Ed Zurndorfer discusses what the Medicare open enrollment period is (Oct. 15 – Dec. 7), how it affects federal retirees, and the opportunities that federal retirees enrolled in Medicare have with respect to their health insurance coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits program (FEHB) more…
Understanding Medicare Enrollment Periods and the Late Enrollment Penalty
Enrolling in Medicare can be confusing — and if not done by the required deadline, can result in late enrollment penalties. Ed Zurndorfer outlines the various enrollment periods for Medicare — plus when penalties are imposed, and how they are calculated more…
How Federal Employees Qualify For Medicare
Once a federal employee or retiree becomes age 65, they can enroll in Medicare. But many have questions about Medicare enrollment and how it works with the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program. In the first part of this series of columns on Medicare, Ed Zurndorfer discusses the various parts to the Medicare program and how federal employees qualify for Medicare more…
Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) Rules for Traditional Inherited IRAs
Many federal employees and retirees have inherited IRAs over the years from relatives. Ed Zurndorfer explains the required minimum distribution (RMD) rules and deadlines, with several practical examples more…
What Departing Federal Employees Need to Know About Their TSP Accounts
Thousands of federal employees have left or will be leaving federal service sometime between now and the end of 2025. Ed Zurndorfer discusses the options a separating employee has with their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) traditional and Roth accounts. more…
Deadline for Correcting IRA Contributions and Filing Tax Returns
Ed Zurndorfer discusses both Oct. 15 deadlines, the two reasons why a federal employee or a retiree may need to recharacterize a 2024 IRA contribution, and what they should do to meet the deadlines and avoid penalties more…
Tax Changes in 2026 from One Big Beautiful Bill Act
Ed Zurndorfer discusses the tax law changes that will take effect on January 1, 2026, and what tax-related moves federal employees and retirees should consider now to take advantage of the changes more…
Tax Rules on TSP Installment Payments
Upon leaving or retiring from federal service, Thrift Savings Plan participants can request installment payments from their traditional TSP account. Ed Zurndorfer explains the taxes on this TSP withdrawal option more…
Tax Rules on TSP Withdrawals
Before deciding to withdraw money from their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts, TSP participants are advised to be aware of the tax rules. Ed Zurndorfer outlines them for both traditional and Roth TSP accounts, including the IRS reporting rules, withholding taxes, and early withdrawal penalties more…
TSP Withdrawal Option: Total Distribution
A retired federal employee has several options for withdrawing from their Thrift Savings Plan accounts. Ed Zurndorfer outlines the total distribution TSP withdrawal option including the income tax consequences for traditional and Roth accounts and the pros and cons of direct rollovers to IRAs
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