The Social Security Administration offers more than just a basic retirement estimator. From estimating your monthly benefit to comparing claiming ages, calculating the earnings test, and screening for additional benefits, there are several free tools that can help you make better retirement decisions. This guide walks federal employees through each Social Security calculator, explains what it’s used for, and shows you which ones are most valuable as you plan for retirement. more…
Latest Articles
Why a FERS Retirement Pension May Be Lower Than You Think
The basic annuity calculation is based on a small percentage of your high-3 average salary for each year you worked in federal service, and there may be reductions from healthcare premiums and taxes. Here’s what you should know… more…
OPM Defends Plan to Access FEHB Medical Records, Says Privacy Will Be Protected
The Office of Personnel Management is pushing back against criticism of its proposal to obtain more detailed health claims data from Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) and Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) insurance carriers. The agency believes the data is necessary and assuring federal employees that individual medical records will remain protected more…
When Is the Best Time for a FERS Retiree to Start Taking Social Security?
While there is no single best age for everyone, here are some guidelines to help you make the decision — including your need for income, whether you are trying to maximize lifetime or survivor benefits, and your health and life expectancy more…
Projected 2027 Medicare Premium Increases Released in Trustee’s Report
The recently published 2026 Medicare Trustees Report projects that the standard Medicare Part B premium will increase next year. Deductibles and Part D costs are also expected to increase. Higher-income retirees may pay more due to the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) . Although official rates will not be announced until later this year, the projected costs are available, and some planning tips to prepare are provided. For federal retirees and employees approaching retirement, understanding these projections is important because Medicare premiums can significantly affect retirement income planning more…
Should Federal Retirees Keep FEHB, Add Medicare Part B, or Switch to Medicare Advantage?
Many federal retirees get caught in the complicated maze of figuring out whether to keep FEHB, add Medicare Part B, or switch to a Medicare Advantage plan. This video breaks down exactly how your expected healthcare usage should drive that decision. more…
Will Your Life Insurance Do What You Expect It To Do in Retirement
A lot of people have life insurance, but that doesn’t always mean they know what it’s meant to cover or whether it would actually do what they expect. For federal employees, those questions often start with the FEGLI and follow them into retirement. more…
Reemployment in Federal Service (FERS)
Ed Zurndorfer discusses how reemployment in federal service can affect a FERS annuitant’s current and future benefits — including health, dental and life insurance, future FERS annuity, and employment in the private sector more…
Federal Retiree COLA vs. Federal Employee Pay Raises: What is the Difference?
Chris Kowalik explains the the difference between active employee pay raises and retiree cost-of-living adjustments — and why, when and how they are applied — as well as current projections for 2026’s anticipated pay raises and how newly announced COLAs will be implemented in retirement more…
Trump Accounts: Questions and Hurdles Before Launch July 4, 2026
Trump Accounts were passed into law in 2025 are individual retirement investment-style accounts established for children under the age of 18 (and include one-time $1,000 federal government contribution to their account for those eligible). They are due to launch on July 4, 2026, however many are waiting for some key details including rules for contributions, federal/state income tax consequences, and hurdles to activate and contribute to these accounts. more…