Federal employees have been waiting for months to receive their 1.9% pay raise. Agencies are now processing back pay retroactive to the beginning of the year and the updated 2019 pay charts are available online for your review. We are currently in pay period 7 that ends April 13. When your agency’s payroll office processes the backpay, all should see a welcomed increase in their bank account balance
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections
The new locality pay charts are also available for review. The 1.9% increase is a function of the base rate increase of 1.4% plus a locality adjustment. Therefore, your raise, depending on your locality adjustment, will range from a low of 1.66% for the (Rest of the US) chart covering areas not included in a specific locality chart to a high of 2.27% for those working in the Washington DC, Baltimore Arlington area.
To estimate your backpay use the TOTAL INCREASE Percentage listing on the locality table for your area. For example, Joe works in the LOCALITY PAY AREA OF VIRGINIA BEACH-NORFOLK, VA-NC. He is a GS-11, step 7 earning $74,842 a year. Multiplying Joe’s gross wages of $74,842 by .0187 (1.87% as listed on the locality pay table) equals $1,400, his 2019 pay increase. Divide this figure by 26, the number of pay periods, and Joe will be receiving an extra $53.85 a pay. If Joe received his backpay in pay period 9 he would receive an extra $485 in his pay less taxes.
This may not seem like much, however if you increase your TSP contribution by just 1 percent after receiving your backpay, your retirement fund will grow considerably over time. In Joe’s case, the 1 percent increase in his TSP will take $28 of his $53.85 increase each pay, he will still have a little extra to spend. Yet, he will be saving an additional $748 a year towards retirement.
Again, this doesn’t sound like much until you look at compounded interest over say the next 20 to 30 years. Saving just $28 biweekly at 4% interest will grow to $22,368 in 20 years and will reach $42,301 in 30 years! That same savings at a 6% growth rate would be worth $28,222 in 20 years and $61,331 after 30 years. A little goes along way and it pays to start early.
Another option for many would be to use part of their backpay with additional contributions biweekly to establish an emergency fund. Possibly set up an allotment to your local Credit Union to get started. A recent report indicated that over half of those working didn’t have any savings, none at all. In that same report more than 60% couldn’t come up with $1,000 for an emergency! With the recent government shutdown in the rear view mirror now is a good time to evaluate your spending habits and prepare for the unexpected.
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections
Disclaimer:Opinions expressed herein by the author are not an investment or benefit recommendation and are not meant to be relied upon in investment or benefit decisions. The author is not acting in an investment, tax, legal, benefit, or any other advisory capacity. This is not an investment or benefit research report. The author’s opinions expressed herein address only select aspects of various federal benefits and potential investment in securities of the TSP and companies mentioned and cannot be a substitute for comprehensive investment analysis. Any analysis presented herein is illustrative in nature, limited in scope, based on an incomplete set of information, and has limitations to its accuracy. The author recommends that retirees, potential and existing investors conduct thorough investment and benefit research of their own, including detailed review of OPM guidance for benefit issues and for investments the companies’ SEC filings, and consult a qualified investment adviser. The information upon which this material is based was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but has not been independently verified. Therefore, the author cannot guarantee its accuracy. Any opinions or estimates constitute the author’s best judgment as of the date of publication, and are subject to change without notice. The author explicitly disclaims any liability that may arise from the use of this material.
Jodi recently emailed me suggesting that most Life Insurance
companies emphasize what coverage they provide including accidental death and
dismemberment. She was searching for a general policy statement other than simply
the costs associated with each type of coverage. She wanted to know about dismemberment
and accidental death coverage, the exact coverage she was paying for, and a copy
of her policy. She closed with, “I don’t need another formula for how much
money it provides. I have looked for 30 minutes. If you could just email the
likely one to two-page insurance policy it would be great.”
I received a “Federal Employees Group Life Insurance Program Certificate” when I first started working for government. It explained much of what Jodi wants except for the insurance options and amounts that you elect when you enter federal service. You need a copy of your election forms for that information and those still working can review their electronic Official Personnel File (eOPF) to obtain a copy.
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
Federal annuitants can request a copy of their FEGLI Insurance Coverage, FEGLI Verification, by calling OPM at 1-888-767-6738 or printing a copy of this document from OPM Services Online. I printed out a copy of my FEGLI coverage from the online service for my records. The FEGLI Verification of coverage document states, “Using the information given, you can determine the amount payable at any time in the future. The insurance issued under the Group policy is term insurance. It builds no cash or loan value.”
The Certificate I received years ago lists accidental death
and dismemberment coverage, the cost at the time of basic coverage, conditions,
how to file a claim, and much more. It looks like a standard folded policy
without your specific coverage listed. I’ve kept this certificate all of these
years in my insurance file with a copy of the elections I originally made and updated
the information when I retired. With this information, my heirs will know the
amount of my coverage and who to contact when the time comes to collect;
hopefully, many years down the road.
Unfortunately, the certificate, Form G. 3385-G – Feb 1969, isn’t
available. However, OPM provides two
printable pamphlets, a booklet for retirees and the FEGLI program Handbook,
and other resources like FAQs that you can review and download for your home
insurance file. These documents cover anything and everything you need to know
about your FEGLI coverage.
There is a contact number on our free Retiree’s Master Contact List for the FEGLI administrator’s office. They only process claims and can not provide a summary of your coverage. Active employees must contact their HR office to review their eOPM for this information, retirees must contact OPM or download their insurance coverage from OPM’s Online Services as noted above.
FEGLI Fundamentals
FEGLI coverage
provides group term life insurance. Term insurance doesn’t build cash value or
paid-up value. It consists of Basic life insurance coverage with three options.
In most cases, if you are a new Federal employee, you are automatically covered
by Basic life insurance
and your payroll office deducts premiums from your paycheck unless you waive
the coverage. In addition to the Basic, there are three forms of Optional
insurance you can elect. You must have Basic insurance in order to elect any of
the options. Unlike Basic, enrollment in Optional insurance is not automatic —
you must take action to elect the options.
Accidental Death and Dismemberment (AD&D) Benefits
AD&D coverage is an automatic part of Basic and Option A
insurance for employees at no additional cost. Complete details of this coverage
begin on page 35 of the FEGLI Handbook.
There is no AD&D coverage:
With Options B and C;
For annuitants or persons insured as
compensationers; and
During the 31-day extension following
termination of coverage.
Accidental death benefits are paid to your beneficiaries;
accidental dismemberment benefits are paid to you, the insured.
Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) benefits are
payable when you sustain bodily injury solely through violent, external, and
accidental means, and as a direct result of the bodily injury, independently of
all other causes, and within one year afterwards, you lose your life, limb
(hand or foot), or eyesight.
Loss of hand means loss by severance at or above
the wrist joint, or equivalent loss, as determined by OFEGLI.
Loss of foot means loss by severance at or above
the ankle joint, or equivalent loss, as determined by OFEGLI.
Loss of eyesight means total and permanent
absence of any usable vision in one eye.
Accidental Cost Benefits
Accidental death benefits, if payable, are payable in
addition to “regular” FEGLI benefits. Under Basic insurance, accidental death benefits are equal to your
Basic Insurance Amount (BIA), but without the age multiplication factor. These benefits are payable in addition to
your Basic insurance and any Optional insurance payable.
Under Basic insurance, accidental
dismemberment benefits for the loss of one hand, one foot, or eyesight in
one eye are equal to one-half of your BIA.
For the loss of two or more of these in the same accident, benefits are
equal to your full BIA.
Note: Total AD&D benefits for a single accident, no matter how
many losses occur, cannot be more than your full BIA.
Extra Benefit/Age Multiplication Factor
If you are under age 45 and covered under Basic insurance,
you automatically have extra coverage without paying additional premium. This Extra Benefit increases the amount of Basic
insurance payable at the time of your death, if you die before age 45.
To determine the amount of the Extra Benefit, multiply your Basic Insurance Amount (BIA) by the appropriate age multiplication factor as follows:
Living Benefits
Living benefits are life insurance benefits paid to you
while you are still living, rather than paid to a beneficiary or survivor when
you die. You can elect a living benefit
if you are diagnosed as terminally ill with a life expectancy of nine months or
less, and you have not assigned your insurance.
If you are physically or mentally incapable of electing living benefits,
an individual having power of attorney can apply for living benefits on your
behalf.
Only Basic insurance is available for a living benefit. Optional insurance cannot be paid as a living
benefit. If you are an employee, you can
elect either a full living benefit (all of your Basic insurance) or a partial
living benefit (expressed as a multiple of $1,000). Annuitants and compensationers can elect only
a full living benefit.
Life Event Changes
for Employees
FEGLI life events are:
Marriage
Divorce
Death of a spouse and
Acquiring an eligible child
If an employee has a life
event under FEGLI, he/she may elect Basic insurance and any and all
Optional insurance coverage, including up to the maximum number of multiples of
Option B and/or Option C coverage. For the FEHB program there are more
situations where life
events permit changes to your health care coverage between open seasons. There
are time limits for these changes that you must adhere to or lose the opportunity
to make the changes you desire.
The time limit for making a FEGLI life event election is 60
days after the date of the qualifying event.
You must file the election with your employing office using the Life
Insurance Election (SF 2817-or is electronic equivalent) along with proof of
the event.
You can either file the election before the event, to be
followed up with the necessary proof within 60 days after the event has taken
place, or you can file the election and provide the necessary proof no later
than 60 days after the date of the event.
Annuitants also can take advantage of certain life events. Life events covered include you move, divorce, marry, have a baby, step-child, or foster child, your child reaches age 26, you reach age 65, your spouse dies, your former spouse dies or remarries before age 55, your child dies, you can’t handle your own money, or when you die Review OPM’s “Life Events and Your Retirement and Insurance Benefits (For Annuitants).”Generally, annuitants can only decrease their FEGLI benefits
after retiring.
Here are a series of articles about FEGLI coverage that you may find helpful:
Disclaimer:Opinions expressed herein by the author are not an investment or benefit recommendation and are not meant to be relied upon in investment or benefit decisions. The author is not acting in an investment, tax, legal, benefit, or any other advisory capacity. This is not an investment or benefit research report. The author’s opinions expressed herein address only select aspects of various federal benefits and potential investment in securities of the TSP and companies mentioned and cannot be a substitute for comprehensive investment analysis. Any analysis presented herein is illustrative in nature, limited in scope, based on an incomplete set of information, and has limitations to its accuracy. The author recommends that retirees, potential and existing investors conduct thorough investment and benefit research of their own, including detailed review of OPM guidance for benefit issues and for investments the companies’ SEC filings, and consult a qualified investment adviser. The information upon which this material is based was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but has not been independently verified. Therefore, the author cannot guarantee its accuracy. Any opinions or estimates constitute the author’s best judgment as of the date of publication, and are subject to change without notice. The author explicitly disclaims any liability that may arise from the use of this material.
The TSP currently requires that you make a full withdrawal election after you turn 70½ if you haven’t initiated any of the withdrawal options and have separated from federal service. If you fail to do that, the TSP initiates an account “abandonment” process. Fortunately, the new law passed in late 2017 establishes more flexible withdrawal options and does away with this requirement. You won’t be required to make a full withdrawal election when the new law is implemented in September of 2019. You will be required to take a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) starting at age 70 ½.
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
Under the new rules, when implemented, you can satisfy the RMD
requirement by taking a partial withdrawal or installment payments. If you take
no action or just don’t withdraw enough to meet your RMD, the TSP will
automatically send you the remaining RMD amount.
If your account has already been abandoned, you’ll be able
to restore the account without making a full withdrawal election. Your restored
balance can remain in the plan (subject to RMDs) with all the new withdrawal options
available.
These changes are good news for everyone and especially for retirees
that wish to keep their funds in the TSP when they reach age 70 ½. The new
withdrawal options fall into the following categories:
Multiple age-based (for those 59½ or older) in service
and post-separation partial withdrawals will be allowed.
You’ll be able to choose whether your withdrawal
should come from your Roth balance, your traditional balance, or a proportional
mix of both.
You will no longer be required to make a full
withdrawal election after you turn 70½ and are separated. (You will still need
to receive IRS required minimum distributions (RMDs).
If you’re a separated participant, in addition
to the option of monthly payments, you’ll be able to choose quarterly or annual
payments, and you’ll be able stop, start, or make changes to your installment
payments at any time.
Many, like myself, that will soon turn 70 or have recently
reached that milestone need to know what steps to take to remain in the TSP
when the deadline for withdrawing our account arrives.
I talked with Rob, a customer service representative at the
TSP. He advised me that the rules will change this September as reported to accommodate
RMD distributions. If you will be age 70 ½ this year and do nothing, the TSP
will automatically send out your first RMD next March for 2019. For all
subsequent years your RMD will be sent to you in December. If you do nothing this year and let the TSP
send you the automatic payment next March you will receive two RMDs in 2020,
one in March for your 2019 RMD and the second will arrive in December for 2020.
This could increase your income sufficiently to cause your Medicare Part B premiums
to increase.
To avoid receiving two payments in
one year, you can take a partial withdrawal this year for the amount of your RMD
using their TSP 77 form.
This form can be filled out online, just
sign on to your TSP account and search for this form. You can also request a copy
by calling the TSP at 1-877-968-3778. Rob assured me that the partial withdrawal
would be counted as your first RMD and the TSP won’t send a duplicate payment
in March. They will automatically send your next RMD in December of 2020, and
each year thereafter.
If you withdraw an insufficient
amount from your TSP account to cover your RMD the penalties are severe, 50% of
the shortfall plus the income tax owed. You will also have to add your
distribution to your federal tax return and pay taxes on them. Your
RMD distribution is taxed as ordinary income. To
determine the amount of your RMD according to Kiplinger’s, “divide your year-end account balance from the previous year by
the IRS life-expectancy factor based on your birthday in your current
year.” Use the tables in IRS Publication
590-B to determine your life-expectancy
factor. Kiplinger’s also has an online 2019
RMD calculator that you can
use. I called the TSP and had them
calculate my RMD to determine how much I needed to request for my partial
withdrawal.
A word of caution for those who have Medicare B coverage, your
Modified
Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI), may increase as reported on your IRS
tax return. You may have to pay the standard Medicare B premium amount and an Income
Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA). This extra charge is
added to your Medicare Part B premium based on your income. Another factor
kicks in for those who decided to hold off collecting their Social Security until
age 70. The added Social Security income
along with the RMD distribution can easily increase your Medicare
part B premium significantly.
The main advantages of the TSP system are their extremely low managements fees, averaging $0.40 per $1,000 invested in 2018 or .04%. It would be difficult finding funds outside of the TSP paying fees this low, however some index funds are close to this figure today. Expense ratios may also be expressed in basis points. One basis point is 1/100th of one percent, or .01%. Therefore, the 2018 TSP net expense ratio of .04 % is 4.0 basis points.
You also have the advantage of investing in their diversified portfolio of funds including one that is guaranteed to never decrease in value, the Government Securities Investment (G Fund). The G Fund offers the opportunity to earn rates of interest similar to those of U.S. government notes and bonds but without any risk of loss of principal and very little volatility of earnings.
The G Fund’s investment objective is to produce a rate of
return that is higher than inflation while avoiding exposure to credit
(default) risk and market price fluctuations. It is one of the only funds that
is guaranteed to never decrease in value. The G Fund interest rate calculation
is based on the weighted average yield of all outstanding Treasury notes and
bonds with 4 or more years to maturity. As a result, participants who invest in
the G Fund are rewarded with a long-term rate on what is essentially a short-term
security. Generally, long-term interest rates are higher than short-term rates.
Before leaving the TSP evaluate your options. Here is a list of articles and resources that you may find helpful when considering leaving the Thrift Savings Plan.
Disclaimer:Opinions expressed herein by the author are not an investment or benefit recommendation and are not meant to be relied upon in investment or benefit decisions. The author is not acting in an investment, tax, legal, benefit, or any other advisory capacity. This is not an investment or benefit research report. The author’s opinions expressed herein address only select aspects of various federal benefits and potential investment in securities of the TSP and companies mentioned and cannot be a substitute for comprehensive investment analysis. Any analysis presented herein is illustrative in nature, limited in scope, based on an incomplete set of information, and has limitations to its accuracy. The author recommends that retirees, potential and existing investors conduct thorough investment and benefit research of their own, including detailed review of OPM guidance for benefit issues and for investments the companies’ SEC filings, and consult a qualified investment adviser. The information upon which this material is based was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but has not been independently verified. Therefore, the author cannot guarantee its accuracy. Any opinions or estimates constitute the author’s best judgment as of the date of publication, and are subject to change without notice. The author explicitly disclaims any liability that may arise from the use of this material.
The President signed a spending bill fully funding the federal government through September of this year. The bill authorized a 1.9% pay raise for federal employees. It will take time for all of the agencies to load the updated tables into their system and we will post the new 2019 pay tables as soon as OPM releases them. As of February 24th, the new pay tables were not yet available on OPM’s website. Fortunately, the raise will be retroactive back to the first full pay period of 2019. All will get a larger check with the backpay included soon.
With the longest government shutdown in history behind us it
is a good time to establish an account for exigencies that may arise in the
future. We just went through a painful shutdown that impacted hundreds of
thousands of federal employees. Many were not prepared and didn’t have the
reserves they needed to make ends meet for an extended period. It’s a good time
to evaluate
where you are financially to prepare for the next emergency in your life.
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
This should be a wakeup call to all federal employees to establish
emergency savings if they haven’t already. Now is an excellent time
to begin. With the new raise and a lump sum back payment coming, either add to
your existing savings or start an emergency account now.
Many feel they can’t save, they live paycheck to paycheck. There are ways to make it painless. Since a raise is on the way, retroactive to the beginning of the year, start an emergency account with the retroactive increase. Then, grow your account by setting up an allotment to your local credit union or bank for half of the 1.9% increase each pay. Those who already have a savings account, increase your allotment by at least half of your scheduled increase. You will still see more in your paycheck and at the same time your savings will grow each and every pay.
If you are within 10 years of retirement, I suggest
increasing your savings allotment to as much as the full amount of you increase
each year. When I retired my take home pay was the same as it was 10 years
prior and conversely my credit union account grew substantially. You can use
this technique to pay off your mortgage before retirement or to simply feather
your retirement nest egg.
Another option is to open a Treasury Direct account and send an allotment each pay to purchase Savings bonds. I Bonds are inflation adjusted and currently paying 2.83%. EE Bonds are paying .10%, however, if you hold EE Bonds for 20 years, the Treasury guarantees the bonds will double earning and effective rate of 3%.
I believe I Bonds are a better option for those approaching retirement and for anyone else that may need to cash in their bonds in less than 20 years. Also, inflation has been low for the past 10 years and interest rates are still rising. The interest earned on your bonds are tax deferred. You don’t have to pay income tax on the interest earned until you cash them in. You will have to set up a Treasury Direct account before your first purchase.
There is a downside to EE and I Bonds, you can’t cash them in for one year after the purchase. Any bonds puchased in the previous 12 months can’t immediately be turned into cash.
Thankfully, the raise has come and now it’s up to you to prepare for the inevitable down the road. There will always be times in our lives when we well need to fall back on our savings.
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
Helpful Retirement Planning Tools / Resources
Distribute these FREE tools to others that are planning their retirement
Disclaimer:Opinions expressed herein by the author are not an investment or benefit recommendation and are not meant to be relied upon in investment or benefit decisions. The author is not acting in an investment, tax, legal, benefit, or any other advisory capacity. This is not an investment or benefit research report. The author’s opinions expressed herein address only select aspects of various federal benefits and potential investment in securities of the TSP and companies mentioned and cannot be a substitute for comprehensive investment analysis. Any analysis presented herein is illustrative in nature, limited in scope, based on an incomplete set of information, and has limitations to its accuracy. The author recommends that retirees, potential and existing investors conduct thorough investment and benefit research of their own, including detailed review of OPM guidance for benefit issues and for investments the companies’ SEC filings, and consult a qualified investment adviser. The information upon which this material is based was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but has not been independently verified. Therefore, the author cannot guarantee its accuracy. Any opinions or estimates constitute the author’s best judgment as of the date of publication, and are subject to change without notice. The author explicitly disclaims any liability that may arise from the use of this material.
Many retirees dream of a home away from home. The thought of having a place to escape to in the winter months, or during the summer for sun lovers, is enticing on many levels. Others consider a mobile home to explore this vast county in style and to visit the many attractions they heard so much about growing up.
Northern cold climate retirees, snow birds, are either relocating to or buying second homes in the south in large numbers, some going as far as Central America to escape their frozen environs. If you are thinking about a second home there are many factors to consider, both pro and con, before signing on the dotted line.
Things to Consider
When Buying A Vacation Home
1) Does your Home Owners Association (HOA) allow short term
rentals?
Before buying a vacation property determine if the complex
allows short term rentals. Short term rentals can create issues for fulltime
and vacation home owners that don’t rent their property.
There can be a constant flow of new people coming and going from
rental units. Some plans restrict rentals
to 6 month or longer, which is ideal for those not wanting to deal with short
term rental turnover. If you are
considering a vacation condo, townhome or patio home, and don’t want to rent
your property when you aren’t there, find a complex that restricts short term
rentals.
2) What are the costs of ownership?
Another consideration is the expense, can you afford the upkeep, utilities, taxes, and common charges. When a new plan opens the builders may have kept the common charges (HOA fees) low to attract buyers. Once the complex sells out, the common charges can increase. Typically, you must pay common charges of several hundred dollars monthly to cover everything but your electric, insurance, Internet, and taxes. When you add all costs, even without a mortgage, your monthly expenses can easily reach $500 or more monthly. Discuss all of your costs with the realtor and talk with the tax office to verify their estimates.
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
3)What is your real
estate tax liability for non-resident property owners?
Taxes for those
residing out of state are often considerably higher than permanent
residents. In some states a non-resident owner can pay up to three times more
than what a permanent resident pays for real estate taxes. The taxes are often far
less than what many would have to pay up north, yet it seems unfair to penalize
vacation home owners when they are only using the services at that location
part time. If you rent your vacation property the state and city may add
additional taxes including a personal property tax and a higher rate depending
on the property classification.
4) Consider noise in condo and attached properties.
Noise can be a
problem, especially when you have short term rentals in your development.
Many large complexes have a security service that you call to address
inappropriate behavior and excessive noise. The owner of the unit above could install hardwood
floors that often magnify foot traffic. If you are concerned about noise it may
be best to purchase a top floor unit to reduce your exposure from the noise above.
That being said, noise from adjacent units and those below can also be a problem.
5) Are you considering renting your unit?
Many buy vacation homes with the thought of paying part of
the mortgage and expenses by renting their property through a property
management firm. This can make it more affordable for the buyer. However, the
buyer must be aware of rental pitfalls. Rental units often get abused by
renters and the owner must pay for the repairs and upkeep even though some
costs can be recovered from the negligent party. Also, the property management fees can be
excessive and your share shrinks as expenses rise.
Another consideration is that once you rent a property, often
the city and state taxes increase because it is now an income property. With a
rental property, you may have to pay personal property taxes and your
Assessment Ration (RTO) can more than double your assessed value. In South
Carolina your RTO ranges from 4 to 10.5% which means your property value is
multiplied by these percentages to determine your assessed value for tax
purposes.
6) Is the trip to your home away from home sustainable?
Travel to and from your vacation home takes planning,
coordination, and time. Ideally, its beneficial if it is close enough to just
get up and go anytime you feel the urge to get away. If the property is over 5
or 6 hours away the trip can become tedious and dangerous, especially in winter
weather. Ideally, the shorter the drive time the better and less stressful the
journey.
If you fly that is another story and flying adds other
factors to consider such as car rentals, etc. Consider the trip length before buying. Even
though you may be able and willing to do it now, as we age travel becomes more
of a problem. Can you sit for extended periods, do you like or can you at least
tolerate the trip several times or more each and every year? The further away the more hesitant you are to
make the trip.
7) Environmental concerns.
Those living up north are often unaware of the heat,
humidity, and pest control issues when owning a southern property. Many first-time
vacation home buyers turn up the AC to 80 in the summer and leave it at 50
degrees in the winter when returning home to reduce their vacation property utility
costs. This leads to other problems. Keeping it at those extremes can cause mold
and mildew problems.
You can install a NEST thermostat in your vacation home and adjust
the HVAC system temperature remotely from your cell phone. If you can’t adjust your HVAC remotely you
have to have someone in the area to do it for you, either a neighbor or
handyman. You can also install a video monitor at your condo if you are concerned
about security issues and access. Many condos and townhome complexes include internet,
cable, and Wi-Fi in the monthly common charges.
Most condo common charges include pest control and they treat
the units on a set schedule that varies per location. If you leave a home for
extended periods down south bugs become an issue, even with treatments expect the
unexpected at times.
8) Are you comfortable with vacationing at the same place every
year?
Once you buy a vacation home you’re obligated to visit often.
There are maintenance issues such as regularly changing the HVAC air filters,
pest control, general cleanup and maintenance that you have with all properties
you own. In many cases, a second home is just that, a home away from home, not
a vacation destination. A lot of vacation home owners maintain a daily routine
just like at their primary residence. It is an escape from the winter doldrums for
snow birds and just a comfortable place that they enjoy getting away to.
There are many things to consider before buying a vacation
home. I suggest making a list of pros and cons and perform a detailed
budget analysis to determine if it’s affordable and makes sense for you and
your family. Yes, it is nice to have a place to escape to, however without a
complete evaluation and review you may regret your decision.
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
Helpful Retirement Planning Tools / Resources
Distribute these FREE tools to others that are planning their retirement
Disclaimer:Opinions expressed herein by the author are not an investment or benefit recommendation and are not meant to be relied upon in investment or benefit decisions. The author is not acting in an investment, tax, legal, benefit, or any other advisory capacity. This is not an investment or benefit research report. The author’s opinions expressed herein address only select aspects of various federal benefits and potential investment in securities of the TSP and companies mentioned and cannot be a substitute for comprehensive investment analysis. Any analysis presented herein is illustrative in nature, limited in scope, based on an incomplete set of information, and has limitations to its accuracy. The author recommends that retirees, potential and existing investors conduct thorough investment and benefit research of their own, including detailed review of OPM guidance for benefit issues and for investments the companies’ SEC filings, and consult a qualified investment adviser. The information upon which this material is based was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but has not been independently verified. Therefore, the author cannot guarantee its accuracy. Any opinions or estimates constitute the author’s best judgment as of the date of publication, and are subject to change without notice. The author explicitly disclaims any liability that may arise from the use of this material.
I received my TSP 2018 Annual Statement this week and there was a short announcement about the Lifecycle (L) Fund changes on the backside of the Highlights sheet. The statement includes your total contributions, projected lifetime monthly annuity amount, fund and account performance statistics and more.
The TSP has begun adjusting the L Fund allocations differently with the intention of improving investment outcomes. Effective in January 2019 the L Funds will increase exposure to international stocks (the I Fund) from 30% to 35% of the overall stock allocation. Vanguard suggests, “To get the full diversification benefits, we recommend that you consider investing about 40% of your stock allocation in international stocks and about 30% of your bond allocation in international bonds.”
Furthermore, the L 2030, L 2040, and L 2050 overall stock allocations will hold steady for a period of years before resuming their transitions from stocks to bonds. In addition to improving investment outcomes, this pause is intended to align the L 2030, L 2040, and L 2050 Funds with the L 2060 Fund, which will be introduced in 2020 with an initial stock allocation of 99%. You can track the quarterly allocation changes on the TSP site.
Many retirees move to the L Income Fund to keep up with inflation with less risk. The L Income Fund stock allocation (C, S, and I Funds combined) will increase from 20% to 30% over a period of up to 10 years with a greater emphasis on international stock exposure. A financial adviser can recommend fund allocations that would best suit your personal situation.
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
The L Income Fund’s allocations prior to this change were 74% G, 6% F, 11.20% C, 2.8% S, and 6% I. This mix provided an 80% bond to 20% stock ratio. The L Income Fund allocations were fixed at these levels until the January 2019 change.
The shift started in January of 2019, the total bonds from the G and F fund decreasing below 80% and gradually move to 70% by 2028 as shown in the above chart. This move increased the stock funds to a total of 30% of fund assets.
Fund performance figures for the previous 12 months are
listed in the TSP chart presented below. The only funds that increased in value
were the L Income, L 2020, G and F funds. The G fund was the best performer
during this period with a 2.94% gain followed by the F Fund with 2.39%. The L
Income had a 1.44% gain followed by a .32% gain in the L 2020 fund. All others
lost from 1.89% for the L 2030 Fund to a high of 12.11% for the International I
Fund.
There are more TSP changes coming, including new withdrawal options and a major website makeover later this year. Many new employees along with uniformed service members that elected the new Blended Retirement System (BRS) are participating in the program this year. We will keep you informed of these changes as they are implemented. This is a good time to assess your TSP allocations and contributions. If you are invested in the L Life Cycle Funds review how the new allocations will impact your investments.
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
Helpful Retirement Planning Tools / Resources
Distribute these FREE tools to others that are planning their retirement
Disclaimer:Opinions expressed herein by the author are not an investment or benefit recommendation and are not meant to be relied upon in investment or benefit decisions. The author is not acting in an investment, tax, legal, benefit, or any other advisory capacity. This is not an investment or benefit research report. The author’s opinions expressed herein address only select aspects of various federal benefits and potential investment in securities of the TSP and companies mentioned and cannot be a substitute for comprehensive investment analysis. Any analysis presented herein is illustrative in nature, limited in scope, based on an incomplete set of information, and has limitations to its accuracy. The author recommends that retirees, potential and existing investors conduct thorough investment and benefit research of their own, including detailed review of OPM guidance for benefit issues and for investments the companies’ SEC filings, and consult a qualified investment adviser. The information upon which this material is based was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but has not been independently verified. Therefore, the author cannot guarantee its accuracy. Any opinions or estimates constitute the author’s best judgment as of the date of publication, and are subject to change without notice. The author explicitly disclaims any liability that may arise from the use of this material.
I received several emails from federal workers that quit because of the shutdown! They asked how to cash in their FERS retirement. Recently, the Washington Post published an article about federal employee’s facing the decision to “Stay or Quit.“
Certainly, new hires and those with only a few years federal employment were struggling, and I understand that. Many others are living paycheck to paycheck. However, I recommend thinking twice before taking an action you may regret down the road, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. Most federal credit unions offered no or low-cost bridge loans, waived monthly payments, and many financial institutions and companies offered some form of assistance. You just had to ask.
Request a Federal Retirement Report today to review your projected Annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
Federal employees have the best of both worlds. We’re furloughed and still eventually get paid. Laid off workers in the private sector apply for unemployment compensation and receive a fraction of what they were earning while employed. Federal benefits are among the best available anywhere. We have generous vacation and sick leave options, excellent pensions and TSP (401K) retirement plans, low cost insurance policies, and many health care plans to choose from. Federal employment is secure, for the most part, and employees often have careers that last a lifetime. Mine did.
My brother worked in the private sector for 45 years, was
laid off and had to start over a half dozen times or more. He worked for major
corporation; US Steel, H. J. Heinz, the Horne’s Department Store, Murphy’s, the
Burlington Coat Factory, and many others that simply downsized or shut down.
They left him high and dry, and in most cases without a pension. He had to relocate
twice and both times those companies downsized. This is not unusual in the
private sector. When he was laid off, he subsisted on unemployment compensation
until he found a new job. That’s reality on the other side. Sure, there are great
private sector jobs too, finding one may not be so easy
Because federal employment is considered secure, many don’t take the precautions they should to prepare for emergencies, such as a shutdown. I often discuss ways to economize and save not only for retirement but for life’s uncertainties. Everyone should have a safety net, 3 months of expenses for times like this stashed in a savings account plus other reserves the closer you get to retirement. When I talk to groups and mention this, many say they simply can’t save, they live pay check to paycheck. I tell them it’s possible and you have options to make it painless. You just have to do it, start small and grow your savings over time.
Here is a list of articles and other resources that you may
find helpful to save for a rainy day:
Another shutdown may be coming soon, if the parties can’t agree on border security. Don’t get frustrated, call your representative and tell them to negotiate in good faith. Unfortunately, our representatives spend more time raising money for their next campaign than they do representing their constituents.
Request a Federal Retirement Report™ today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
Helpful Retirement Planning Tools / Resources
Distribute these FREE tools to others that are planning their retirement
Disclaimer:Opinions expressed herein by the author are not an investment or benefit recommendation and are not meant to be relied upon in investment or benefit decisions. The author is not acting in an investment, tax, legal, benefit, or any other advisory capacity. This is not an investment or benefit research report. The author’s opinions expressed herein address only select aspects of various federal benefits and potential investment in securities of the TSP and companies mentioned and cannot be a substitute for comprehensive investment analysis. Any analysis presented herein is illustrative in nature, limited in scope, based on an incomplete set of information, and has limitations to its accuracy. The author recommends that retirees, potential and existing investors conduct thorough investment and benefit research of their own, including detailed review of OPM guidance for benefit issues and for investments the companies’ SEC filings, and consult a qualified investment adviser. The information upon which this material is based was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but has not been independently verified. Therefore, the author cannot guarantee its accuracy. Any opinions or estimates constitute the author’s best judgment as of the date of publication, and are subject to change without notice. The author explicitly disclaims any liability that may arise from the use of this material.
Normally, federal annuitants don’t received their 1099R Tax Forms by regular mail until the end of January or the beginning of February. If you are registered to use OPM’s Retirement Services Website your 1099R is now available for download. I visited the site on January 16, 2019 and was able to download my copy that I will use for my 2018 tax return.
Complete Your 2018 Taxes Early
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
To get a head start on your taxes visit OPM’s web site and download a copy. You must be registered to use the site. If you aren’t registered read the article titled “Connect to OPM’s Online Services” to understand the registration process and sign up. It doesn’t take long, however, you may have to wait for your password to be sent via regular US mail and that can take several weeks.
Many bank and brokerage 1099 and DIV reports are also available online and can be downloaded from your accounts. This can expedite the completion of your tax return. The government shutdown may slow things down this year since the IRS will not process paper tax returns until after the shutdown is over. However, the postal service will still post mark your paper filed return. Any tax return postmarked by the due date will be considered filed on time by the IRS. Even if the shutdown is ended soon processing delays can be expected.
I’ve personally used Turbotax software since they first issued this helpful software package. It’s intuitive and walks you through the entire process, double checks your work, and they allow you to file online. This software can also download and integrate your brokerage accounts into your tax return, saving you much time.
Take advantage of OPM’s early 1099R online availability if you wish to file early or simply need to replace a lost 1099R.
Request a Federal Retirement Report™today to review your projected annuity payments, income verses expenses, FEGLI, and TSP projections.
Helpful Retirement Planning Tools / Resources
Distribute these FREE tools to others that are planning their retirement
Disclaimer:Opinions expressed herein by the author are not an investment or benefit recommendation and are not meant to be relied upon in investment or benefit decisions. The author is not acting in an investment, tax, legal, benefit, or any other advisory capacity. This is not an investment or benefit research report. The author’s opinions expressed herein address only select aspects of various federal benefits and potential investment in securities of the TSP and companies mentioned and cannot be a substitute for comprehensive investment analysis. Any analysis presented herein is illustrative in nature, limited in scope, based on an incomplete set of information, and has limitations to its accuracy. The author recommends that retirees, potential and existing investors conduct thorough investment and benefit research of their own, including detailed review of OPM guidance for benefit issues and for investments the companies’ SEC filings, and consult a qualified investment adviser. The information upon which this material is based was obtained from sources believed to be reliable, but has not been independently verified. Therefore, the author cannot guarantee its accuracy. Any opinions or estimates constitute the author’s best judgment as of the date of publication, and are subject to change without notice. The author explicitly disclaims any liability that may arise from the use of this material.
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