Your federal benefits, explained in plain English
The High Three is a free, independent guide and weekly newsletter for federal employees. We explain the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), your FERS pension, FEHB health insurance, and the decisions that come with them, using official sources and real math instead of hype.
Open Season 2027: what to do before December 14
The Federal Benefits Open Season runs November 9 to December 14, 2026 for plan year 2027. OPM reports the average FEHB enrollee premium share is rising 10.9% for 2027. Our step-by-step checklist walks you through comparing plans before the window closes.
Read the FEHB Open Season 2027 checklist
Start with the big three
- How the High-3 works: the salary average your whole FERS pension is built on.
- How your FERS pension is calculated: the 1% and 1.1% formulas, MRA, and the MRA+10 reduction.
- Roth vs traditional TSP: how to think about paying taxes now or later.
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Why trust The High Three?
- Official sources first. Every guide links to OPM, tsp.gov, or the IRS, with a “last verified” date.
- No sales funnel. No ads, no affiliate links, no paid tiers, and no advisor referrals.
- Written by a fellow fed. Casey Steward writes under a pen name to keep the focus on the rules, not the writer.
- FERS Deferred Retirement: Quitting at 45 With 20 YearsQuitting federal service with 20 years? How a FERS deferred annuity works: MRA vs 60 vs 62, the math, FEHB loss, TSP rules, and a checklist.
- Roth vs Traditional TSPRoth vs traditional TSP compared: taxes now vs later, the agency match, catch-up rules, 2026 Roth in-plan conversions, and examples.
- FEHB Open Season 2027 ChecklistOpen Season runs Nov 9 to Dec 14, 2026. See 2027 FEHB premium changes and a 7-step checklist to compare plans before the deadline.
- How Your FERS Pension Is CalculatedThe FERS pension formula explained: 1% vs 1.1%, MRA by birth year, the MRA+10 reduction, special provision, and worked examples.
- How the High-3 WorksWhat counts in your FERS high-3, how OPM defines the 3 consecutive years, a worked example, and how it becomes your pension.