Mason & Associates, LLC

10/05/2026

Is claiming Social Security at 62 a mistake for federal employees? A break-even calculation only tells part of the story.

In our latest video, John Mason, CFP®, draws on 17 years of helping people retire to explain why the decision about when to claim should come from your full financial plan and tax plan, not a single calculation.

Here's what's covered:
✓ Why claiming at 62 together could cost you
✓ The advisor conflict of interest few people mention
✓ Questions federal employees and military retirees need to answer first
✓ What happens to Social Security when a spouse dies
✓ The hybrid strategy: one spouse claims at 62, the other at 70
✓ How to delay Social Security without living on less

Every situation is different, and the right timing depends on the full picture.

👉 Watch the full video:

Is claiming Social Security at 62 a mistake for federal retirees?...

09/29/2026

Federal employees often walk into retirement thinking they're behind. In our experience, many are in a stronger position than they realize.

This Thursday, John Mason, CFP®, is hosting a webinar to help you see exactly where you stand.

📅 Avoiding the Common Financial Mistakes Made by Federal Employees
Thursday, October 1 | 12:00 PM ET

He'll cover:
✓ The value of your federal pension
✓ Common TSP and FEGLI mistakes
✓ In-service and retirement survivor benefits
✓ Social Security claiming and tax planning

This is an educational session, not a sales pitch. Come with questions.

👉 Register here: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_v2db94eUR3SEtyK1WGxTaA

09/28/2026

Insurance is one of the least exciting parts of a financial plan. It's also one of the most important.

On this week's episode, John Mason, CFP®, and Tommy Blackburn, CFP®, CPA, PFS, sat down with Broc Buckles, co-founder of BC Brokerage, to talk about why insurance belongs at the foundation. Getting coverage wrong can have a bigger impact than choosing the wrong investment.

For federal employees, that often starts with a few questions:
✓ If your income stopped tomorrow, would your family be covered?
✓ Has your coverage kept up as your assets have grown?
✓ Do you have a plan for potential long-term care costs?

As Broc put it: "Having a plan is the most important thing."

At Mason, we look at insurance as part of the full picture, not a separate product decision. If you'd like a second set of eyes on yours, it's worth a conversation. https://youtu.be/MKffoDjF7bw

09/25/2026

Here's a Social Security claiming strategy our team comes back to again and again: have the lower-earning spouse claim at 62, and have the higher-earning spouse delay until 70.

The higher benefit grows 6 to 8% a year while you wait, plus cost of living adjustments, and whichever spouse lives longer keeps that larger amount for good. With two lifespans in the mix, the odds are good that someone benefits from that decision for a long time.

There's real math behind this strategy, and we always run the numbers. But we also think about what happens emotionally if a spouse passes away and the surviving partner is suddenly managing money alone, especially if the market happens to be down at that moment. Guaranteed income matters in that scenario just as much as growth potential.

Peace of mind is part of the plan, not separate from it.

09/23/2026

We just published a conversation with retirement psychologist Bob Laura, and it might be one of the most important episodes we've done.

His research shows at least 60 percent of retirees struggle after they leave work, and most people never say so out loud. It's an especially quiet struggle for federal employees. You have a pension, you have healthcare, so what could possibly be wrong?

Bob's answer: work gives people identity, relationships, and a sense of accomplishment, and none of that disappears just because a paycheck does. Driven people don't magically become relaxed the day they retire.

He walked us through PERMA, a framework from positive psychology (positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment), and how his book and couples retreats help people rebuild those pieces once work is gone.

Listen to the full conversation with Bob Laura on the Federal Employee Financial Planning Podcast: https://youtu.be/3BldG5e6jCE?si=3UWn6RadTHLIr7G4

09/22/2026

Social Security claiming strategy isn't one-size-fits-all, and it's not just about the math.

At Mason & Associates, we build claiming strategies around two things: your cash flow and your relationship with spending your own money in retirement.

One of our advisors recently shared a story about a client who was too nervous to touch his own savings, nervous enough that it could have affected his health. The team ended up activating his Social Security for him, because the numbers alone weren't going to get him there. He needed the income, and he needed someone to help him take that step.

That's the kind of planning we believe in: customized, human, and built for your real life.

09/21/2026

They are not talking to you.

A Wall Street Journal couple was told to save 25% of their income before buying a house. As a federal employee, John Mason says the math looks different. He breaks down what the article missed, and whether that 25% rule actually applies to you.

Watch here:

A Wall Street Journal couple was told to save 25% of their income t...

09/18/2026

This year we're excited that our team at Mason is sponsoring the Grafton Bethel Elementary School PTA in Yorktown, Virginia.

Grizzlies Believe Everyone Succeeds

Here's to another fantastic school year!

09/14/2026

When should you start taking Social Security? It's rarely as simple as a break even calculation.

In the latest episode of the Federal Employee Financial Planning Podcast, John Mason and Tommy Blackburn react to a White Coat Investor article on claiming early and investing versus delaying for a larger guaranteed benefit. They cover how spousal and survivor benefits factor in, why federal employees often have more flexibility thanks to their pensions, and how tools like Savvy Social Security and RightCapital help model different scenarios.

The best Social Security strategy is the one that fits your full retirement plan, not just the spreadsheet.

Listen to the full episode:

When should you claim Social Security, and how do you know if the “...

09/10/2026

How long does it actually take your money to double? The rule of 72 gives you the answer in seconds. Divide 72 by your rate of return, and that is your timeline. At 1 percent, 72 years. At 8 percent, about 9 years. For a 30 year old federal employee, that gap can mean the difference between doubling your savings once or several times over before retirement.

In our latest episode, "Retirement Readiness," John Mason and Tommy Blackburn break down what being on track for retirement actually looks like at 30, 40, 50, and just months from leaving federal service, covering the financial, tax, investment, insurance, and estate planning decisions that matter at each stage.

Listen to the full episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/retirement-readiness/id1605491625?i=1000783815558