Designated Beneficiaries The simplest way to specify who will receive a specific asset after your death is to add designated beneficiaries on that asset. These assets could include bank accounts, brokerage accounts, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, annuities, pensions plans, trusts, real estate, etc. The designated beneficiary will normally gain Read more…
Gone are the days of MASSIVE CSRS pensions. There are only a small percentage of CSRS (the old system) employees left in the government and their HUGE pensions are dying with them. But FERS (the new system) federal employees still have good benefits if you know how to Read more…
One of the most stressful times in your federal career is when you transition from working to retirement. It’s important to avoid mistakes as you transition. Many federal employees realize they don’t have as much money as they thought they would. In this article we will discuss some things you Read more…
Is your goal for a federal retirement to maintain your current standard of living? What is it going to take to do that? Today, we’ll be talking about your FERS retirement benefits and whether they are enough for your comfort level. Net vs Net Most people have a Read more…
There is More to a Happy Retirement Than Money When you discuss preparing for retirement, most of us automatically think about accumulating lots of money so we can financially do whatever we want during retirement. While it is true that having sufficient money during retirement is important, there are other Read more…
What is a Trust? A trust is a fiduciary arrangement that allows a third party, or trustee, to hold assets on behalf of a beneficiary or beneficiaries. A living trust is a legal arrangement established during an individual’s lifetime that contains assets to be distributed after death and that bypasses probate. A trust can Read more…
Success leaves clues. And the research is in on what makes a successful and happy federal retiree. Here are the 5 secrets that almost all happy retirees have in common. #1 – Core Pursuits There are many things that can give your life meaning. When people Read more…
Criteria for Downsizing House During Retirement Your housing needs will likely be different during your retirement than during your working years. A common question for those who are retired is whether they should relocate or downsize their house. Here are some things to consider when making this decision. Finances Read more…
Benefits of Retiring as a Federal Employee One of the benefits of a career with the federal government is that you are covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). FERS is a retirement plan that provides benefits from three different sources: a Basic Benefit Plan, Social Security and the Thrift Savings Read more…
Two very common ages to retire as a federal employee are 60 and 62. You might think that the difference between the two ages doesn’t matter as long as you’re eligible to retire, right? But, it could actually have a very big impact on your retirement. Also, the eligibility to Read more…
