Congressman Gerry Connolly (D-VA) and Senator Brian Schatz (D-HI) reintroduced legislation last week that would provide federal employees with a 2025 pay raise of 7.4 percent more…
Latest Articles
Maximizing Social Security Benefits and the ‘Deemed Filing’ Rule
Many individuals preparing to claim Social Security retirement benefits are not aware of the Social Security “deemed filing” rule. Ed Zurndorfer explains it, and provides suggestions for married couples in which both spouses are eligible for a Social Security monthly retirement benefit as to how maximize their lifetime benefits more…
OPM Restricts Salary History in Setting Federal Pay
The Office of Personnel Management issued a final rule Tuesday eliminating the use of non-federal salary history in establishing pay for job offers to newly-hired or returning federal employees more…
TSP and IRA Tax-Planning Moves for Federal Employees and Retirees
The stock market reached all-time highs during 2023. While that is encouraging news for TSP participants and IRA owners, Ed Zurndorfer suggests some tax-planning moves that federal employees and retirees should consider, including required minimum distributions (RMDs), Roth IRA conversions, and charitable distributions more…
FEGLI Handbook from OPM
The Office of Personnel Management has updated the handbook for the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance program more…
FEGLI Calculator: Calculating Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Options and Premiums
The FEGLI calculator will help you determine the face value and premiums of various combinations of FEGLI coverage plus plus view how the life insurance carried into retirement will change over time 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…
Medicare General Enrollment Period: What Are the Implications for Federal Retirees?
Most individuals find the Medicare enrollment process to be confusing. Ed Zurndorfer reviews the four Medicare enrollment periods, and how they apply to most federal employees and retirees when they become first eligible to enroll at age 65. Practical examples are included more…
When Federal Employees Can Make Penalty-Free Early Withdrawals from Traditional TSP or IRAs
Ed Zurndorfer discusses the exceptions that allow a federal employee to make withdrawals from their traditional Thrift Savings Plan or from a traditional IRA before age 59.5 and not be subject to an early withdrawal penalty. 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…