How can we get even better? We want to hear that feedback as well, and I appreciate those who have emailed, who have messaged us, who have reached out, who came up to me at this recent event and said, you know, here are some things, I think that, uh, you should continue to continue to do, but here's some things I think you should correct or information you should provide. Uh, that is how we get better, right? That's how I make sure and ensure that we're providing the best information that you can apply. So what are your thoughts? What what kind of topics do you want to hear? What are some things that that you want to make sure, uh, you know, maybe your team needs to know about.

Speaker1:
And that's where I want to kind of wrap it up here is like, look, if you need information yourself, reach out to us, go to the website, fill out the form. One of us will be in touch to go over your personalized benefits and retirement review. And I and I highly recommend you try it out, even if it's I'm not sure I don't need it. Check it out. There might be something in there that you didn't know that you needed to know. And the other reason for it is perhaps there's a team that you manage. Perhaps there's a group that you're, um, you're on the board for or on the leadership for, right? So a union or association and you're like, well, we can really provide this to our members. We can provide this to the folks that I manage. We can provide this to our team in our office. We would love to do that. We do that on a regular basis on a actually a weekly basis in all different parts of the country where we're going out and talking to people's groups, associations, organizations, unions, or their team in their office to provide benefits and retirement training and information. And we're doing seminars, speaking parts. If that's something you're interested in, fill out. The form will be in touch, but I highly recommend try it out yourself.

Speaker1:
See the information that we're providing we're giving. And then you might be like, yeah, my entire team, they need to have this as well. They need to go through this. They need to sit through a seminar. This is going to be extremely valuable and we're confident that it will be. So again, go to our website, Federal retirement Show.com. Fill out the form. Uh, not only will you get a benefits and retirement review, but we can get a copy of There's No Excuse, the book that I wrote, we can get you a copy of that so you can have that reference material handy. Um, and if there are any things, any questions, comments, just please reach out to us again. Leave that, uh, in the suggestion box, so to speak, so we can make sure that we get to that on a on a future episode. Well, I really appreciate you taking the time. Thank you to all those that are watching or dedicated that are following us. I appreciate the commentary. Keep that coming. Thanks for all the positive and even some of the critical feedback. I said I love that, I think it's great. It makes us provide a better, uh, product for you, so to speak. Right? A better content, a better channel, a better radio show, a better podcast. Again, my name is Val Majewski with American Benefits Exchange. Thank you for joining me, and we'll see you on a future episode.

Sonix is the world’s most advanced automated transcription, translation, and subtitling platform. Fast, accurate, and affordable.

Automatically convert your mp3 files to text (txt file), Microsoft Word (docx file), and SubRip Subtitle (srt file) in minutes.

Sonix has many features that you'd love including enterprise-grade admin tools, powerful integrations and APIs, automated subtitles, transcribe multiple languages, and easily transcribe your Zoom meetings. Try Sonix for free today.