With the recent turnover and reduction in the federal government workforce, many federal employees may be considering changing jobs or professions — and likely need additional training and licensing. Using tax-free withdrawals from a Section 529 plan is one way of minimizing the cost of this additional training and licensing. Ed Zurndorfer outlines how opportunities have been expanded with the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) in 2025. more…
What Federal Employees Should Know About Healthcare Costs During Retirement
A healthy individual retiring in 2026 will spend an estimated $315,000 – $415,000 on healthcare-related expenditures during their retirement years — not including long-term care. Ed Zurndorfer explains the must-know three drivers of rising medical care expenditures that are contributing to the federal retiree’s challenge of paying for health care related expenses in retirement: inflation, increased Medicare premiums, and long-term care more…
How to Calculate a Retiring Federal Employee’s Starting FERS Gross Annuity
Ed Zurndorfer explains who the Office of Personnel Management makes the calculation of a retiring FERS employee’s starting FERS gross annuity at retirement. more…
Understanding the Strict Roth TSP to Roth IRA Rollover Rules
Federal employees and retirees are forewarned that the tax rules associated with Roth TSP to Roth IRA rollovers are challenging and confusing. One challenging rule involves the five-year holding periods for both the Roth TSP and the Roth IRA.. Ed Zurndorfer explains the rules (with practical examples), and also discusses the pros and cons of these type of rollovers more…
10 Costly TSP & IRA Rollover Errors Federal Employees & Retirees Should Avoid
Many federal employees and retirees choose to rollover their TSP accounts and IRAs. But as Ed Zurndorfer explains, costly errors can be avoided by understanding the rules on which retirement accounts can and cannot be rolled over, important deadlines, and when a direct rollover should be performed rather than a rollover or a withdrawal
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Tax Deadlines for Federal Employees and Retirees
April 15 represents several import tax deadlines other than just filing. Ed Zurndorfer outlines them including IRA contributions and Roth IRA recharacterizations. more…
Options for Federal Employees Unable to Pay Their Balance Due Taxes
Federal employees and retirees who after preparing their federal income tax return discover they have a balance due that they are unable to pay the balance due in full before the April 15 deadline, have options to pay their federal income tax balance due. Ed Zurndorfer explains these including installment and online payment agreements with the IRS, and extensions of time to pay more…
10 Ways for Federal Employees to Maximize Social Security Benefits
Congress made some changes in the law regarding Social Security filing opportunities that have resulted in modifications to claiming benefit strategies for many individuals. Ed Zurndorfer provides 10 strategies for federal employees to maximize the amount of their lifetime Social Security retirement benefits more…
Understanding the FERS Retirement Annuity Supplement
The purpose of the Annuity Supplement is to provide a portion of retirement income to FERS employees who retire before age 62. Ed Zurndorfer discusses who is eligible (or not), steps for estimated how much it will be, how long a retiree receives supplement payments, and how it works with Social Security. Practical examples are included more…
Federal Employees, Retirees Should Be Aware of Paying Estimated Taxes
Most federal employees and retirees receive some type of income that is not subject to mandatory federal and state withholding taxes. Ed Zurndorfer discusses why some should make quarterly estimated tax payments to the IRS and their state tax departments more…