Leaving Uncle Sam, especially after a lengthy career at a good salary, can be very rewarding and sometimes a bit tricky, too.

If you can’t stand your boss, have nothing in common with your coworkers or hate your commute or your job, it’s a no-brainer — leave ASAP. But if you are like most people, the best time to retire is worth checking out, especially when you figure you might be retired for decades — maybe longer longer than you worked.

After deciding which year you are going to retire the next question is when are the best dates: Dec. 31 and Jan. 1-3 are most popular, but why?

On this episode of Your Turn we’ll be talking with popular benefits expert Tammy Flanagan about the best dates to retire, and why they are the best. She’ll take a look at the pros and cons of CSRS versus FERS, and how to make the most of your plan.