Posted on Friday, 30th August 2013 by Dennis Damp

Many federal employees and retirees alike are concerned about being forced out of the FEHB program and into local health care exchanges that are mandated by President Obama’s Affordable Care Act. I’m not sure why it was called the Affordable Care Act when in reality insurance costs have already increased considerably across all sectors since […]

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• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• FINANCE / TIP
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE
• SURVIVOR INFORMATION

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

Posted on Saturday, 6th July 2013 by Dennis Damp

I’ve received many emails over the years from annuitants, spouses of deceased annuitants, and estate executors that weren’t aware of the annuitant’s coverage and/or beneficiaries. A number of annuitants forget what coverage they elected (if any) or who they designated as beneficiary. There are a number of things that you, your spouse, and estate executor […]

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• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• ESTATE PLANNING
• FINANCE / TIP
• LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• 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

Posted on Friday, 17th May 2013 by Dennis Damp

Many obsess about what they will do in retirement and fear finding out too late – after they retire – that retirement isn’t for them. Most retirees discover early on that their time remains a cherished commodity and you will wonder how you ever worked and got anything done. I’ve been retired going on 9 years […]

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

Posted on Monday, 13th May 2013 by Paul Risser

What makes financial sense for some baby boomers may not make sense for you. Provided by Paul H. Risser There is no “typical” retirement. Many baby boomers want one and believe that they will have one, and their futures may indeed unfold as planned. For others, the story will be different. Just as there is […]

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• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE
• SURVIVOR INFORMATION

Posted on Friday, 3rd May 2013 by Dennis Damp

Norma, a federal employee that elected to collect Social Security while still working, commented on my last article on this subject. She stated that while it is true you don’t decrease social security benefits if you are still working at age 66 or older you may be subject to taxes on some of the social […]

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• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE
• SURVIVOR INFORMATION

Posted on Monday, 1st April 2013 by Dennis Damp

The stock market is up and the DOW stock market index has recovered from its low of 6629 in March of 2009 to over 14,000 recently. Interest rates and yields on CDs, treasuries, and savings have remained historically low. The government has artificially maintaining interest rates well below norm to stimulate the economy and to […]

Posted in

• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• ESTATE PLANNING
• FINANCE / TIP
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE
• SURVIVOR INFORMATION