Episode Transcript
[00:00:00] Speaker A: Any examples used are for illustrative purposes only and do not take into account your particular investment objectives, financial situation or needs and may not be suitable for all investors. It is not intended to predict the performance of any specific investment and is not a solicitation or recommendation of any investment strategy.
Welcome to Reyna Retirement. Reyna Reyes has dedicated her career to helping people make smarter financial decisions. Reyna Retirement is all about breaking down complex financial concepts into language you can actually understand.
Now here's the co founder of American Federal Benefits Consultants, Reyna Reyes.
[00:00:40] Speaker B: Hello, and happy holidays to you. In fact, the next one coming around the bend for us here Today, here in 2026 is Easter. That's the next one coming around the bend. So you want to be prepared for being off, enjoying your family, doing fun things. It's okay to plan your own life around work and being ready for retirement. It's kind of a big planning session, right? We've had people who have taken more time to plan for their kids wedding, which lasts one day, than they did to plan for their retirement, which is supposed to last the rest of their life. We don't want to be like that. We want to plan for the day. The day is important, right? So sometimes people say, when's the best day to retire? There is no best day. First, when are you eligible? You've got to be eligible first to go after you have full eligibility. Then we say, what's best eligibility? Is there a way to make more money? Is there a milestone ahead of you that we want to hit that one milestone and then after the milestone, it doesn't matter. Some people have hit every, they've checked every box, they've reached every milestone. They've got the age, they have the years of service in spades. You know, there's not much more to achieve other than maybe they like working. And then people say, okay, well when's the best time of the year or the best time of the month to retire? Well, end of the month in general for FERS employees. And the most common retirement day is really the last day of December or the last pay period, paycheck or Friday of December because people want to max out their annual. But days really matter. Your retirement date makes a difference. And, and with Easter coming up, wanted to really highlight somebody who works with me every day, all day, and her birthday happens to be on a very specific day. Want to introduce you to my friend and she's worked with me since 2018.
Sympathies to you, Rhonda, but I want everyone to meet A really good friend of mine, her name is Rhonda, and she's been working with us for quite some time.
She has incredible accolades.
Retired Navy, and she also went to school for quite some time. She has two doctorates in theology, so we call her Dr. Dr. Rhonda. So, Rhonda, if you can, tell me the story of your incredible birthday. What day was it?
[00:02:55] Speaker C: I was born on Easter.
But here's the thing.
Just like you say, things can change.
The doctor told my mother that I would be born on March 24.
I did not come on March 24. I arrived two days later.
She went into labor with me on Good Friday, March 24th. And I was born on March 26th at 2:26am so, again, dates do matter.
I get people all the time that really get confused about my birthday when I say I was born on Easter. And so the first day that they want to say, oh, your birthday is in April. No, my birthday is in March. Because a lot of people don't realize that Easter falls in March and in April.
So dates do matter. They really, really do. And you may have plans for. But those plans can change.
[00:04:04] Speaker B: So there's an interesting family member you have who tends to maybe lean toward Easter as a date for you. Will you tell me about that?
[00:04:13] Speaker C: Yes.
My father relates my birthday with whatever day Easter falls on, so it doesn't matter.
So on Easter, whatever day it is, that's when he calls me. It tells me, happy birthday.
I don't get upset about it because that's. He's been doing it now for 58 years, and next week it'll be 59 years.
I think there may have only been a couple of times where he's actually said happy birthday to me on my birthday.
[00:04:48] Speaker B: And I was there for one of those. So this was a very interesting, very cool day. So Rhonda's church family also has a cleaning organization, and we connected with them for off for services at our office because we have a very close relationship with them. I've got their number, and her birthday was coming up, and so I texted with her pastor, actually. I was like, hey, Rhonda's birthday is coming up. You know, you know, we want maybe do a little surprise thing. What about if we have you and some church members and friends and family come to the office and I'll send her to go get the mail? And then y' all are just there. And they were like, we love it. They filled our office like it is. We have a lot of people coming in and out, but it's very rarely as full as it was that day. I think there were maybe 25, 30 people in the training room.
[00:05:35] Speaker C: Yes.
[00:05:35] Speaker B: And so one day I was like, you know, when the day came, I was like, rhonda, man, there's something at the mail and I really need it. If you could go do that and take about 25.6 minutes to get that mail or something like that. And she looked at me and she's like, yeah, I can get your 26 and a half minute mail. So she leaves. And then as if on cue, everyone shows up. And there's a parking lot behind us as well. So people were parking front and back of the office, came in, and the training room's in the back. So when she showed up, she had no reason to suspect anything. There was no nothing. So she, she put her stuff down, we went back in the room and, and surprise. And guess who else was there? Her dad. We got him there, so he was able to tell her happy birthday on her true birthday, which was not Easter that day. And it was really awesome. And my goal, stuff like that is always to get a great emotional response. And I was not disappointed, Rhonda, was I?
[00:06:37] Speaker C: No, you were not. I did have to get some things out of my eyes.
Some, some dust particles and things were in my eyes because I was truly. I was surprised, I was shocked, I was amazed. I loved it. I enjoyed that birthday celebration, especially to see my dad and my sister.
That was awesome. To see my church family, it was great. It was just a wonderful day and that's how I love celebrating my birthday. I just love enjoying my birthday and just having a good time. And so I, I, you know, since 2018, being here, my birthdays have been great.
They really, really have. And that's what we do here.
[00:07:27] Speaker B: In fact, we see some balloons behind you. So that's. Today's not the day, but you're going to be out out next week doing your thing. There's something on the back of your chair. If you'll hold that up and tell us why that's there and why your name says what it does.
[00:07:41] Speaker C: So this is a seat cover of a bunny rabbit.
And I just, it is so amazing. This was part of my birthday surprise this morning from the Amphithe family and from the two little young ladies that are here, Rayleigh and Regan. And I just love it.
Again, I was born on Easter and the day that I was born, my godmother, when she got the phone call that I was born, she said, we're going to call Her Bunny. And that's what I've been. My nickname. That's been what I've been called even while in the Navy, I was called Petty Officer Bunny by my superiors. So it is a name that has stuck with me for 58 years and some days almost 59 years. And that's. I embrace it. I love that name, and I stick with it.
[00:08:40] Speaker B: I feel like I forgot about your superiors calling you Petty Officer Bunny. I love that. In fact, that could even translate to some of our retirees, maybe they pick a day and they're. You know, people call them, oh, retired on Christmas or retired on St. Patrick's or, you know, pick a holiday, make it fun.
And you've retired already and then you graduated twice.
So you also are very aware of these retirement dates and how important they are. I know you remember yours. Thank you for jumping on here and kind of wishing well to all the people that are ready to retire and wanting to go and kind of having a very distinctive milestone for you in your birth, in your. In your entrance, and then a couple of exits from different cities. Well, retiring from different. Different things, school and of course, the Navy. And we're not ready for you to retire from Amphid yet. So don't get any ideas.
[00:09:32] Speaker C: Yes, ma'. Am. Yes, ma'. Am. Yes, ma'. Am. Yes, ma'. Am. I will end this by saying happy retirement to those of you who are getting ready to retire.
[00:09:43] Speaker B: Thank you very much. You're the best.
[00:09:45] Speaker A: Thanks for listening to Reyna. Retirement. With a strong commitment to ethical standards, Reyna works hard to find the right solution for each individual or family who reaches out for advice. To contact reina directly, call 850-450-6500. That's 850450 6500. Or to reach the team at American Federal Benefits Consultants, call 1-800-872-8857. That's 1-800-872- 8857. You can also go online to americanfederal.org not affiliated with the United States Government. Opinions expressed are subject to change without notice. These opinions are not intended as investment advice, nor do they predict future performance of any product. All information provided is believed to be from reliable sources. However, we make no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of any statement. The information is intended to be educational in nature and does not provide a guarantee or specific result. All copyrights and trademarks are the property of their respective owners. American Federal Benefits Consultants is an independent organization, not a government agency or affiliated with the federal government or any state government. The terms CSRs, FERs, FELI, and FEHB are all registered trademarks of the U.S. office of Personnel Management. American Federal Benefits Consulting Consultants, agents consultants, or any independent contractors do not provide tax, legal or investment advice and do not engage in the solicitation or sale of securities. Consult with your tax advisor or attorney regarding specific situations.
