10 Months until I retire: Here is my plan!!!

Today’s video marks a huge milestone for me — I’m officially 10 months away from retiring from federal service after 44 years of combined military and NOAA time. This video is my personal roadmap for how I’m planning the transition, the budget I’m aiming for, and the options I’m considering to bridge the gap between retirement and Social Security. Everyone’s situation is different, but maybe my approach will give you ideas for your own plan. A few things I talk about in this video: Why flexibility is the most important part of any retirement plan How I built my $5,000/month retirement budget My FERS pension estimate and why retiring at 62 matters Whether to take Social Security early or wait Using my 401k/TSP strategically Possibly working part‑time to bridge the gap Considering Roth conversions before Medicare Why I still take my plan to a fee‑only financial advisor I’m not a financial advisor — just sharing my personal journey. I’d love to hear your thoughts: When do YOU plan to take Social Security? How far away is your retirement date? If you enjoy these videos, please like, subscribe, and drop a comment. More videos coming soon — even if making them is definitely harder than watching them! Thanks for being here. — Mike Just Mike’s Take ‪@BuzzRetirementGarage‬ Chapters 00:00 – Intro: A Big Milestone 00:03 – 10 Months Until Retirement 00:12 – Why I’ve Been Quiet on the Channel 00:20 – YouTube as a Hobby 00:50 – My Retirement Plan Overview 01:05 – Flexibility Is Key 01:17 – Building a Budget 01:22 – Buzz’s Retirement Garage Inspiration 01:37 – Setting My $5,000 Monthly Budget 02:04 – My FERS Background (44 Years of Service) 02:38 – Pension Estimate & Retiring at 62 03:22 – Covering the Income Gap 03:51 – Social Security at 62? 04:02 – Using My 401k as a Buffer 04:46 – Option 3: Part‑Time Work 05:04 – Waiting Until 65 for Social Security & Medicare 05:42 – Roth Conversion Window 06:15 – Talking With a Financial Advisor 06:36 – Why Some People Wait Until 70 07:12 – Life vs. Money 07:27 – Final Thoughts & Advice 07:50 – Your Plans? Let’s Talk 08:25 – Closing & Subscribe