Most life insurance policies today include a way to access money from the death benefit before you die — through a living benefits rider. Ed Zurndorfer discusses the four types of riders (terminal illness, chronic illness, long-term care, and critical illness), how to add and activate them, and the trade-offs every policyowner should understand before filing a claim, including how much a payout will reduce what’s left for beneficiaries.
FEGLI (Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance)
Understanding the Different Types of Term Life Insurance
Term life insurance isn’t one-size-fits-all. Ed Zurndorfer walks through the five main variations explaining how each one works, who it tends to fit best, and the trade-offs in cost, flexibility, and long-term value. Whether you’re weighing a policy for the first time or reconsidering coverage as you approach retirement, understanding these differences can help you match a policy to your actual needs.
Should You Keep FEGLI Into Retirement? The 5-10 Year Review
If retirement is still five to ten years away, FEGLI probably feels like a solved… more…
Choosing the Right Life Insurance as a Federal Employee: Term, Whole, Universal, or Variable
Choosing a life insurance policy isn’t one-size-fits-all. In this column, Certified Financial Planner Ed Zurndorfer walks through how term, whole, universal, and variable life insurance each work, their advantages and drawbacks, and which type tends to make the most sense depending on a federal employee’s budget, health, and long-term financial goals.
Understanding FEGLI: Basic Coverage, Optional Insurance, and What It Costs You
Most employees haven’t looked at their Federal Employees Group Life Insurance coverage since the day they were hired — it’s automatic, it comes out of every paycheck, and it’s easy to assume it’s “handled.” Ed Zurndorfer discusses how Basic FEGLI coverage is calculated, what Options A, B, and C add, and what each one costs at your current age using 2026 premium rates. Six practical examples are included.
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.
5 Things Federal Retirees Wish They Were Told Before Retiring
Chris Kowalik outlines five overarching themes that are real eye-openers for federal retirees looking back on what they wish they had understood before making the transition
3 Crucial Federal Retirement Choices
Your retirement planning is a series of choices. Some are minor, while others can have major consequences on your future and financial security. Chris Kowalik discusses three important decisions that federal employees face in retirement: FEHB & Medicare, long-term care and life insurance
10 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Purchasing Life Insurance
Ed Zurndorfer outlines errors individuals often make — and how to correct them — when purchasing and owning a life insurance policy
Important Choices and Considerations for Purchasing an Individual Life Insurance Policy
Ed Zurndorfer examines some of the federal employee choices and considerations for purchasing an individual life insurance, including term vs. permanent (cash value) policies, and factors that affect the cost of premiums