Every September, people enrolled in Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D plans receive an annual notice spelling out changes to their coverage and costs for the year ahead. But if you’re a federal retiree with Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), whether that letter applies to you — and how much it matters — depends on exactly how your FEHB and Medicare coverage fit together. This guide provides a scenario-by-scenario breakdown of the common combinations of FEHB and Medicare coverage so you know what to do more…
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Your TSP Didn’t Know You Left: What Federal Employees Need to Review After a Separation
More than 322,000 federal employees separated from service in 2025 — many well before they’d planned to — early retirements and RIFs. That kind of shift can quietly throw your TSP out of sync, because your TSP is built around one number: the year you expected to start withdrawals. It doesn’t know about your pension, your spouse’s income, or the years of runway you may actually have. Learn what “separated” really means for your TSP, why loss aversion can push people toward decisions that don’t fit their actual timeline, and the specific things worth reviewing now — your L Fund target date, your income bridge, and whether a Traditional-to-Roth conversion makes sense in a lower-income year. more…
Understanding FEGLI: Basic Coverage, Optional Insurance, and What It Costs You
Most employees haven’t looked at their Federal Employees Group Life Insurance coverage since the day they were hired — it’s automatic, it comes out of every paycheck, and it’s easy to assume it’s “handled.” Ed Zurndorfer discusses how Basic FEGLI coverage is calculated, what Options A, B, and C add, and what each one costs at your current age using 2026 premium rates. Six practical examples are included. more…
How Much Will FEHB Cost You Between Retirement and Medicare?
If you’re retiring before 65, Federal Employees Health Benefits premiums between retirement and Medicare eligibility can add up to six figures — yet that cost rarely shows up as a line item in retirement projections. This guide walks through how to estimate your own FEHB bridge cost using your retirement age, current premium, and a few growth assumptions, plus what changes once Medicare eligibility begins. more…
TSP Week in Review: August 31 – Sept. 4, 2026
It was a winning week for most Thrift Savings Plan funds, with one core fund pulling well ahead of the pack while another finished in the red. Federal Reserve rate speculation and Friday’s jobs report kept investors on edge all week. See the full fund-by-fund breakdown, including every Lifecycle Fund, in this week’s TSP Week in Review. more…
10 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Purchasing Life Insurance
Ed Zurndorfer outlines errors individuals often make when purchasing and owning a life insurance policy
2025 Health Insurance Plan Options & Comparison Tools
Get the latest the official information online for the 2024 plan year of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. Dental and vision (FEDVIP) details are also available...
Your Federal Health Benefits & Medicare: Helpful Resources from OPM
The Office of Personnel Management offers several resources for federal employees and retirees regarding Medicare and how it works with the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program...
Guide to Federal Retiree COLAs: What Are They and How Are They Calculated?
Understand what the cost-of-living adjustment is, how it is computed, and how it affects CSRS and FERS annuities, survivor annuities, and other federal employee death benefits...
10 Biggest Mistakes Federal Employees Make When Planning for Retirement (and How to Avoid Them)
Learn the 10 biggest federal retirement planning mistakes that many employees make before leaving civil service including CSRS, FERS, Thrift Savings Plan...
Federal Retirement Planning Checklists
Checklists for 5-10 years from retirement, one year away from retirement, and for your first year after retirement...