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Ed Zurndorfer Articles
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Federal Retirement Benefits Articles
by Edward A. Zurndorfer
Edward A. Zurndorfer is a contributing author to My Federal
Retirement.
Ed is a Certified Financial Planner (CFP). an instructor of
many federal employee retirement seminars across the country and is an
author of numerous books on federal retirement. Ed is also a retired
federal employee with 32 years of service at the Department of Commerce, and a
former columnist for the Federal Times.
You can receive Ed's columns free by
email (which are included in the My Federal Retirement email
alerts) by simply entering your email address
below:
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Recent Supreme Court Ruling Emphasizes the Need to Keep Beneficiary Designations Current
Edward A. Zurndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
Federal benefits expert, Ed Zurndorfer, discusses why this case and ruling emphasizes the need for federal employees to not only name beneficiaries for certain assets that they own, but to make sure that their beneficiary designations are up-to-date as family circumstances change. Included are a list of the most common beneficiary forms . . . more
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Delaying Retirement and Receipt of Social Security Can Preserve Your TSP Account
Edward A. Zurndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
For federal employees, deciding when to retire, what age to start claiming Social Security retirement benefits, and at what age to start withdrawing their Thrift Savings Plan account involves a complex personal financial analysis. Federal benefits expert Ed Zurndorfer examines how delaying one's retirement date and the start of Social Security retirement benefits can help preserve an employee's TSP account -- minimizing the possibility that he or she "outlives" it . . . more
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Strategies to Maximize Social Security Retirement Benefits
Edward A. Zurndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
Since most federal employees at some point after they retire will elect to receive Social Security, federal benefits expert, Ed Zurndorfer, presents three strategies for employees -- particularly FERS employees -- to maximize their Social Security retirement benefit . . . more
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Supreme Court Ruling on DOMA Could Affect Social Security Spousal Benefits
Edward A. Zurndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
The Supreme Court hearing earlier in April on the constitutionality of the 1996 Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) could have a significant impact on federal employee's spousal benefits. If the Supreme Court overturns DOMA, then CSRS and FERS spousal benefits and spousal survivor benefits could be affected. Also affected could be Social Security spousal and survivor benefits including benefits for former spouses. Federal benefits expert, Ed Zurndorfer, reviews current rules regarding Social Security spousal benefits . . . more
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How Federal Retirement Benefits are Taxed - Part III: The Alternative Annuity Option
Edward A. Zurndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
Federal benefits expert, Ed Zurndorfer, discusses if a retiring employee covered by either CSRS or FERS is eligible, they may elect the alternative form of the annuity -- receiving a lump sum payment consisting of their contributions (which have already been taxed) and then a reduced CSRS or FERS monthly annuity . . . more
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How Federal Retirement Benefits Are Taxed - Part I: CSRS and FERS Annuities
Edward A. Zurndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
In a series of six My Federal Retirement columns by federal benefits expert, Ed Zurndorfer, the rules regarding how federal employee retirement benefits are taxed by the federal and state governments will be discussed. This first column discusses how the Civil Service Retirement Systems (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuities are taxed by the federal government . . . more
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Best Dates to Retire - CSRS / FERS: 2014 and 2015
Edward A. Zurndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
Federal benefit expert, Ed Zurndorfer, discusses the best dates for CSRS and FERS employees to retire during 2015, with an updated discussion for best retirement dates during 2014 . . . more
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What Benefits and Special Payments Affect the "Earnings" Test for Retiring Federal Employees?
Edward A. Zurndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
Federal benefits expert, Ed Zurndorfer, discusses "special payments" an employee receives shortly after their retirement date and their effect on the FERS annuity supplement or Social Security benefits. For CSRS Offset employees, the Social Security benefits that could be affected by the "earnings" test are those benefits earned outside of federal service in private industry or spousal benefits and not the Social Security benefits earned during the years of CSRS Offset service . . . more
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Federal Employees Should Make 2013 TSP Elections Prior to Year End
Edward A. Zurndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
Year end is the best time for federal employees to decide how much they want to contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan next year and which TSP account(s) they want to contribute to -- traditional and/or Roth. Federal benefits expert, Ed Zurndorfer, discusses these choices and why any changes should take effect on the first pay date in January 2013 . . . more
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Recent Articles &
Resources
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Overview - CSRS
