Posted on Friday, 29th October 2010 by Dennis Damp

Please Forward This Email to Others That Would Benefit From This Information

Retire Mortgage FREE

Here is a viable plan for retiring mortgage free. The TSP recently reported their 2011 Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contribution limits. The limits will be unchanged for 2011 and remain at $16,500 and an additional $5,500 for the catch-up contributions for anyone over 50. Employees approaching retirement over age 50 should try to max out their contributions if possible to improve their retirement savings. This is especially important for CSRS employees that don’t receive an employer match.

Most will have to learn to live on less in retirement, a fact of life these days. And one way to become accustomed to less income is to start putting away more when you are still working into your TSP account. Starting about ten years prior to retirement I saved all annual pay increases by increasing my allotment to the TSP, Credit Union, and through savings bond deductions. When I retired, my take home pay was the same amount it was in 1995, ten years before I retired. When I turned age 50 I contributed the maximum allowed at the time to my TSP through catch-up contributions and when I did retire my monthly annuity check was larger than what I was taking home when I was working full time. The bonus was that I had a lot more savings because of how I invested my TSP and saved my annual pay increases. I actually started this process much earlier. Around 1990 I started putting away half of my annual pay increase so I worked my way slowing into the process.

The additional catch-up contributions will help you become accustom to working with less income. Most will earn less in retirement and this action can help you in other ways as well. An employee could also pay off their mortgage by applying their annual pay increases to the mortgage and retire mortgage free or have enough additional money in their Thrift Plan that at retirement they could take out a one-time withdrawal and pay off their mortgage. Planning is the key and when you learn to live on less and the money is out-of-sight and out-of-mind you won’t miss it.

Review other ways to save and economize in retirement.

Retirement Contact List Update

A number of visitors ask us to provide a downloadable file for our Master Retiree Contact List so they could place a copy with their retirement paperwork and to forward to others who need this information. We updated the contact list and converted it to a PDF file for your use and feel free to forward it to others that need this information.

We receive calls from annuitants and survivors alike that often have no idea who to contact and this list will help if the retiree keeps it close at hand and places it with their retirement paperwork and in their estate plans. Additional resources were added with informative links to other critical information for those planning their retirement including the Best Date to Retire, and what you need to do starting a year before you retire.

Caution – Use or Lose Date Issue

Feds are allowed to carry over 240 hours of annual leave and in the last year of employment many don’t take leave and accumulate an additional 208 hours that would have been earned their last year of employment. This 448 hours of leave is sold back when you retire as long as you leave before the use or loose annual leave date. This date changes every year.

The advantage is that you can sell this back and collect almost 3 months’ salary the first year you are retired. This year you have to retire by the end of pay period 26, Saturday, January 1, 2011, this year’s annual leave use or lose date. Usually it is sometime in early January. Here is a list of use or lose dates out to the year 2020 that is available from OPM. Check with your agency to insure they aren’t using a different calendar.

This is the date when employees lose annual leave over 240 hours.  If someone retires or resigns before this date, it is all paid out. So if the use or lose date is January 1st, then the leave would stay on the books until the 1st.  Everything over 240 drops off the books on the next day.

Generally it is advantageous to retire under CSRS on the 30th, 31st, 1st, 2nd, or 3rd, to minimize your days without income. With FERS by the 30th or 31st.  However this year the use or lose date is prior to the 3rd, so most people will retire at the end of December… unless they have less than 240 hours of annual leave. You will find several articles on The Best Day to Retire on our site. Don’t confuse your date of final separation that you enter in Section B2 on your retirement application form with your retirement effective date .

UPDATES

• Adding a child under Age 26 to Your FEHB Account – There are some misconceptions surrounding this issue.  You can add a child under age 26 to your FEHB coverage now however it won’t take effect until the New Year. All you have to do is call your health care provider and they can add your under age 26 children to your policy. There coverage will start in 2011.  I have Blue Cross Blue Shield and called their toll free number at 1-800-779-6945 to confirm this information.  You don’t have to wait until open season to add a child; it just won’t be effective until 2011. For more information on Open Season visit our FEHB page.

• FEHB Plan Premium Increases for 2011 – The average increase is reported to be 7.2% however my plan costs increased 12%! The health care legislation was sold as a way to REDUCE our costs and just the opposite is happening. Insurers must now provide coverage for children under age 26 and other onerous regulations were implemented that is driving up costs. A number of major corporations like McDonalds were granted waivers so they would not have to cancel health care coverage for their employees. You will find the Health Care Reform article listed in the next entry informative.

• W2 Changes Coming Your Way – There is an email message going around reporting that in 2011 our W2 forms will include as taxable income the value of the health care benefit paid by employers and in our case Uncle Sam. The new health care legislation does require employers to report their contributions on W2s starting in 2011. However, the health care benefits will not be considered as taxable income and there was a one year delay issued. Employers can add this information voluntarily earlier if they desire. There is a good article on this subject titled Health Care Reform: 13 Tax Changes on the Way that you may find interesting.  There is a lot of misinformation floating around and much of it is due to the fact that few of our representatives actually read and understood the new 2200 page health care legislation before they passed the law.

• Election Day – November 2, 2011. Exercise your right and vote this November. Stop either on the way to or after work to vote November 2^nd.

Learn more about your benefits, employment, and financial planning issues on our site and visit our Blog frequently at https://fedretire.net to read all forum articles.

Visit our other informative sites

• http://federaljobs.net (Federal Career & Job Center)
• http://federalretirement.net (FREE Retirement Planning Guide)
• http://federalretirement.net/jobs.htm (Retiree Job Opportunities)
• https://fedretire.net (Retiree BLOG)
• http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
• http://postalwork.net (Postal Career Center)
• http://searchfedjobs.com (Job Search – All Sectors)
• http://ehsjobs.org (Environmental Health & Safety Job Center)
• http://stolenplates.com (What to do if this happens to you)
• Educational Opportunities (Find educational opportunities in your area)

The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, and financial information is subject to change. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact your benefits coordinator and ask them to review your official personnel file and circumstances concerning this issue. Retirees can contact the OPM retirement center. Our articles are not intended nor should they be considered investment advice. Our reply is time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change.

Posted in ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY, BENEFITS / INSURANCE, FINANCE / TIP, RETIREMENT CONCERNS

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Posted on Thursday, 21st October 2010 by Dennis Damp

TSP Taxes & the 10% Early Withdrawal Penalty, Updates, and the ELECTION!

TSP Taxes and the 10% Early Withdrawal Penalty

Yes, death and taxes are two things we can’t avoid no matter how hard we try. Taxes will increase dramatically if the President and Congress allow our current tax schedules to revert back to much higher rates. Taxes are a factor when withdrawing funds from your TSP or when you reach age 70 ½, the age you must start withdrawing funds from your account. The 10% early withdrawal penalty does not apply to payments after you separate from service during or after the year you reach age 55. Therefore, if you retire at age 55 or later you don’t pay the 10% penalty. There are other penalty exceptions for disability, annuity payments, death, and if your medical expenses exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income to mention several.

Contributions to the TSP are tax deferred. Essentially, you must pay federal income taxes on the amount withdrawn and that taxable amount is generally less in retirement for most because retirees typically earn less. The TSP is required to withhold income taxes from your payments unless you are allowed to request reduced or no withholding. IRS withholdings apply for eligible rollover distributions, periodic payments, and non-periodic payments. The TSP doesn’t withhold for state or local taxes and the recipient must pay these taxes if required.

A report prepared by the TSP clarifies the many tax issues that must be considered including how to transfer or roll over your TSP to a privately managed account. You will also find specific information on special circumstances for members of the uniformed services and an extensive Tax Treatment for TSP Payments spreadsheet that is very helpful. Visit http://federalretirement.net/tsp.htm for complete information on the TSP program including a link to the TSP’s Tax Treatment report.

Updates

• COLAs – COLAs will not be paid to annuitants in 2011, 2 years running now. Congress plans to propose a one-time payment of $250 per annuitant in the lame duck session. More to come.
• Retiree Job Postings – An administrator position is advertised to manage the federal trust funds for U.S territories. Review the updated job listings if you are seeking extra income or employment in retirement.
• 2010 Open Season Changes – Enrollee cost sharing for preventive care services has been eliminated. Incentives were added for tobacco cessation, and, in accordance with the Affordable Care Act, added coverage for dependents up to age 26. Premiums are increasing an average of 7.2% in 2011. Review the online Open Season guidance for more details and individual plan costs for your area.
• OPM Retirement Processing Delays – If you are retiring soon be aware that major delays are being reported for retirement paperwork processing. OPM is now taking from between 6 to 12 months in some cases to process retirement paperwork. One of our site visitors reported that they retired in May and still hasn’t received a full annuity check.  Incorporate this delay in the timeline we publish online that shows what to expect the first three months after your retire.  For those anticipating retirement review What should I be doing the year before I retire and The Best Date to Retire for additional guidance.
• CSRS – The legacy CSRS retirement system is slowly fading away. It’s hard to believe that just under 80% of all active federal employees are now covered under FERS.
• TSP ROTH conversions – There was an excellent article published in Kiplinger’s November issue tilted “7 Myths About Roth Conversions” that you will find interesting if you are exploring this option. I converted one of my retirement accounts to a ROTH this year to take advantage of tax free gains and no minimum withdrawal requirements at age 70 ½. For more information on converting all or a part of your TSP account to a ROTH review the guidelines at http://federalretirement.net/tsproth.htm.  One important fact to consider is that if you fund a ROTH you can’t touch the account for five years unless you are over age 59 ½. If you are over 59 ½ you can withdraw your initial ROTH funding without penalty. Only the gains would be subject to taxes within the first 5 years. The Kiplinger article describes this benefit in detail.

The Election

Wouldn’t it be nice if we all had our own printing press and when we needed money we could just turn it on and print out a stack of twenty dollar bills to get us by for another month. Better yet, just use a credit card that we only pay the interest amount each month with no spending limits. Sounds like a dream come true but it is happening today. Then, when the debt gets too big government simply increases the spending limit and does more of the same. Insanity can be defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result.

This county is addicted to debt! If you think about it, our government is running on empty and hoping someone else puts gas in the tank and right now that someone is China, Russia, and Japan who buy our debt each and every month. What happens when they stop buying or worse yet start selling their Treasury bonds?

I sincerely hope that most reading this article will get out and VOTE this November. Everyone I talk to these days gets a closing salvo; make sure you and yours vote this November. I’m doing my own personal intervention to get the vote out whenever I can. Both of my adult children moved last year and I called the local county office of voter registration to make sure they were properly registered at their new address and knew where to vote. It seems that many of the in-between years, 25 to 45, generation pay little attention to politics and only get involved when they realize things are changing a little too fast for comfort and to close to home.  This year’s election is one that everyone needs to be paying attention to for so many important reasons.

Regardless of which side of the political spectrum you reside, to the left or right of center, there is common ground that all American’s care deeply about. This country is at a major juncture.  How can we afford to stay this course and retain our independence, wealth, influence, and integrity?

Here are just a few interested facts. First, it was recently reported that over the past 12 months 46 cents of every dollar spent by government was BORROWED!  Much of our manufacturing base has moved overseas. Last month the last GE incandescent light bulb factory in America closed its doors in West Virginia and 200 workers lost their jobs. The new GREEN initiatives were promoted and passed with fanfare and our politicians proclaiming hundreds of thousands of new GREEN jobs would be created as a result of this action. What they didn’t tell us is that those jobs too would be overseas. The new CFL florescent bulbs are being manufactured in China along with Wind Turbines, solar collectors, and much more. With the unemployment rate at near 10% where was government’s plan to restore our economy?

Let your voice be heard this November and reach out to your children, family, and friends to make sure their voices are also heard. After the election it is our responsibility to hold our elected officials accountable.  VOTE November 2^nd.

Learn more about your benefits, employment, and financial planning issues on our site and visit our Blog frequently at https://fedretire.net to read all forum articles.

Visit our other informative sites

• http://federaljobs.net (Federal Career & Job Center)
• http://federalretirement.net (FREE Retirement Planning Guide)
• http://federalretirement.net/jobs.htm (Retiree Job Opportunities)
• https://fedretire.net (Retiree BLOG)
• http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
• http://postalwork.net (Postal Career Center)
• http://searchfedjobs.com (Job Search – All Sectors)
• http://ehsjobs.org (Environmental Health & Safety Job Center)
• http://stolenplates.com (What to do if this happens to you)
• Educational Opportunities (Find educational opportunities in your area)

The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, and financial information is subject to change. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact your benefits coordinator and ask them to review your official personnel file and circumstances concerning this issue. Retirees can contact the OPM retirement center. Our articles are not intended nor should they be considered investment advice. Our reply is time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change.”

Posted in UNCATEGORIZED

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Posted on Monday, 27th September 2010 by Dennis Damp

A soon to be retired fed contacted me last month about an estimate they received from their HR department with a grossly incorrect survivor benefit cost estimate. The employee was advised that a full survivor benefit for their spouse would reduce their monthly benefit by one third!  Incorrect high estimates like this can put the annuitant’s spouse in jeopardy. The employee was considering reducing the survivor benefit to the lowest amount possible to retain the health care family option. If you are considering retirement, read the cautionary note that I posted online about survivor annuities.

The cost for a full 55% survivor benefit for CSRS is just under 10% and the FERS 50% full survivor benefit is 10% of the gross annual annuity. If your annuity is $50,000 a year the cost for the full survivor benefit will be approximately $5,000 a year or $416 per month.  To calculate just what you will have to live on in retirement and to estimate federal taxes, your gross annuity, FEGLI costs, and expenses visit http://federalretirement.net/retirecosts.htm. I updated this page last month to include links to key calculators to help you determine actual costs for the free spreadsheet that you can use to calculate pre and post retirement income and expenses plus survivor income when the inevitable happens.

Retire Happy

Everyone desires a happy, healthy, and financially secure retirement.  Stan Hinden, former syndicated Washington Post “Retirement Journal” columnist’s new third edition of How to Retire Happy: The 12 Most Important Decisions You Must Make Before You Retire, helps anyone planning retirement to successfully plan their escape.  Several months after he retired in 1996 at age 69 he began writing a retirement column for the Post.  He relates his first hand experiences, successes and failures that we all can learn from. In Chapter One he describes three good reasons to retire; the time is right, you’ve got more compelling things to do, or your job is changing.  He helps the reader make informed decisions based on his and many other experts’s input.

His sage first hand advice helps readers turn their nest egg into income, fully understand Social Security and Medicare’s impact, investment strategies, determine if it is wise to buy a second home or relocate in retirement,  basic estate planning suggestions, cautions and alerts. In Chapter 12 he discusses how to age successfully and he equates retirement to a football game, “In any football game, the last quarter is often the most exciting.”

I learned much from this informative, well written and interesting book. First, it’s GREAT to be a federal retiree receiving an annuity with a cost of living increase most years! This is unheard of in the private sector and it provides feds with a little piece of mind when they leave.  His discussion on Medicare, especially Parts A and B coverage, was informative. Did you know that Part A coverage is free only if you or your spouse had 40 quarters or 10 years of work under Social Security?  This is significant for CSRS annuitants who worked in the federal sector their entire life and their spouse also has less than 40 quarters of Social Security time.  Stan relates the situation on page 135, “People with less than 40 quarters may still qualify for Part A but will have to pay a monthly premium. In 2010, people who have 30 to 39 quarters pay $254 a month. With fewer than 30 quarters, the cost is $461 a month!“ The amount you must pay for Part B is based on income! For 2010 the cost ranges from a low of $110.50 to as high as $353.60 per month, quite an increase.  Most would pay the lower rate if they made less than $85,000 a year for an individual taxpayer or $170,000 for a couple filing a joint account.

Saving a life – Maybe Your Own

A friend of mine sent me this link and information last month and I felt that I had to forward this on to everyone. I received official CPR training several times during my career and was certified for several years. It’s easy to forget the routine as I have over the years.

“Every three days, more Americans die from sudden cardiac arrest than the number who died in the 9-11 attacks. You can lessen this recurring loss by learning Continuous Chest Compression CPR, a hands-only CPR method that doubles a person’s chance of surviving cardiac arrest. It’s easy and does not require mouth-to-mouth contact, making it more likely bystanders will try to help, and it was developed at the University of Arizona College of Medicine.”

Forward this link to your adult children and have your spouse or significant other watch this video. The life saved just might be your own!

Video: http://medicine.arizona.edu/spotlight/learn-sarver-heart-centers-continuous-chest-compression-cpr

Updates:

• Several new jobs were posted on the retiree’s jobs page recently, including multiple part time jobs for customer care representatives with Marriott Corp.
• Several major updates were added to www.fedealretirement.net recently. We added links for life changes in retirement including divorce and marriage. We receive a number of questions from annuitants who remarry and wish to obtain a survivor’s benefit for their new spouse and others who unfortunately are seeking a divorce and wanting to know the impact on their annuities and benefits.
• The new health care coverage for adult children until they reach age 26 will be implemented for federal health care programs starting January 1, 2011.  This covers married children but not their spouses or children. To obtain this coverage contact your health care provider to add your eligible children to your plan.
• The TSP changed their beneficiary form and you must now use the new TSP-3 form to modify your current beneficiary election.  The uniformed military form TSP-U-3 is now obsolete and all must use the new form.
• On a personal note we were out-of-town this past Sunday and I missed the Steelers game, the best of the season so far! I thought I would be able to listen to one of the Pittsburgh radio stations on the internet but to my dismay they must block the NFL broadcasts from Internet services.

Learn more about your benefits, employment, and financial planning issues on our site and visit our Blog frequently at https://fedretire.net to read all forum articles.

Visit our other informative sites

• http://federaljobs.net (Federal Career & Job Center)
• http://federalretirement.net (FREE Retirement Planning Guide)
• http://federalretirement.net/jobs.htm (Retiree Job Opportunities)
• https://fedretire.net (Retiree BLOG)
• http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
• http://postalwork.net (Postal Career Center)
• http://searchfedjobs.com (Job Search – All Sectors)
• http://ehsjobs.org (Environmental Health & Safety Job Center)
• http://stolenplates.com (What to do if this happens to you)
• Educational Opportunities (Find educational opportunities in your area)

The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, and financial information is subject to change. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact your benefits coordinator and ask them to review your official personnel file and circumstances concerning this issue. Retirees can contact the OPM retirement center. Our articles are not intended nor should they be considered investment advice. Our reply is time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change.”

Posted in ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY, BENEFITS / INSURANCE, EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS, ESTATE PLANNING, FINANCE / TIP, LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL, RETIREMENT CONCERNS, SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE, SURVIVOR INFORMATION

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Posted on Wednesday, 15th September 2010 by Nancy Holston

What type of vacation does everyone (or almost everyone) agree on?

I can still remember the fun my brother and I had in the summer getting together at a lake cottage with our parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins.  We would swim during the day and play games in the evening while swatting bugs.  Catching lightning bugs at dusk was always fun.  This really isn’t a promotion for the movie Grown-ups but my family vacation memories date back to the 60s.  Lake vacations are still a great choice although the “cottages” of the 60s are now more likely to be huge homes with multiple levels and 5 or more bedrooms.  It’s a great time for catching up, having fun on the water and creating life long memories for younger children.

Another good option for a family vacation traveling with siblings, parents, aunts/uncles, etc. is a Cruise vacation.  It’s perfect for spending time together and avoiding those little disagreements on where to eat and what to do.  It’s relaxing, fun and entertainment is abundant with plenty of variety.  You can even climb walls, play some putt-putt golf or try surfing on some cruise lines.  This is probably a better choice for family’s where all the children are in their teens or older.  It will be more expensive than sharing a beach or lake home, but it requires less planning and can be more relaxing.

A Beach or Lake House Vacation

A family vacation can be a lot of fun.  Grandma and Grandpa can spend time with all the grandkids.  There are plenty of folks to watch the children when you want to go out for a few hours.  The kids can get to know their cousins if the family is spread out geographically.  Siblings can reconnect and laugh about childhood silliness.  It can be fun and leave everyone with memories that last a lifetime.  A great way to avoid anyone taking on too much of the work of a shared vacation is splitting the menu duties.  Everyone takes a day to plan the meals and furnish the food, and yes cooking it all goes with the commitment.  Of course, ordering pizzas and deli sandwiches is always an option if cooking doesn’t appeal to you.  It’s best that everyone going on the family vacation agree on how the costs will be divided up.  Someone will have to be responsible for determining costs for all and collecting the funds.  I recommend finding out first what each family’s limit is financially for lodging.  You’ll find several options for renting homes on lakes or seaside homes and a variety of price ranges.  Make sure you have enough rooms so that you can have some privacy.  Some family members will need some quiet time while others may be fine with constant activity and conversation.  Agree before hand that it’s okay to disappear if you need to recharge with some quiet time, a walk on the beach, a hike in the woods and nap or to read a book.

Checklist for Planning a Family Vacation at the Lake or Beach:

1. Picking the type of vacation and desired locations.
2. Who is responsible for making reservations and collecting funds from each family
3. Eating plans – who will do menu planning and put together the grocery list
4. Who will plan the games for the kids and adults
5. Who will be the “Trouble Shooter” taking care of problems that might occur

Resources:

Lake & Beach homes

www.vrbo.com
www.homeaway.com
www.vacationrentals.com

Lake Homes

www.lakerentals.com
www.lakehousevacations.com

Beach Houses

www.ourrentalparadise.com
www.beachhouse.com
www.coastrentals.com
www.vacationhomerentals.com
www.4beachnuts.com (this site covers the world)http://vacation.rentals.com
www.findvacationrentals.com

Family Cruise Vacations

A Cruise vacation is a great option if it’s affordable for everyone in the family that wants to participate in a “Family Reunion” style vacation.  Cruise ships offer lots of choices for their passengers in the way of activities and entertainment.  They also have variety in eating choices too with many ships having specialty restaurants at an additional charge.  In other words, there is something for everyone.  The family can spend as much time together at dinner or at an evening show as you like.  You can also find a quiet place to reenergize if needed.  The great thing about cruising is it doesn’t require as much planning and the cruise line takes care of the menu, assigns rooms and takes you to ports with plenty of activities to choose from.

Checklist for a Family Cruise Vacation:

1. Pick the location of interest to folks, (Caribbean, Alaska, Canada, someplace Exotic) and Port preference for Embarkation/Debarkation
2. Explore some of the websites and find a deal that meets everyone’s financial limits.  Call a travel agent, whether online or in your community, and have them assist in coordinating the family cruise vacation.  They will make sure you’re sharing a table in the dining room and attempt to get cabins in the same general area, especially if you need connecting cabins.
3. The Cruise Line will do everything else.

Resources

http://www.americasvacationcenter.com
http://www.cruisecritic.com
http://www.vacationstogo.com
http://www.cruisesonly.com
http://www.gillscruise.com
http://www.cruisemagic.com/cruise-lines

Questions, Comments, Suggestions for the Travel Forum?

Please contact me if you have any questions about an article or featured destination.  I also welcome comments on topics posted and will share your travel recommendations, including web sites, Inns or excursions from your travel experiences.  If you have a suggestion for a future article that you think would be of interest I welcome those.  You can reach me at:  fedtravel33@comcast.net

Nancy Holston

Learn more about your benefits,  employment, travel, and financial planning issues on our site and visit our Blog frequently at https://fedretire.net to read all forum articles.

Visit our other informative sites

• http://federaljobs.net (Federal Career & Job Center)
• http://federalretirement.net (FREE Retirement Planning Guide)
• http://federalretirement.net/jobs.htm (Retiree Job Opportunities)
• https://fedretire.net (Retiree BLOG)
• http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
• http://postalwork.net (Postal Career Center)
• http://searchfedjobs.com (Job Search – All Sectors)
• http://ehsjobs.org (Environmental Health & Safety Job Center)
• http://stolenplates.com (What to do if this happens to you)
• Educational Opportunities (Find educational opportunities in your area)

The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances. Travel policies and packages are subject to change without notice. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact travel providers and hotels at the time of your bookings to confirm pricing, itinerary, and all costs. The comments and observations are limited to the author’s personal experience and your results may vary significantly. This article and replies to comments are not intended to substitute for professional travel services. Our reply is time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change.

Posted in UNCATEGORIZED

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Posted on Thursday, 26th August 2010 by Dennis Damp

The FERS supplement and deferred annuities have attracted considerable attention recently. Many are thinking seriously about early retirement these days. Thankfully we have Linda Duncan, our HR and Benefits Forum Host, available to handle these often complex issues for our site visitors.

We recently added a Travel Forum and Nancy Holston’s article titled New England in Autumn highlights sightseeing in Maine and the best sights to see in the area. You can add her travel articles to your newsletter list if you are interested in traveling in retirement. Her next article will be on family vacation planning .

FERS Supplement Impact on Earnings

If you retire with a FERS supplement and go back to work in retirement your supplement is subject to the same Social Security earnings rules. Basically, if you are receiving a supplement and earn more than $14,160 a year in 2010 you would have to give back $1 for every $2 you earn over this limit.

CSRS employees that worked 40 quarters or more in the private sector and collect Social Security at age 62 are also subject to these same income limitations until they reach full retirement age

If you are looking for employment in retirement visit our Retiree Jobs Center for job listings and guidance. Job listings range from independent wine consultants to instructors and companies looking for retired feds that held security clearances.

Deferred Retirement Clarifications (FERS)

FERS employees are not eligible for a regular retirement until they reach their minimum retirement age (MRA) and have 30 years of service, age 60 with 20 years, or age 62 with 5 years service.  If you leave prior to your MRA, you can apply for a deferred retirement when you reach your MRA with 30 years of service, or at the age 62 with 5 years of service.  However, with a deferred retirement you will not be eligible for the FERS supplement, life insurance or health benefits when you leave.  If you wait to retire at your MRA, and you had Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) coverage for the past five years, you can continue FEHB coverage into retirement.

Another consideration is the elimination of the cost of living adjustment (COLA) for those considering a deferred retirement for the time period between when they first elect this option and start to collect an annuity, often a period of many years. Inflation can significantly impact your deferred annuity. COLAs will resume when you start collecting your annuity and reach age 62.

The MRA + 10 Annuity option assesses significant penalties for taking an early annuity. Typically you can retire at your MRA with as little as 10 years service however for each year under age 62 you give back 5% of your payment.  If you elect this option at the MRA age of 57 the penalty would be 25% of your annuity payment!  If you elect this option and defer your retirement until age 62 no penalties are assessed.   You would also be able to enroll in the FEHB and FEGLI programs again when your deferred annuity starts if you were enrolled in these programs for the last five years of your federal employment.

We receive many calls from former employees and their survivors asking how to initiate a deferred annuity.  We added a complete section on this process on our site including links to the Deferred Retirement Application, OPM Form 1496A.  Review this section for complete guidance.  If a former federal employee dies before collecting the deferred annuity the surviving spouse is eligible to receive 50% of their annuity payable starting on the date the deceased employee attained the age and service requirements for the annuity. Lesser amounts are payable if the surviving spouse wants to collect earlier.

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Are you looking for a travel bargain?  Do you want to go somewhere you haven’t been before but want to know what to expect?  Maybe you’re open-minded and want to go on an adventure to someplace new.  The Travel Forum Newsletter has something for everyone.  It has tips for retirees but also great info on travel spots for anyone who loves to travel.

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Learn more about your benefits, employment, and financial planning issues on our site and visit our Blog frequently at https://fedretire.net to read all forum articles.

Visit our other informative sites

• http://federaljobs.net (Federal Career & Job Center)
• http://federalretirement.net (FREE Retirement Planning Guide)
• http://federalretirement.net/jobs.htm (Retiree Job Opportunities)
• https://fedretire.net (Retiree BLOG)
• http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
• http://postalwork.net (Postal Career Center)
• http://searchfedjobs.com (Job Search – All Sectors)
• http://ehsjobs.org (Environmental Health & Safety Job Center)
• http://stolenplates.com (What to do if this happens to you)
• Educational Opportunities (Find educational opportunities in your area)

The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, and financial information is subject to change. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact your benefits coordinator and ask them to review your official personnel file and circumstances concerning this issue. Retirees can contact the OPM retirement center. Our articles are not intended nor should they be considered investment advice. Our reply is time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change.”

Posted in ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY, BENEFITS / INSURANCE, EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS, ESTATE PLANNING, FINANCE / TIP, LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL, RETIREMENT CONCERNS, SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE, SURVIVOR INFORMATION

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Posted on Monday, 16th August 2010 by Nancy Holston

Fall Colors, Moose and the Coast of Maine

Autumn is my favorite time of year.  It is also one of my favorite times to travel.  The temperature isn’t too hot or too cold.  It’s just right for enjoying outside activities during the day and enjoying the evening relaxing.  New England is always on my list of fall travel spots and Maine is one of my favorite places to visit.  The Maine coast is dotted with lighthouses, rocks, trees and crashing waves.  It offers plenty of choices of rural towns and cities to spend your time in and best of all, it is not crowded.  Acadia National Park near Bar Harbor is a great place to visit.  If you want to see the mountains and lakes there is plenty of spots to visit in Maine’s interior.  The White Mountains and Moosehead Lake are great choices.  I have been to Maine four times and would like to share information on some of my favorite spots.

Portland, Maine

This coastal city is a great place to spend several days or as a stop while you explore the coast of Maine.  The Portland Head Lighthouse is one of the most prominent and photographed on the east coast.  The cobblestone streets will take you back to times gone by as you stroll by the many shops and galleries in the downtown area.  The water front has restaurants with outside seating to enjoy good weather.  One of my favorite stops is the Flatbread Company which offers gourmet pizzas that are unusual and flavorful.  If a Maine Lobster is more what you have in mind then the Portland Lobster Company is another waterfront choice.  Of course there’s Gilbert’s Chowder House if all you are looking for is some New England clam chowder.

The Fall Drive: Down East Traveler recommends a daylong tour beginning on Route 25 from downtown Portland through Gorham and Westbrook.  The transformation from city to country is nearly complete by the time you hit Standish.  Farms and orchards are part of the scenery.  After you cross the Saco River you’ll see the fall colors of Saddleback Hills of Baldwin to the north.  Cornish is a great place to stop if you like antiques.  It is also a favorite for canoeists on the Ossipee River.  In Porter you’ll take a left on Route 160 traveling south passing through East Parsonsfield and Limerick that have retained their rural charm.  In Limerick Mills take Route 11 south through Newfield and Shapleigh.  When you enter Sanford you will need to watch for Route 202 headed north to Alfred and Waterboro.  The Nature Conservancy has protected an area of pine barrens near this area.  When you get to Hollis Center you need to take Route 35 north which will take you back to Standish and Route 25 into Portland.

Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park

This is a popular area for tourists.  The town of Bar Harbor is quaint with lots of shops, galleries and restaurants.  Lodging ranges from cozy Bed & Breakfast Inns, charming cottages, or Motor Inns to grand Oceanside hotels.  Activities range from sea kayaking to bicycling or hiking.  You can go out on a whale watch boat for part of your day.  Don’t limit your search to whales though.  Keep an eye out for seals and puffins also.  You will also find many lighthouses along the coast if you want to explore.

The Park Loop Road is a 27 mile long scenic drive through Acadia National Park along the rocky coast and park gardens.  Be sure to drive or hike up to the top of Cadillac Mountain.  At 1532 feet high it’s the tallest point along the eastern seaboard.  On a clear day you will have a spectacular view of Frenchman Bay and the Atlantic Ocean and the islands in the surrounding area.  Cadillac Mountain is also a great spot for star gazing at night.  There are 120 miles of hiking trails in the park for day trips.  The park also has a Carriage Road system that intersects with hiking trails in the park, but they are not intended for automobiles.  The carriage trails were built in the early 20^th century, a gift of John D. Rockefeller Jr.  They were restored and the park service now maintains the road.  You can travel the Carriage Road in a horse-pulled carriage offered at the Wildwood Stable.  No matter what you decide Acadia will offer fall scenery that won’t disappoint.

Moosehead Lake

This is a great place to spend several days.  Lake Cabin rentals are available in all parts of this large lake.  You may be able to arrange to rent canoes while you’re there.  In some instances the owners will deliver them to the cabin.  The fall foliage will be at your door step.  You won’t have to go out and search for it.

Not only can you enjoy the fall foliage and the lake, you will find this a great place to go out and watch the moose in their own environment.  You can often see moose from the road side but you might find an early morning canoe ride more fun.  We found a local tour operator and selected an early morning canoe safari that included breakfast at a rustic lodge on the opposite side of the pond (we were on one of the Roach ponds).  The lake is surrounded by small rural towns.  There are several restaurants to choose from but can be several miles from a lake cabin.  Planning meals at your cabin may be a better choice.  The cabins are usually stocked with seasoning and cooking oil for your convenience.  It’s a great choice for a family trip.

Travel Resources:

Information on Maine:

• www.visitmaine.com
• www.mainetourism.com/
• http://maine.uscity.net/Tourism/

Visiting Portland, Maine:

• http://www.portlandmaine.com/
• http://www.visitportland.com/

Visiting Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park area

• http://www.barharborinfo.com/\
• http://maineguide.com/barharbor/
• http://www.acadiamagic.com/BarHarborMore.html
• http://acadiamagic.com/

Visiting Moosehead Lake:

• http://www.northeastguideservice.com/
• http://www.mooseheadlake.org/
• http://www.maineguide.com/moosehead/
• http://www.moosehead.net/
• http://www.mooseheadcabins.com/
• http://www.lodgeatmooseheadlake.com/
• http://mooseheadhills.com/

Flying to Maine:

Manchester, New Hampshire is a good option.  Southwest Airlines flies to Manchester and offers lower fares than you’ll likely find to Portland or Bangor.  Boston may also have a reasonable fare if you want to travel through Boston to get to your New England destination.

Nancy Holston

Learn more about your benefits,  employment, travel, and financial planning issues on our site and visit our Blog frequently at https://fedretire.net to read all forum articles.

Visit our other informative sites

• http://federaljobs.net (Federal Career & Job Center)
• http://federalretirement.net (FREE Retirement Planning Guide)
• http://federalretirement.net/jobs.htm (Retiree Job Opportunities)
• https://fedretire.net (Retiree BLOG)
• http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
• http://postalwork.net (Postal Career Center)
• http://searchfedjobs.com (Job Search – All Sectors)
• http://ehsjobs.org (Environmental Health & Safety Job Center)
• http://stolenplates.com (What to do if this happens to you)
• Educational Opportunities (Find educational opportunities in your area)

The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances. Travel policies and packages are subject to change without notice. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact travel providers and hotels at the time of your bookings to confirm pricing, itinerary, and all costs. The comments and observations are limited to the author’s personal experience and your results may vary significantly. This article and replies to comments are not intended to substitute for professional travel services. Our reply is time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change.

Posted in LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL, RETIREMENT CONCERNS, WELLNESS / HEALTH

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Posted on Monday, 2nd August 2010 by Dennis Damp

We receive many questions each month from retirees and federal employees and many are focused on the following subject areas. I suggest copying this article and keep it with your important papers so you and your family will have the answers needed when faced with these issues.

Retirement Income Verification

If a mortgage company or institution requires an official confirmation for your annuity payments you must have the fax number of the financial institution available and call OPM at either 1-888-767-6738 or 202-606-0500. The OPM retirement specialist will ask you for your name and Claim number (Retirement CSA #). They will fax the confirmation of annuity to your financial institution immediately. You can also fax the request to OPM at 724-794-6633 however this could take up to a week or longer to receive a reply depending on the workload at the office.  It is often difficult contacting OPM by phone. Go to our OPM contact listing for details on best times to call and other helpful information including how to request a federal retiree identification card.

Annuity Direct Deposit Changes and Retirement Paperwork Requirements

To enroll in Direct Deposit for your annuity check or to change your enrollment to a new bank or account, OPM needs to know the routing number of the financial institution and your account number. The financial institution will provide this information. Once you have your account and routing numbers, retirees can call OPM at 1-888-767-6738 or 1-202-606-0500 to make this change by phone or initiate it online through OPM’s retirement system at http://www.servicesonline.opm.gov. To process your request online you have to first establish an account through OPM.

The financial institution can also submit a SF 1199A form to OPM for processing your direct deposit.  The form can be faxed to OPM or sent to OPM via regular mail. Federal employees that wish to set up direct deposit when they retire must complete a SF1199A form and submit it with their retirement paperwork to continue with automatic direct deposit after they retire.  This has to be done even if the federal employee currently has his or her check deposited in an account now. When you retire OPM processes payment and needs to know where to send your monthly payments.  The employee and bank must sign and date the form prior to sending it in with your paperwork. Complete mailing addresses, PDF fill in forms, fax numbers, and procedures are available online at http://federalretirement.net/retireforms.htm.

Military Buyback (Credit)

There are many issues to consider when determining whether or not  it is beneficial for a federal employee with prior military service to buy back their military time to receive credit for federal retirement. First and foremost you MUST make a deposit and payback your military time PRIOR TO RETIRING. We have written numerous articles on this subject to answer questions such as;  should I do this, how do I start the process, and is it cost effective and more. Links follow for critical information on this subject:

• Military credit and buyback overview
• Military time buy back options – CSRS
• Military time buy back options – FERS
• The Advantages of Making A Military Deposit – Article by Linda Duncan
• Making a military deposit (Step-by-step Instructions)
• How to confirm that you made a military deposit
• Military credit forms
• Other helpful resources (Calculators, federal regulations, etc.)

Retirement Eligibility

There are many variables to consider to determine ones eligibility for retirement.  One of the most frequently asked questions are from federal employees who started working for Uncle Sam in their mid to late 50s and have military time. These feds want to know how soon they can retire and collect a federal pension.

For voluntary civilian retirement the employee MUST work at least 5 years of creditable civilian service. Military service credit can’t be used to meet the 5 year minimum eligibility. Therefore, if you are age 60 with 4 years of creditable civilian employment and 4 years of military time that you bought back, you can’t retire until you reach age 62 and then you would have 10 years towards retirement for annuity calculations. Eligibility requirements are discussed and eligibility charts provided for both CSRS and FERS employees on www.federalretirement.net. You can also estimate your monthly annuity payment on this site.

Retirement Cost Analysis

In preparation for making that leap to retirement many ask questions about financial concerns and how to estimate their post retirement income. I developed a spreadsheet with complete instructions that help federal employees determine, within reason, what they and their spouse will have to live on when they retire.  This spreadsheet can be downloaded and the examples present a realistic assessment for an average retiree plus it also determines what the surviving spouse will have to live on when the inevitable happens.

Use this spreadsheet to determine what your post retirement income and expenses will be and share this information with your spouse so they too will feel comfortable with your decision.  This exercise will also help you focus on the realities of retirement and help you assess whether or not you will need to work part time to supplement your income.

Clarifications

The Treasury Direct Program

In the June article I mentioned that the U.S. Savings Bond program will be suspended for payroll deduction shortly and that you can still buy bonds through Treasury Direct. There was a typo in the link for the Treasury Direct program in the newsletter and the correct link is www.treasurydirect.gov. You can purchase savings bonds online or buy treasury notes, bills and bonds through Treasury Direct.

Social Security Clarification

A site visitor asked the following questions about the Social Security Adjustment – Additional INCREASES for Active Military Service example that I discussed in my June article.

Question: Didn’t we get credit for our military time in Social Security?  Or does this mean they are adding 16 more quarters to our Social Security benefits (4 years time 4 quarters a year)?

Answer: You won’t get additional quarters, they give military additional cash for each quarter they served because if they didn’t you may not have made a sufficient amount for that time to be considered a substantial earnings year. For example, I was making about $97 a month military pay in early 1969 and that times 12 is only $1,164 for the entire year. I actually made a little more because I was promoted the first year. If you go to the Social Security tables at http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/military.htm you will see that from 1968-1971 you had to make $1,950 to meet substantial Social Security earnings that year to receive Social Security credit.

They will add $300 a quarter or $1,200 for each year you served. That increased my earnings for 1969 to $2,364 on paper and they will now count that year towards social security benefits.

One other point of to consider is that the adjustment is automatic for anyone who served from 1968 through 2001 and there isn’t any adjustment for military service after 2001. Service prior to 1967 isn’t automatically added and you have to take your DD-214 with you when you apply and request that your Social Security is properly adjusted for the time you served.

Updates

A major update was published last month for www.federaljobs.net. We spent 5 months redesigning the site and added new and expanded features for federal employees and anyone seeking jobs in the federal government. The new jobs board provides comprehensive job listings for government and private sectors in your area so that job seekers can evaluate ALL potential opportunities in their area.

Learn more about your benefits, employment, and financial planning issues on our site and visit our Blog frequently at https://fedretire.net to read all forum articles.

Visit our other informative sites

• http://federaljobs.net (Federal Career & Job Center)
• http://federalretirement.net (FREE Retirement Planning Guide)
• http://federalretirement.net/jobs.htm (Retiree Job Opportunities)
• https://fedretire.net (Retiree BLOG)
• http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
• http://postalwork.net (Postal Career Center)
• http://searchfedjobs.com (Job Search – All Sectors)
• http://ehsjobs.org (Environmental Health & Safety Job Center)
• http://stolenplates.com (What to do if this happens to you)
• Educational Opportunities (Find educational opportunities in your area)

The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances, federal regulations, and financial information is subject to change. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact your benefits coordinator and ask them to review your official personnel file and circumstances concerning this issue. Retirees can contact the OPM retirement center. Our articles are not intended nor should they be considered investment advice. Our reply is time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change.”

Posted in ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY, BENEFITS / INSURANCE, EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS, ESTATE PLANNING, FINANCE / TIP, LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL, RETIREMENT CONCERNS, SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE, SURVIVOR INFORMATION

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Posted on Wednesday, 7th July 2010 by Nancy Holston

I’ve been on several Alaska Cruises and always find them the best choice for relaxing and forgetting about all your day-to-day responsibilities. Traveling through the inside passage is peaceful while sitting in the lounge at the top of a ship. You glide slowly by mountains rising out of the ocean that sometimes seem close enough to touch. Eagles soar overhead in search of their dinner.  A light house will occasionally appear on a small island and even if you’re not tired, the gentle rocking of the ship, while traveling slowly through the inside passage, will lull you to sleep.  I’ve even found myself nodding off while reading a page turning novel.

Alaska is also a must for folks who love nature and wildlife.  Marine mammals can be hard to spot from 12 decks above sea level but you can see whales passing by, seals and sea lions popping up to see the ship, and occasionally a sea otter.  Traveling the Inside Passage provides lots of opportunities to spot wild life on shore as well.  With a good pair of binoculars and patience you can spot Mountain Goats high in the mountains in Glacier Bay and sometimes Grizzly bears on shore in the Misty Fjords.

If this sounds appealing to you, now is the time to go. You won’t find a better time to book a cruise than now.  Excellent deals are available for late August and early September departures out of Seattle, WA or Vancouver, BC.  But don’t limit yourself to a cruise only. Consider a cruise tour if you are interested in seeing Alaska’s interior or if you intend this to be a once of a lifetime trip. During late summer, you may even get to see the Aurora Borealis in Alaska’s Interior.  Denali National Park is included on nearly all cruise tours and the beauty of the park is impossible to capture with words.  The variety of wildlife is abundant, with Grizzly Bears, Moose, Dall Sheep, Caribou, Wolves and Lynx among those visible to lucky visitors. It is a rare opportunity to see Mt McKinley because the high peak creates its own weather and it is often shrouded in clouds.  Consider yourself very lucky if you are able to view this spectacular natural wonder on your cruise.

Selecting a Cruise Line

Selecting a cruise line is a matter of personal preferences.  If you like traditional cruising then Royal Caribbean or Celebrity may be the best choice.  The cabins on Celebrity are also a step above other lines.  If you like the freedom of eating when and where you like then NCL may be the best choice.  Holland America and Princess Cruise Lines offer freedom and traditional cruising options.  Most cruise lines now have specialty restaurants that will provide an opportunity to eat exactly what you want on those rare occasions that the evening’s menu doesn’t have something that looks good to you at an additional charge ranging between $5 and $20.  Evening attire is less strict than in the past.  It may still be the suggested attire for the evening but resort casual is acceptable in the dinning room.  With the airlines now charging for checked luggage, cruise lines are more accepting of casual dress.  I always had two large suitcases for myself when cruising: one suitcase with my casual dress and active wear, the other with evening and resort wear.  My next cruise will be a one suitcase cruise.  I have traveled on each of the above cruise lines; however I don’t think you’ll be disappointed with any cruise line you choose as long as you find the itinerary you’re looking for at a price you can afford.

Cruise line web sites:

http://www.carnival.com
http://www.royalcaribbean.com
http://www.princess.com
http://www.hollandamerica.com
http:/www.celebritycruises.com
http://www2.ncl.com
http://www.disneycruise.com (Disney begins Alaska cruising in 2011)

Cruising Basics

If you have not cruised before here’s some basics that will help avoid surprises.  The fare advertised doesn’t include port taxes which vary dependent on ports of call.  You may also be charged a fuel surcharge when the cost of a barrel of oil exceeds an amount usually posted somewhere on the invoice.  The fee is normally $10 a day, per person.  Gratuities for the cruise staff is now commonly added to your room charges at the rate of $10 a day, per person.  This is convenient and avoids standing in line to get cash or smaller bills to tip each staff member that serves you the last night of the cruise.  If service exceeds or is disappointing you can stop at the Pursers Desk and ask that the charges be adjusted accordingly.  Food is included in the fare, however specialty restaurants are additional.

Air Travel Arrangements

Air fares charged by the cruise lines often exceed the fares you may be able to find yourself, unless you are booking a last minute cruise.  I often arrive at the port city 2 or more days ahead of time by booking my own air travel arrangements and see the sights prior to boarding the ship on embarkation day.  However, if you don’t intend to arrive at least one day early at the port city, book your air travel through the cruise line.  That will guaranty you will make it to your ship in the event of travel delays at no additional cost to you.

Travel Insurance

Cruise lines offer travel insurance and encourage it in case of trip cancellation.  I recommend you obtain your own travel insurance through an independent company.  This will avoid a conflict of interest with the cruise line and usually saves you money.  You can also tailor the policy to the coverage you are most interested in.  I buy it in case I have an unexpected illness or injury that requires special travel to a hospital.

Alaskan and Canadian Ports

I have been to most of the ports of call you are likely to find on any of the itineraries for Alaska Inside Passage Cruises.  Victoria, BC is a beautiful city on the South East tip of Vancouver Island.  It is most famous for its Butchart Gardens located nearby.  They are worth seeing!  Vancouver BC, host of the 2010 Winter Olympics is a beautiful city.  The opportunities range from shopping in the city to eco tours outside the city.  You are very likely to be greeted by more eagles than you’ve ever seen before at the port of Prince Rupert BC.  Excursions are limited in Prince Rupert, so book in advance if you see something of interest.  Whale Watching is high on the list of activities there.  Ketchikan Alaska receives a high amount of rain fall, but it is a neat little town with wooden walks along the water, lots of shops and galleries and just a fun town to explore.  It is near the Misty Fjords.  You can take a sea plane ride to see them from the air. One of my favorite trips in August and September is to a bear sanctuary where you can watch black bear catch Salmon during the spawning season.  You travel by sea plane to reach the sanctuary.  Juneau is home to the Mendenhall Glacier and another great spot to go Whale Watching.  Humpback whales come to Alaska in the summer to eat before returning to Hawaii in the winter to mate or give birth.  I’ve never been disappointed on a Whale Watch trip here.  Haines is a very small town that is the starting place for a wilderness adventure.  The Chilkook is full of spawning salmon during the cruise season, always a draw for fishermen and fishing bears.  Haines offers many trips to watch wildlife or go kayaking.  Skagway is home of gold rush history.  The White Pass Railway is a must if you stop here.  It’s a beautiful ride up the mountain following the trail used during the gold rush. Visiting Glaciers can be exciting in May when ships can often get close to the face of the Glacier.  However a fall visit normally limits how close the ship can get due to ice bergs in the bay.  It’s still worth seeing in the fall, but don’t be disappointed if you’ll need binoculars on a late summer cruise.

Cruise Resources
http://cruisedirect.com
http://www.americasvacationcenter.com
http://www.cruisecritic.com
http://www.vacationstogo.com
http://www.cruisesonly.com
http://www.gillscruise.com
http://www.cruisemagic.com/cruise-lines

If you are a frequent flier, check for deals through your frequent flier programs.  Rewards programs from VISA and MasterCard may also have cruise deals available.

If and when you choose a cruise, have a Bon Voyage!

Nancy Holston

Learn more about your benefits,  employment, travel, and financial planning issues on our site and visit our Blog frequently at https://fedretire.net to read all forum articles.

Visit our other informative sites

• http://federaljobs.net (Federal Career & Job Center)
• http://federalretirement.net (FREE Retirement Planning Guide)
• http://federalretirement.net/jobs.htm (Retiree Job Opportunities)
• https://fedretire.net (Retiree BLOG)
• http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
• http://postalwork.net (Postal Career Center)
• http://searchfedjobs.com (Job Search – All Sectors)
• http://ehsjobs.org (Environmental Health & Safety Job Center)
• http://stolenplates.com (What to do if this happens to you)
• Educational Opportunities (Find educational opportunities in your area)

The information provided may not cover all aspect of unique or special circumstances. Travel policies and packages are subject to change without notice. To ensure the accuracy of this information, contact travel providers and hotels at the time of your bookings to confirm pricing, itinerary, and all costs. The comments and observations are limited to the author’s personal experience and your results may vary significantly. This article and replies to comments are not intended to substitute for professional travel services. Our reply is time sensitive. Over time, various dynamic economic factors relied upon as a basis for this article may change.

Posted in LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL

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