Retirement & Financial Planning Report

A federal employee who marries has a number of decisions to make regarding benefits. Survivor annuity–When you get married, you’ll …More

Many people try to age in place as long as possible rather than go into an assisted living situation or …More

Older workers “must take greater action and more responsibility to prepare for their financial security and long-term health, as well …More

One reason that so many federal employees retire around the end of the year is that they can cash in …More

When you prepay a mortgage you’re essentially investing at the mortgage rate. Paying down a mortgage reduces debt and subtracts …More

Employers are growing more accepting of older workers, in part because they “look a lot like younger workers” in key …More

Separation, annulment or divorce can have important impacts on your federal benefits as they apply to you and to your …More

Keeping your home well maintained and in good repair is certainly necessary if you want to protect a major investment …More

Reverse mortgages “saw a surge in popularity” as a response the most recent major financial crisis before the present one …More

Each of the federal insurance programs has procedures for challenging the denial of a claim. Federal Employees Health Benefits Program—First, …More

A decision on whether to hold certain investments inside your tax-deferred retirement plan or outside also depends on: * Your …More

A report on retirement savings behavior has found that a difference of just three percent of salary in how much …More

Federal Employees Health Benefits program carriers are obligated to follow standard coordination of benefit rules established by the National Association …More

Variable annuities offer buyers the chance to choose among subaccounts, many of which resemble stock funds or bond funds. Your …More

A new inspector general report credits OPM with making some improvements in services to retirees—a function for which OPM has …More

One feature to remember about the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program is that one must apply for it, rather …More

Many people, especially married couples, hold real estate, securities, and other assets as “joint tenants with right of survivorship” (JTWROS). …More

The midpoint of the year is a common time for FERS employees to conduct a review to make sure they …More

One of the less understood of federal retirement benefits is the “special retirement supplement.” Many retirees and near-retirees apparently have …More

So-called “incentive trusts” offer rewards to trust beneficiaries who accomplish certain goals. With such a trust, beneficiaries might receive particular …More

The pandemic has shaken the retirement confidence of the three main generations now in the workplace, says a study that …More

You need five years of service to be vested in the retirement system; only after you are vested in the …More

The Social Security Administration has said that “there are no right or wrong answers” regarding when someone eligible for benefits …More

An inspector general report has recommended that OPM reexamine prescription drug costs in the Federal Employees Health Benefits program, saying …More

Any employee or retiree who is eligible for coverage under the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program—and that includes the …More

Immediate annuities (also known as payout or income annuities) require you to pay to an insurance company. The insurer will …More

A third of retirees in a recent survey said that they found expenses in retirement higher than they had expected …More

Your FEGLI life insurance coverage can end under certain circumstances: * you leave government for any reason other than retirement; …More

Directly owned real estate may prove to be a wealth builder. If you own a solid property, chances are that …More

The Coronavirus pandemic could affect Social Security in several ways, including a short-term impact on inflation adjustments and a long-term …More