A complete and comprehensive estate plan includes properly filled out beneficiary designation forms. Ed Zurndorfer discusses what federal employees need to consider in avoiding the 10 biggest mistakes in making their beneficiary designations more…
CSRS (Civil Service Retirement System)
How to Deal With OPM’s Delay in Retirement Application Processing
Delays in receiving your first full FERS or CSRS annuity check can be 3-10 months. Ed Zurndorfer, provides a checklist of how to expedite your retirement application — plus practical tips on how soon-to-retire employees should prepare for a possible cash flow problem during the early months of retirement more…
How Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision Affects Some Federal Retirees
Ed Zurndorfer explains how the WEP works, and who is affected by it. Practical examples are included more…
10 Important Actions for Federal Employees Planning to Retire
Your retirement date often comes sooner than you may have had a chance to fully prepare. Ed Zurndorfer outlines the most common areas that need to be addressed by federal employees who plan to retire within the next few years more…
Understanding the CSRS Voluntary Contribution Program
Ed Zurndorfer discusses the CSRS Voluntary Contribution Program including an overview, CSRS/CSRS Offset employee eligibility requirements, filing an application, contributions and how they are made, limits on contributions, and withdrawal options more…
High-3 Average Salary: What Is It and How Is It Calculated?
All eligible retiring federal employees will receive an annuity that is calculated based on their length of federal service and their high-three average salaries. Learn what it is, what pay is included, and how it’s calculated — with several helpful examples more…
Senate Bill Would Increase COLA for Many Federal Retirees
If passed, the Equal COLA Act would end the disparity between the two federal retirement systems (CSRS and FERS) and ensure all federal retirees receive full cost-of-living adjustments on their annuities more…
Guide to Federal Retiree COLAs: What Are They and How Are They Calculated?
Ed Zurndorfer gives an overview of an often confusing topic: Understanding what the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is, how it is computed, and how it affects CSRS and FERS annuities, survivor annuities, and other federal employee death benefits. Several practical examples are included more…
Using OPM’s ‘Federal Ballpark E$timate’ Calculator for FERS / CSRS
The Office of Personnel Management has updated it’s online calculator that projects annuity for FERS, CSRS and Thrift Savings Plan benefits to help federal employees more…
OPM Reminds Federal Employees, Retirees to Use Updated Beneficiary Designation Form
The form allows the named beneficiary to receive any lump-sum benefit which may become payable under CSRS or FERS more…