The Retirement Code Online Course | Pinnacle Personnel Services

[Breaking] The Retirement Code

The only online course to help you decipher Federal Retirement (CSRS, CSRS-Offset and all manner of FERS)

Are you overwhelmed and stressed about your Federal Retirement options?

I promise you – you’re not alone.

Many agencies are no longer paying for retirement seminars. Many employees are not able to attend a live presentation. That’s unfortunate and can leave you at a disadvantage, with a lot of unanswered questions, concerns, and uncertainty as you contemplate the next big step of retirement. It’s not all doom and gloom – there’s a better way to take control of your next chapter in life.

I get it. You’re a hard worker.

You’ve been busy getting your education and training, becoming an expert in your field. You really don’t have the time to also become an expert in federal retirement and benefits. And when you read through the forms, explanations and program descriptions, even the annual updates can get confusing.

I bet you’ve asked some – if not all – of these questions:

How much money do I need to retire?
Survivor benefits? How much do I need? Is life insurance a better option?
If I pulled money from my retirement account, should I put it back? Do I have to?
Should I make a military deposit? What if I retire from the military?
If I die, what’s left for my family?

It’s not your fault that you’re confused. There are so many myths, misunderstandings and just plain bad information out there – no wonder you’re overwhelmed! You might not even know where to begin, but you’re already in the right place: it’s going to get better, starting right….NOW!

I’m going to show you exactly what will work for YOU.

Say goodbye to complication and hello to simplicity.

Was that a sigh of relief I just heard? 😉 I’ve been doing this for a long time and I’ve seen even the most overwhelmed person come to understand that they can actually retire (and start enjoying life).

I can’t possibly get every federal employee in the same room at once. That’s why I’ve created this online program. I want you to have the space, support and guidance to transition into retirement without all the stress and worry.

After this program, you’ll feel:

Hi, I’m Debbie Hatch

I’m a qualified federal retirement specialist

I know how hard it is to make changes and sacrifices knowing it may be years before you ever reap any reward. Your retirement might feel like a distant dream, but I also know that time has a way of slipping away from us. It’s critical you start now. You can’t wait to plan for retirement until you are eligible. I’ve spent decades working with retirement and have seen it all. Not only have I helped thousands of employees, just like you, but I’m also living proof that you can have the life you want AND an amazing retirement at the same time.

After years of working as a federal employee myself, I started my own business and have been supporting people from all walks of life, understanding and master retirement planning. I’ve taught my signature program in the classroom, all over the world, for over 16 years. It’s time to bring it to you in the privacy of your own home – or office, coffee shop, or wherever you want to learn. Everyone deserves a shot at creating the future they desire. My life is a testament to this. It wasn’t always easy but I know that when you invest in yourself, anything is possible.

Introducing [Breaking] The Retirement Code

Your key to a happy, healthy and stress-free financial future

My signature self-paced online course will teach you everything you need to know about federal retirement, including when you’ll be eligible, how much it will be, and what the process looks like.

Across 10 modules, you’ll get downloadable PDFs, access to an exclusive Facebook group where I have regular office hours (so you can ask me questions directly), and personalized worksheets and checklists to ensure you’re covering all of your bases as you put this retirement puzzle together.

What you’ll learn

What counts as creditable service
Making deposits and redeposits for civilian and military time
When you will be eligible to retire
How to calculate your benefits
How your leave will pay out
The FERS Supplement
Federal and state tax consequences
Survivor & death benefits available to your loved ones
Social Security retirement
Thrift Savings Program withdrawal options
Plus a whole lot more!

What you get

All online, available 24/7 – learn in your own way!

DOWNLOADABLE PDFS

Take the course at your own pace and learn all about the retirement process in manageable, bite-sized pieces. I’ll even take the notes for you and provide those in an easy to understand, logical sequence.

EXCLUSIVE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY

This course includes access to a private student community on Facebook. It’s where we can have class discussions and chat about any questions or concerns you have.

CLASSROOM VIDEOS

I’ve been teaching this material in classrooms for almost two decades. Watch videos of me interacting with students to help you fully understand and breakdown the complex terms and processes.

Plus, these bonuses!

Office Hours

I offer regular office hours in my Facebook community so you can ask me anything directly – it’s like having your very own personal human resources consultant!

Line by Line Guidance

You’ve done all the planning and have decided to (actually!) retire. This bonus module guides you through the federal application line by line. You’ll know how to avoid the most common mistakes people make.

Invest in your future for only $297!

Success Stories

YOU TRULY HAVE THE HEART OF A TEACHER

I highly respect your knowledge and especially your sense of customer service helping people understand their retirement options. Some people know stuff and are experts but aren't good at explaining it so the average Joe can understand it. You take a complex, confusing, intimidating subject and make everyday people feel at ease with it. You "crack the code" for them. I know from talking with other folks who attended your classes here on base that they enjoyed your class. It was incredibly valuable because it helped us all feel more confident with our retirement future. You’re changing lives!

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE CLASS

You provided me with so much great information and, most of all, you answered key questions I’ve been asking about for years. Turns out I’ll be getting more than I thought when I retire. I loved your class and will do everything possible to help get younger people in any of your classes. They’re fantastic.

EVERYONE IN MY GROUP LOVED YOUR SEMINAR!

We all learned so much! Please feel free to let me know about any future training. I’m happy to forward it to as many other employees as I can. I have been encouraging young people to attend retirement seminars early in their careers so they can do a better job of planning than I did! I plan on retiring in another 5 years and definitely want to attend at least one more of your seminars before I do! Again Much Mahalo to you for sharing your knowledge with us!

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I really appreciate your research! I could not find a definitive answer, so the citation to 5 USC is very helpful. We have a flurry of feds who are taking advantage of the VSIP/VERA, (myself included, as I plan to retire by the end of this fiscal year). If I don't get the opportunity again to engage with you before I leave, I'd like to thank you for your support of my office while I’ve been in this position. Your training is some of the best I’ve ever had the opportunity to attend.

I was getting close to my SS full retirement age and wanted to ensure I can afford to retire (over 64 yrs old, will have 10 years of federal service and did 26 years of military service). Although I've attended at least 2 federal retirement briefings, the 3 - 4 hours of classroom sessions were too fast. Hard to be reading handouts while trying to listen to the speaker or trying to jot down notes. This online course allows me to take it at my pace, and repeat the video/topic without holding others back, not like in a classroom. Well worth the time as there were no side discussions that eat up time in a classroom environment

Nestor V, Engineering & Installation PM/Telecommunications Specialist

I ran into another training coordinator in the hallway yesterday and he started "venting" to me about how he could not find anyone who taught a decent retirement classes. He’s gone through a couple of providers but participants felt like they knew more than the instructors. The last individual couldn’t answer any questions that weren’t pulled directly from a page in the workbook. I remember you answering all kinds of tough questions (without being demeaning or making people feel dumb for asking them) and getting rave reviews from all participants. I scheduled A LOT of instructors back then, but you were by far the easiest to work with and received the greatest reviews. I gave him your contact information. You are amazing!

Erin S., Training Coordinator

Thank you sincerely for the excellent course! I’ve attended your classes before but always learn something new and “key” to my retirement plans. Whether it's changes to FERS or TSP, or just changes in my current situation, the information is always fresh and relevant. I appreciate the extremely thorough information and the superb manner in which you present it. You obviously know the material backwards and forwards. More than that though, you're able to convey understanding incredibly well. Yours really is the best seminar/training I’ve attended in my career. Kudos.

Scott P., Joint Information Operations Warfare Center

Thank you for allowing me to go through this course. As someone who plans to retire in the near future, I listened closely to make sure I had a clear understanding. The content was thorough and took me through all of the decisions that will need to be made. It was great to be able to go back and review topics as many times as necessary. Also gives me time to absorb the topic before going to the next subject. I think this course is a great tool for those who may not be able to get into an in-person course as well as those who want a periodic refresher.

Pam M., Branch Chief

When it came time to start thinking about retirement, I confess I had no idea where to start. During a conversation with a coworker, she highly recommended that I attend one of Deborah Hatch’s retirement workshops. Admittedly, understanding the federal retirement system (FERS), Social Security and the Thrift Saving Plan (TSP) was unfortunately, something that went right over my head. Lucky for me I was able to attend one of her workshops within the next few months. I found Deborah to be extremely knowledgeable and even more than that, she is committed to helping future retirees understand the complex, convoluted maze that is the federal retirement system. She is very responsive to questions both during and after the workshops. She has answered numerous post-workshop emails further clarifying questions regarding eligibility, computation and planning. She is dedicated and passionate about this subject. Her desire is to empower every employee by providing the information necessary to make intelligent and informed retirement decisions. Fortunately, I have come to know her on a personal level as well. She is an amazing, driven and inspiring powerhouse who’s positive energy is contagious. She brings that energy to her classes to motivate her students to make choices that will create their best possible life - before and after retirement.

Lawanna B., Supply Chain Security Specialist

Don’t wait until you’re about to retire.

Frequently Asked Questions

When does the course start and finish?

I offer three intakes each year and you’ll have access to everything for 16 weeks. There’s a timeline because I want you to take action. I want retirement to be top of your mind. I don’t want you to put this off any longer. The online course is self-paced – you decide when you start and when you finish during this time. You choose how many times to go through the videos. You will have access to a student only Facebook page where the instructor will host weekly office hours.

Do the course materials belong to me?

This course has been a labor of love for me. I have invested two decades into understanding this material and learning how to present it in an easy-to-understand way. I have spent hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars putting the course together. I really do care. From that sincere place, I ask that you protect my intellectual property. My materials are copyrighted through the Library of Congress. You are able to download all the notes pages and customizable worksheets. They are for your personal use only. Please do not copy or distribute these materials. You do not have permission or rights to copy, download, or distribute videos.

How do I ask more questions?

I will post weekly office hours in the Facebook community. Be sure you sign up for that. Hours will change weekly to accommodate both my schedule and a variety of student time zones.

What if I’m not even close to retirement?

That’s awesome – this course is for everyone from the person who started their job yesterday to the individual ready to retire tomorrow. It’s never too early to learn about your retirement and benefits.

I’ve read a lot about retirement but it can be so confusing. Does this course require any previous knowledge?

It can be confusing! My tagline is “simplify retirement”. I will explain all of the terms and processes to you in an easy to understand way. As one student recently said, “I love what you’ve done with this course. It’s honestly like the listener is a member of the audience and your exceptional teaching skills shine through.” I can guarantee you’ll understand retirement as a result of this course.

I’m a federal firefighter (or law enforcement officer) and have always been told that my retirement is “special”, will you cover how in this course?

Absolutely. Our federal firefighters, law enforcement officers, CBPOs, and air traffic controllers are all covered under special provisions. Retirement eligibility and computation can be very different for these positions. I’ve developed one course specifically for special provisions!

How is your program different?

My superpower is breaking things down into easily understandable concepts anyone can grasp. I have an availability to dissolve the fear and confusion around retirement as a topic and as a process.

If I’m not happy with the course, can I get a refund?

Unfortunately this course isn’t refundable. You’ll have access to, and can download, 100% of the material from day one, which means you get all the value from day one. If you are struggling with the course materials, please reach out to me so that I can help you.

I can’t WAIT to see what you do with this next chapter of your life!

Whenever you choose to retire, whether that’s within the next few months or two decades from now, you’ll find that planning serves you well. It's never too early to learn about your retirement. [Breaking] The Retirement Code will make a difference in your life, I know it! I'm cheering you on – grab a coffee and let’s go, because espresso and education go hand in hand.