Plan Your Federal Retirement

What Plan Your Federal Retirement does

Plan Your Federal Retirement is a Wasilla, Alaska-based financial advisory and education practice that has served U.S. federal employees with retirement planning services since 1978. Operating as a DBA of Shilanski & Associates, Inc. and led by founder Micah Shilanski, CFP®, the firm specializes exclusively in the federal benefits ecosystem — FERS and CSRS pensions, the Thrift Savings Plan, FERS Supplement, FEHB, Social Security timing, Medicare coordination, survivor benefits, and federal tax planning. The company provides personalized one-on-one consultation services, in-person benefit classes in Alaska, on-demand video training, and downloadable digital products including a Retirement Income Calculator ($27), a CSRS Voluntary Contributions Program eBook ($7.97), and a Social Security & Flexible Income Calculator bundle ($17).

The firm's core technology is expertise-based rather than software-driven: it distributes a large proprietary content library — a weekly FERS Federal Fact Check podcast (678,532+ downloads), a YouTube channel (10.4M+ impressions), a 40,000+ subscriber monthly newsletter, and 600+ blog articles — to attract and convert federal employees into paid engagements. Investment advisory services are delivered through a partnership with CWM, LLC, an SEC Registered Investment Advisor, allowing the firm to capture fee-based AUM relationships alongside its consultation revenue. Distribution is direct-to-consumer via owned web properties (main site and a ClickFunnels-based training subdomain), with no third-party resellers or marketplace channels.

The business model blends community-led content marketing with high-touch professional services. Free educational content and lead magnets (a "7 Classic Retirement Mistakes" guide, a free video series on Postponed vs. Deferred Retirement) drive top-of-funnel awareness, which is monetized through low-ticket digital products, mid-ticket on-demand classes, and high-ticket personalized consultations. The firm claims to have helped more than 850,000 federal employees plan for retirement and has publicly stated a mission to reach an additional 1 million. Headcount remains in the 1-10 range, and no external funding has been disclosed.

Name

Plan Your Federal Retirement

Legal name

Shilanski & Associates, Inc.

Website

https://plan-your-federal-retirement.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1978

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Plan Your Federal Retirement is a Wasilla, Alaska-based advisory practice specializing exclusively in FERS and CSRS retirement planning for U.S. federal employees, offering consultations, in-person classes, on-demand training, and digital tools under founder Micah Shilanski, CFP.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Federal Employee Retirement Planning & Financial Advisory

NAICS

Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Insurance and Employee Benefit Funds (5251)

SIC

Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Employer Retirement Plan Advisory (401(k)/Pension) (FSAEABAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Retirement Plan Participant Advice & Managed Accounts (FSAEABAF), Retirement & Long-Term Planning (401(k), IRA, Pensions) (EDAAAJAI), Retirement Planning & Long-Term Financial Planning Tools (FSAGADAI)

Keywords

• Federal retirement planning
• FERS benefits advisory
• CSRS voluntary contributions
• TSP withdrawal strategy
• Wealth management services

Headquarters

HQ city

Anchorage

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. One-on-One Consultations: Personalized financial planning consultations for federal employees booked via the website. The consultation assesses finances, explores investments, and develops retirement strategies. This is the primary revenue-generating service.
2. Paid Digital Products (Self-Study): Sale of downloadable digital products including the Retirement Income Calculator ($27), CSRS Voluntary Contributions eBook ($7.97), and Social Security & Flexible Income Calculators bundle ($17). Sold via training subdomain with 100% money-back guarantee.
3. On-Demand Training Classes: Paid on-demand video courses covering Social Security for Feds, Federal Taxes, Thrift Savings Plan, and the Retire Right Benefits Class. Sold individually via the training subdomain.
4. Investment Advisory Services: Investment advisory services offered through CWM, LLC (an SEC Registered Investment Advisor) and Shilanski & Associates, Inc., an investment adviser. This indicates a fee-based advisory relationship with clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Plan Your Federal Retirement provides specialized retirement planning, tax planning, and investment advisory services to U.S. federal employees (FERS and CSRS). It monetizes primarily through one-on-one consultations, delivered in coordination with affiliated SEC Registered Investment Advisor CWM, LLC (Shilanski & Associates, Inc.), and supplements this with paid digital products (Retirement Income Calculator, CSRS eBook), paid on-demand training classes, and in-person benefit workshops. Free educational content via podcast, YouTube, blog, and newsletter builds top-of-funnel awareness.

Product overview

Plan Your Federal Retirement is an educational and advisory service for federal employees run by Micah Shilanski, CFP®, operating as a DBA of Shilanski & Associates, Inc. The platform offers a suite of tools and services including the Retirement Income Calculator ($27) for FERS pension projections with video tutorials, Social Security & Flexible Income Calculators as add-ons ($17), and The Best Kept Secret in CSRS eBook ($7.97) for CSRS employees. Beyond digital products, the company provides on-demand video training classes (Social Security for Feds, Federal Taxes, TSP, Retire Right Benefits Class), in-person benefit classes held in locations like Anchorage, AK, a weekly FERS Federal Fact Check podcast, YouTube channel content, personal one-on-one consultation sessions, and a free FAQ resource center where users can submit questions. The ecosystem is tied together through a mission to help federal employees understand and optimize their FERS benefits, with claims of serving over 850,000 federal employees since 1978.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Retirement Income Calculator A downloadable calculator tool for federal employees that calculates their FERS pension, helps identify the optimal retirement date, and supports up to five pension scenarios; sold with video tutorials and result-reading guidance. Priced at $27 with a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
• Social Security & Flexible Income Calculators Add-on calculator bundle ($17) that works in conjunction with the Retirement Income Calculator to provide additional calculations for FERS Pension, Social Security Income, and Variable Retirement Income.
• The Best Kept Secret in CSRS eBook A $7.97 downloadable PDF eBook providing step-by-step guidance on the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) Voluntary Contributions Program, including how to transfer VCP funds to an IRA or Roth IRA. Includes a six-month money-back guarantee.
• On-Demand Training Classes (Social Security for Feds, Federal Taxes, TSP, Retire Right Benefits Class) A suite of video-based on-demand courses covering Social Security for Feds, Federal Taxes, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and the Retire Right Benefits Class, sold individually via the training subdomain.
• In-Person Benefit Classes Live, intensive one-day in-person training events held in various locations (e.g., Anchorage, AK), designed exclusively for federal employees to learn about their retirement benefits in a classroom setting.
• Personal Consultation / Financial Planning Services One-on-one tailored financial planning sessions with FERS benefits specialists who review individual retirement situations, answer questions, and develop personalized retirement strategies. Booked online or in-person, with a structured three-step intake (consultation form, appointment scheduling, personalized answers). Investment advisory services are delivered via the affiliated SEC Registered Investment Advisor CWM, LLC / Shilanski & Associates, Inc.
• FERS Federal Fact Check Podcast Weekly podcast hosted by Micah Shilanski covering FERS retirement topics, answering federal employee questions, and discussing tax planning, Social Security, TSP, and other retirement-related strategies (678,532+ downloads).
• YouTube Channel Educational Library Video tutorial library featuring educational content about FERS benefits, pension calculations, TSP strategies, and retirement planning guidance for federal employees.

Quantifiable outcome

• Podcast has reached 678,532 downloads and YouTube channel has 10,395,006 impressions
• +3 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• CWM, LLCcoreOthersCWM, LLC is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor through which investment advisory services are offered. This is the regulatory/ licensed entity providing the investment advisory component of the firm's client services.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Emerging players

• Holistiplan: Tax planning software built specifically for financial advisors serving retirement-age clients. Comparable as an enabling technology/tooling peer within the retirement advisory stack.
• Money Guy Financial: Wealth management firm built around a financial education show/podcast and advisor services. Comparable content-first monetization model (free content → advisory conversion) targeting retail investors.
• Sensible Money: Independent fee-only financial advisory practice specializing in retirement planning for individuals. Comparable because it combines retirement-focused advice with educational content, though serving a broader (non-federal) clientele.

Direct peers

• FedSmith: Long-running media and resource site for federal employees covering pay, benefits, and retirement. Comparable as a federal-employee-focused content publisher that monetizes an engaged federal workforce audience.
• Ed Slott and Company: Niche retirement tax planning education and advisor training firm. Comparable because it monetizes specialized retirement content (IRA/retirement education) alongside advisor services, similar to Plan Your Federal Retirement's podcast + advisory model.
• NewRetirement (now Boldin): Consumer-facing retirement planning software and calculators. Comparable because it offers self-serve retirement planning tools (similar to the $27 Retirement Income Calculator) targeting individuals planning their own retirement.

Others

• SmartAsset: Consumer financial planning marketplace and educational platform. Comparable as a content-driven retirement planning lead generator for end consumers, though operating at vastly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• Focus Financial Partners: Large partnership platform supporting independent RIAs. Relevant as a structural comparator for how small advisory firms scale advisory delivery while remaining independent.
• Carson Wealth: Large RIA and wealth management platform where founder Micah Shilanski serves as Managing Partner. Comparable because it provides the broader compliance/advisory chassis through which Plan Your Federal Retirement delivers investment services.
• Federal Times: Established media brand serving federal employees and retirees with news and benefits content. Comparable federal-employee audience overlap, though broader scope beyond retirement.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@planyourfederalretirement
• Facebookfacebook.com/PlanYourFederalRetirement

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Plan Your Federal Retirement