ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY | Federal Employee's Retirement Planning Guide

Survivor’s Benefits for Federal Employee Spouses

Posted on Friday, 13th March 2026 by Dennis Damp

When a loved one passes away, the emotional toll is often accompanied by financial uncertainty. For spouses of federal employees or retirees, survivor’s benefits can provide essential stability during a difficult transition. These benefits—administered through federal retirement systems and Social Security—are designed to ensure that a surviving spouse continues to receive income after the worker’s […]

Tags: CSRS, Daily Brief, Federal Employee Spousal Benefits, FERS, GPO, Master Retiree Contact List, Social Security, Survivor's Annuity, Survivor's Benefits
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Federal Employee News: 2026 Pay, Benefits, and More

Posted on Friday, 6th March 2026 by Dennis Damp

The start of March 2026 has brought significant turbulence for federal employees, characterized by a shrinking workforce, increased health care costs, and ongoing battles over union representation and civil service protections. Following the implementation of the 2026 benefits, employees are navigating the realities of a 1% pay raise alongside double-digit increases in health premiums, while […]

Tags: 2026 Pay Raises, 2026 Tax Breaks, Civil Service Unions, Daily Brief, DHS Funding, FEHB, Performance based RIF selections, RIFs, Workforce Reductions
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Protecting Your Retirement Nest Egg – Fixed Income Update

Posted on Thursday, 26th February 2026 by Dennis Damp

Fixed‑income opportunities continue to evolve as investors evaluate shifting interest‑rate expectations, inflation pressures, and a challenging global economic growth environment. After two years of central bank tightening, bond markets have entered a more balanced phase—one defined less by rate shocks and more by subtle positioning, yield‑curve dynamics, and various opportunities across credit sectors. The annual […]

Tags: CDs, Daily Brief, I Bonds, Market Projections, Retirement Savings, Rule of 100, Savings Bonds, TIPS, Treasury Bills, Treasury Bonds, Treasury Notes
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Your 2026 Step-by-Step Federal Retirement Planning Guide

Posted on Thursday, 19th February 2026 by Dennis Damp

Federal retirement planning comes with its own rulebook. Between FERS calculations, TSP strategies, and benefit elections, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the complexity. But here’s the good news: with the right checklist and timeline, you can navigate this process confidently and avoid costly mistakes. This detailed checklist complements and expands on our abbreviated “Ultimate […]

Tags: 1 Year Before Retirement, 2026 Retirement Checklistd, 5 Year Plan, Daily Brief, Early Retirement, Federal Employees Timeline, FERS Retirement, Key Benefit Elections, Medicare, OPM's Processing Timeline, Social Security, Three Retirement Pillars
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Online Retirement Application (ORA) Update

Posted on Friday, 13th February 2026 by Dennis Damp

This service was launched in July of last year, and my article titled “Apply for Retirement on OPM’s Online Application Service” outlined how to sign up for and use this service. I state in the article that, “Effective July 15, 2025, OPM will no longer accept paper retirement applications. Any paper submissions created on or […]

Tags: Daily Brief, Federal Retirement Processing, LES Statements, Military Time, Online Retirement Application, ORA, Retirment Processing Timeline
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Tax Forms Availability – What to Expect This Year

Posted on Friday, 9th January 2026 by Dennis Damp

There is no escaping the reach of Uncle Sam; any income received is reported to both you and the IRS on your W-2s and 1099 forms, with few exceptions. Federal employees’ W-2s are sent out by their agency’s payroll department, or they can download copies from OPM’s Employee Express system. Each year, I receive […]

Tags: 1099 Forms, 1099 R Forms, 1099-k, 1099-S, Annuity 1099-R Changes, Federal Annuity 1099-R Changes, Retirement Income, SAA-1099, Social Security SSA 1099, Tax Form Availability, TSP 1099-R, W-2s
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The 2026 Landscape: What to Expect and Outlook

Posted on Thursday, 1st January 2026 by Dennis Damp

For those planning their retirement, it’s a good time to assess their financial situation, long before filing their retirement paperwork. Use our comprehensive Federal Employees retirement Planning Guide to establish realistic retirement target dates, track your annual and sick leave, review your retirement benefit options, and estimate your annuity and other income. Federal Pay Raise […]

Tags: 2026 COLA, 2026 Outlook, 2026 Social Security Tax Limites, Annuity Statements, Federal Pay Raise, Federal Retirment Benefits Booklet, Medicare IRMAAs, Part B Premiums, Part D Premiums, TSP 2026 Chamges, What to Expect in 2026
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I Rolled Over My TSP Account to an IRA – Should You?

Posted on Friday, 21st November 2025 by Dennis Damp

I rolled over my traditional Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to my personal Fidelity IRA last month. The TSP was established in 1987 concurrent with the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), and I retired in 2004 under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), leaving me only 17 years to fund my TSP. There were many factors […]

Tags: BPA, Daily Brief, FERS Accounts, Inherited IRAs, Rollovers, Transfers, TSP Inheritance Guidance, TSP Rollovers, TSP Withdrawals
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