Chris Kowalik examines the two parts of Medicare that retiring federal employees should be most concerned about, the pros and cons of having both FEHB and Medicare in retirement, plus three different FEHB and Medicare combinations — and their advantages and disadvantages more…
Recent Articles
Understanding TSP Vesting Requirements and TSP Service Computation Date
There are federal employees who are losing their federal jobs due to reductions-in-force (RIFs) or elimination of job positions. Most of these employees are not eligible to immediately retire from federal service. A question that these employees may be asking: What happens to their Thrift Savings Plan accounts? Ed Zurndorfer discusses vesting the TSP requirements more…
The “F” Word for Federal Employees: ‘You’re Fired!’
Chris Kowalik provides tips for preparing yourself for an unexpected exit from federal service including: getting what you need before you lose access to government systems, knowing what you have earned based on your age and length of service, and accessing money you will need during the transition period more…
What Happens to Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) in Early or Deferred Retirement?
Ed Zurndorfer discusses what happens to a federal employee’s health, dental and vision benefits when the employee leaves federal service before normal retirement age more…
What Happens to Life (FEGLI) and Long-Term Care Insurance (FLTCIP) in Early or Deferred Retirement?
Ed Zurndorfer discusses what happens to federal employee life insurance and federal long-term care insurance benefits when a employee retires or leaves federal service before normal retirement age more…
12 Steps to Prepare For a Reduction in Force
As federal agencies undergo workforce reductions, many employees are left wondering what the next round of the Reduction in Force (RIF) will look like and whether it will impact them. To mitigate the risks, you should take proactive steps to safeguard your financial well-being. Chris Kowalik gives 12 critical steps every federal employee should take now to prepare for a potential RIF more…
Reduction in Force (RIF) Training Series
Throughout the 22-part video series, Chris Kowalik delivers information federal employees should understand, answers frequently asked questions, and provides the actionable steps they can take to prepare if faced with a Reduction-in-Force (RIF) termination. more…
Pre-Age 55 Penalty-Free TSP Withdrawals: Partial Rollover of a Traditional TSP Account to a Traditional IRA
With perhaps thousands of federal employees having to leave federal service as a result of reductions-in-force (RIFs), the question becomes for many: How to access their Thrift Savings Plan accounts? In column one of a two-part series, Ed Zurndorfer discusses how separated federal employees younger than age 55 can make penalty-free TSP withdrawals. Presented in this column is the partial rollover of a traditional TSP account to a traditional IRA more…
8 FAQs About Your TSP
Chris Kowalik unpacks some frequently asked questions from participants in the Thrift Savings Plan regarding contributions, agency matching, and confusion over traditional and Roth accounts more…
Retroactive Payments to Begin from Repeal of Social Security’s WEP, GPO
The Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that starting the week of February 24, 2025, it will begin to pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payment to individuals whose monthly Social Security benefits have been affected by the Windfall Government Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Ed Zurndorfer outlines what actions an eligible individual should take, and provides details of the implementation more…