Posted on Thursday, 20th February 2014 by Dennis Damp

(Updated 12/15/2024) What prompted this article was an email from Holly, a federal retiree, who recently moved to Arizona. She had been calling OPM, trying to change her health care plan, for almost 2 months without success because the FEHB plan she had didn’t offer services at her new location. The one time she did […]

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• ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY
• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• ESTATE PLANNING
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE
• SURVIVOR INFORMATION

Posted on Thursday, 12th December 2013 by Dennis Damp

Updated 10/20/2023 We receive many questions each year about how Medicare interacts with the FEHB program. This is the first of a three part series that introduces the Medicare program including Part A and how to apply. Part 2 discusses what to consider before enrolling in Medicare Part B and Part 3 talks about whether […]

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• ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY
• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE

Posted on Friday, 8th November 2013 by Dennis Damp

Our 2014 Leave Record & Scheduling Spreadsheet is now available for download to your desktop. Use it to automatically track your leave balances in all categories, annotate your schedule, and to establish realistic retirement target dates to maximize your benefits when you leave. This FREE spreadsheet automatically calculates your accrued annual and sick leave balances, […]

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• ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY
• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SURVIVOR INFORMATION

Posted on Friday, 1st November 2013 by Dennis Damp

Federal retirees, social security recipients, and military retirees will receive a 1.5% COLA next year!  This is the lowest COLA since 1985 not counting the two years we did without one. Based on the average retiree’s annuity the 2014 COLA will add approximately $48 monthly for CSRS retirees and $18 for FERS retirees age 62 or older.  It’s hard to […]

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• ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY
• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• FINANCE / TIP
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE

Posted on Thursday, 1st August 2013 by Dennis Damp

Everyone planning their retirement needs to know how much they will have to live on in retirement and how much their spouse’s survivor benefit will be. Frank Cullen, a retired federal manager, friend, and former associate, sent me a comprehensive spreadsheet prior to my retirement that projected my annuity and survivor benefit for the next […]

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• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• ESTATE PLANNING
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SURVIVOR INFORMATION

Posted on Friday, 19th July 2013 by Dennis Damp

We purchased a 9 year old home last year and the seller thankfully included a home warranty. Since we moved in we used the home warranty services many times saving us thousands of dollars in repairs. Recently, I renewed the contract and had to call them out shortly thereafter. When we were purchasing our new […]

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• ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY
• FINANCE / TIP
• LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SURVIVOR INFORMATION

Posted on Sunday, 23rd June 2013 by Dennis Damp

Recently, due to budget cuts, OPM reduced their call-center’s hours and they are now open from 7:40 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time. To talk to a retirement consultant, report an annuitant’s death, request a duplicate 1099 R or other issues call their toll free number at 1-888-767-6738. For those in the DC area call […]

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• ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY
• LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE
• SURVIVOR INFORMATION

Posted on Saturday, 8th June 2013 by Dennis Damp

The new phased retirement program will permit those eligible to gradually work their way into full retirement. If they don’t like what they see they can opt out and return to full time, can’t ask for much more than that plus phased retirement will increase your annuity when you do decide to pull the plug. […]

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• ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY
• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS