Retiree FEHB Premium Reminder
Federal employees planning to retire around the turn of the year–there always is a surge of retirements in that period–should …More
Retirement & Financial Planning Report
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Eligibility Conditions for Buyouts
The purpose of a voluntary separation incentive payment, also known as a buyout, is to avoid involuntary separations resulting from …More
Reasons to Start Drawing Social Security Earlier
You can start to receive Social Security any time between the ages of 62 and 70. For each year you …More
Keep COLA Prorating Policy in Mind
With the January 2019 COLA for retirees likely exceeding the pay raise for active employees, some employees eligible for retirement …More
Special Rules Apply to Federal Benefits in Divorces
As governmental plans, CSRS and FERS are not subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), which governs many …More
Allowing Your Beneficiaries to Change Trustees
Many estate plans include trusts that take effect after death. With any type of trust, it’s up to the trustee …More
Federal Employees Waiting until Later to Retire
The average retirement age for federal employees is continuing to rise, hitting an average of 61.8 in the 2017 fiscal …More
Inherited IRAs Need Careful Handling
If you inherit an IRA, for maximum tax deferral, you should: * Check that the beneficiary forms and related paperwork …More
The Return of the Medicare Advantage “Open Enrollment Period”
The Medicare Advantage Open Enrollment Period was discontinued in 2010. Now, in 2019 the OEP is making a return. From …More
SSA Compassionate Allowances Program Expanded
The Social Security Administration has expanded the scope of its compassionate allowances program, a fast-track toward approval of disability claims. …More
Protecting Your FLTCIP Benefits from Inflation
If you’re thinking of enrolling in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program—which many employees not currently enrolled consider as …More
Owning Assets as ‘Joint Tenants’
For certain assets, you might want to hold title as “joint tenants with right of survivorship (JTWROS).” That gives the …More
Financing Retirement No Simple Task, Says Report
The shift from defined benefit to defined contribution plans has created opportunities but also responsibilities for financing retirement that have …More
Taking an In-Service TSP Withdrawal without a Tax Penalty
Age 59 ½ is significant in tax-advantaged savings plans such as the Thrift Savings Plan because under the tax code, …More
Trusts for Just-in-Case Situations
Revocable living trusts are increasingly popular. In most revocable trusts, you (the trust creator) are also the trustee and the …More
Some Relief May Be Ahead from Minimum Distribution Rule
A recent executive order may provide some relief for TSP investors—as well as investors in other tax-favored retirement savings plans—from …More
Some FEHB Changes Are Allowed Outside of Open Seasons
The annual open season — this year, November 12-December 10—is when most enrollment changes in the Federal Employees Health Benefits …More
Driving Down Auto Insurance Costs
To cut auto insurance costs, look into buying it from the same company that provides your homeowner’s insurance and/or other …More
Annuities That Come with a Guarantee
So-called “living benefits” can pay off for variable annuity purchasers during their lifetime, in contrast to the death benefits that …More
Student Loan Debt Hampering Retirement Savings
The shares of households with student loan debt and the average amounts owed have continued to rise in recent years, …More
