Posted on Thursday, 12th April 2012 by Dennis Damp

The Windfall Elimination Provision primarily affects you if you earned a pension in any job where you did not pay Social Security taxes and you also worked in other jobs long enough to qualify for a Social Security retirement or disability benefit. For example, this provision affects Social Security benefits when any part of a […]

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• ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY
• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• ESTATE PLANNING
• FINANCE / TIP
• LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE

Posted on Thursday, 5th April 2012 by Paul Risser

Two-thirds of us have no financial plan. provided by Paul H. Risser 64% of Americans have no financial strategy at all. That’s right – no plan whatsoever to build wealth or keep it. That finding comes from the 2009 National Consumer Survey on Personal Finance conducted by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. […]

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• ESTATE PLANNING
• FINANCE / TIP

Posted on Saturday, 31st March 2012 by Ann Ozuna

Do you know what that divorce from years ago is going to do to your federal retirement? Even though you may be a couple of years away from retirement, early out offers and changes in retirement law may tempt you to jump ship and retire sooner than you had originally planned.  That old divorce decree […]

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

Posted on Monday, 26th March 2012 by Paul Risser

Little details worth paying attention to as April approaches. Presented by Paul H. Risser Every year, the IRS institutes big and little changes – and some don’t get as much notice as they should. This year is no exception. Here is a rundown of some of alterations and asterisks affecting taxpayers this year. Don’t forget […]

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• ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY
• ESTATE PLANNING
• FINANCE / TIP
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS

Posted on Saturday, 17th March 2012 by Dennis Damp

Starting in 2013 newly hired FERS employee’s retirement contributions will increase from .8 percent to 3.1 percent of salary. Originally this was intended to apply to all FERS employees. There is another vote pending in the house that proposes increasing all employees’ contributions by 1.5 percent that will be phased in over a three year […]

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• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• ESTATE PLANNING
• LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE

Posted on Sunday, 11th March 2012 by Paul Risser

Over the years I’ve talked to many federal employees about their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Unfortunately most don’t have an understanding of what their options are at retirement. First, let’s discuss your current TSP allocation. Does your current allocation still meet your needs and goals? What I have found is most folks seldom reallocate investment […]

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• ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY
• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• ESTATE PLANNING
• FINANCE / TIP
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS

Posted on Friday, 2nd March 2012 by Dennis Damp

This May the Thrift Savings Plan is launching a new investment option that provides more flexibility for TSP participants. Federal employees and military members will be able to allocate their contributions between a Roth and the traditional plan shortly. The flexibility is in the tax treatment of the employee’s contributions and it may be beneficial […]

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• ESTATE PLANNING
• FINANCE / TIP
• RETIREMENT CONCERNS
• SURVIVOR INFORMATION

Posted on Monday, 20th February 2012 by Dennis Damp

There is much to consider before applying for Social Security. I’ll be 63 in May and my wife turns 62 this year. Do you need your Social Security card to apply? Many misplace their card and it isn’t uncommon to lose a card that you’ve had around the house for 40 years or more. You […]

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• BENEFITS / INSURANCE
• ESTATE PLANNING
• FINANCE / TIP
• SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE