Posted on Wednesday, 31st March 2010 by Chuck Jumpeter

Once again it’s time to hit the road on our Bus To Great Health. In my last article, at stop #10 – Plan Your Journey, we learned the acronym GETFIT which taught us to set Goals, ensure adequate Evaluation of our journey, to have realistic Time frames, to get and stay Fit, to track and record the Information for our progress and to be Tenacious in our efforts.

I’m sure that all of you have set your goals, established your tracking parameters, and are tenaciously working toward a new you. If you haven’t, go ahead and do it now. I’ll never know.  Personally, I’m practicing what I’m preaching. To provide an example of how goals translate into action I am going to share one of my goals and how I’m going about achieving it.

My first goal for 2010 is: “By the end of this golfing season I will have increased the length of my drives by 20 yards.” This may not seem like a fitness related goal, however, in order to accomplish this goal I need to increase my physical strength, greatly improve my flexibility and stamina, and, of course, improve my golf swing. I’ve acquired a flexibility program specifically for addressing the golfing muscles and have been following it religiously since the beginning of the year. My treadmill and Soloflex have been getting the workouts of their lives, I’ve established a practice routine to work on my swing, and I’ve recommitted myself to my weight management program –yes, of course I’m using the Shaklee Cinch program. The golf flexibility routine is absolutely outstanding and I highly recommend it to everyone whether or not you’re a golfer. I can’t believe the difference in my mobility. I do this daily and it really helps. Check it out at Fredericks Golf. To date, I’ve lost 20 pounds and 1.5” from my waist, doubled the time I can spend on the treadmill (I have a NordicTrack manual treadmill) and, although I’ve only been able to play golf a few times so far, I can tell that my golf swing is longer and more fluid. I’ll have more details once I can begin measuring and tracking distances, but I have no doubt I’ll achieve my goal. With that as a backdrop, it’s time for our next stop on the Bus to Great Health.

#9 – Back To Basics. I’m sure you’ve all heard the old adage that without a solid foundation, any structures you build will soon crumble. This is also true where your health and wellness is concerned, and March is the perfect time to discuss these basics.

March is National Nutrition Month, a nutrition information and education campaign sponsored annually by the American Dietetic Association, designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. For more info on this visit www.eatright.org/nnm.

This year’s theme is Nutrition from the Ground up and fits perfectly into our back to basics concept. A healthier life doesn’t happen instantly. You need to start slowly, build a solid foundation, stay committed and tenacious and, over time, you’ll build that healthier life we all want.

Here are a few suggestions to improve your nutrition from the ground up as suggested by the American Dietetic Association and strongly endorsed by yours truly:

Focus on fruits and veggies. If you’ve been reading my articles, I’m sure you’ve noticed that I continually encourage everyone to eat a more plant-based diet. The quantity of fruits and veggies required varies by age and sex. More information on this can be found at www.mypyramid.gov. I know that not everyone likes all fruits and vegetables, so find those you like and add them to your diet until you get to the recommended amounts. Try adding a serving each day to a meal and increase it every few weeks. Remember, slow and steady wins the race.

Support your local markets. With spring comes the new growing season and lots of fresh, local produce. Yummy! Get out there and support your local growers. You’ll not only be helping the economy, but you’ll be getting these important nutrients in their freshest and best form. Choose lots of colorful plants. They contain essential phyto-nutrients and antioxidants as well as essential vitamins, minerals and fiber.

Lo-Cal is not necessarily better. We often tend to classify foods as “good” or “bad” based on their caloric content. Often times, those lo-cal foods are void of the essential vitamins and minerals that we’re eating them for in the first place. A rule of thumb is that people, with an average lifestyle, require approximately 1500 calories/pound of body weight to maintain that weight, and each pound represents 3600 calories. Therefore, a 200 pound person requires 3000 calories/day to stay at 200 pounds. If that same person wants to weigh 175 pounds and goes on a 2000 calorie/day diet, they would be reducing their intake by 1000 calories/day and would lose approximately 1 pound every 3.5 days, and reach their goal in about 3 months. More specific info on how any calories you may need can also be found at www.mypyramid.gov. Of course, you can also drop me a note and I’ll be glad to work with you and help you reach any weight related goals.

The Basics and your taste buds. The basics of any well-designed eating plan emphasizes fruits and vegetables (fresh if at all possible), whole grains, low-fat or fat-free dairy, lean meats, poultry, fish, beans and nuts, and ½ your body weight in ounces of pure water daily. Within these foods you will find numerous opportunities to tantalize your taste buds. Get creative, try new things, experiment and you may find that you’ll have some new favorites to add to your weekly shopping list, and improve your health at the same time.

Finally, even though you may be following all these suggestions, getting all the nutrients we need for a healthy lifestyle may not be possible with food choices alone. Adding a quality supplementation program will guarantee that you’re getting your daily values of all required vitamins and minerals. The best I’ve come across is Shaklee’s Vitalizer strip. These convenient strips include everything you need on a daily basis and comes in formulations for men, women and seniors. To get more information and to order your supply, Click Here for Vitalizer.

In my next article I’ll focus on stop #8 on our Bus To Great Health, Prevention. Until then, I remain,

Yours in Good Health,

Cj

While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in providing wellness and general health information, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this forum and Website, replies to site visitor questions, or prepared articles, and they specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Readers are strongly cautioned to consult with a physician or other health-care professional before using any information contained in this forum. No forum can substitute for professional care or advice. Extreme caution is urged when using the information and exercises contained in the articles that are posted on this site. The authors and publisher are not engaged in rendering medical services. If medical problems appear or persist, the reader should consult with a qualified physician or other health-care professional. Accordingly, the authors and publisher expressly disclaim any liability, loss, damage, or injury caused by the contents posted on this health care forum.

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http://searchfedjobs.com (Consolidated Job Search)
http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
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Posted on Saturday, 27th March 2010 by Dennis Damp

I receive many calls and emails from federal employees, annuitants, executors, attorneys, and banks asking for contact information and guidance for key benefit areas. There are many organizations and government offices that you MUST be able to contact to effectively manage your annuity, insurance, investments, and estate.

I compiled a list of key contacts, with links to comprehensive guidance for your use.  Print this article and keep a copy with your annuity and estate files and visit our site for updates from time to time.

• OPM – Retirees must contact OPM to initiate changes to their benefits, change allotments or direct deposit, report an annuitant’s death, or to obtain duplicate 1099-R tax forms and request other services.Web Address: http://www.opm.gov/retire, E-Mail: retire@opm.gov
  toll free 1-888-767-6738(weekdays between 7:30 AM to 7:45 PM EST), fax requests to 1-724-794-6633, oremail questions to retire@opm.gov . Call early in the day if possible to get through and you must have your retirement claim number or Social Security number available. OPM advises that “the internet is not a secure environment for transmitting personal information via email.  Replies via email typically take 15 days or more.ON-Line Services: Federal retirees can sign up for online support, add or change allotments, purchase savings bonds, print out duplicate 1099-R statements, and view monthly pay statements at http://www.servicesonline.opm.gov. You must obtain a user ID from OPM to access this site. If you call their number and give them your CSA number they will send you a user ID and password to access this excellent site.Direct Deposit forms and instruction: visit http://federalretirement.net/retireforms.htm#SF-1199A_Instructions for downloadable forms, mailing address and procedures.

NOTE: Click on the program title for detailed information about each subject.

•  FEGLI (1-800-633-4542) Call for life insurance benefits information or to report a death.
• Medicare(1-800-633-4227) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for assistance.
• Social Security(1-800-772-1213) or visit http://www.ssa.gov/mystatement .
• TSP (Thrift Savings Plan)1-877-968-3778,Monday through Friday, 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. EST. Web Site: http://tsp.gov
• FEHB Programs and Contact Numbers: Call your provider direct, a contact number is printed on your benefits card and in plan brochures.
• Federal Records Center: (314) 801-9250, FAX: 314-801-9269. The Federal Records Center is the depository for official personnel folders of persons no longer in the Federal service. Federal agencies, generally, transfer employment records to the Federal Records Center thirty days after the employee has been separated from Federal service. No requests for information from personnel or any other type of records will be accepted by telephone or e-mail. The mailing address and guidance is available online.
• Survivors Guide: Print out the Survivor’s Guide and place a copy with your important papers.

FERS Redeposit Update – Forms Now Being Accepted

Effective immediately, your personnel office is accepting the current FERS Application to Make a Deposit, SF 3108, from employees wanting to make a FERS redeposit. The individual must indicate on the application that the period of service was refunded. OPM advised you not to submit a payment with the application.  If a payment is sent to OPM before the deposit amount is calculated and the account established, they will have no way of identifying the payment and applying it correctly.  The Service Credit System is in the process of being modified to include a FERS Redeposit module. Once testing is completed and the new version is ready for production, OPM will begin processing FERS redeposits.

Much Ado About Everything

Major new health care legislation was enacted last week that will impact and infringe on every aspect of our lives and our children’s lives. The estimated $1.3 trillion price tag, when including the Doctor fix, along with Social Security and Medicare insolvency may very well bankrupt this country in the not too distant future. The signed bill calls for over 140 new government agencies and commissions, 17,000 new IRS agents will be hired to enforce regulations and penalize companies and individuals that don’t purchase government mandated coverage, and the federal government took over the entire student loan program!

Our legislators, from both parties, have abandoned the principals of fiscal responsibility, restraint, and personal accountability. The outcome may lead to hyper inflation, increased unemployment, social unrest, and a major drain on all in America.  Our standard of living is destined to decline dramatically as we digress down this path and I can’t imagine just how hard it is going to be to get an appointment with our doctors and the medical care we need when this all comes into play.

The Wall Street Journal reported recently that our country’s credit rating may be downgraded,  Social Security for the first time will pay out more this year than it is taking in and Social Security and Medicare’s unfunded liabilities now exceed 107 TRILLION DOLLARS.

The U.S. National Debt Clock shows that each American citizen’s share of this debt is an astonishing $350,000; a family of four owes $1.4 million!!! Our politicians are out of touch with their constituents and they are selling out our Republic and the principals this country was founded on.  Term limits are needed to insure this doesn’t continue and the only way we can make a difference is vote them out of office in November.  This administration is openly supporting massive redistribution of wealth that will impact all retires that have investments of any kind. Taxes on capital gains, interest, and dividends are increasing dramatically next year and this will cut annuitants fixed income and effect all of us.  It won’t stop there; AT&T reported $1 billion and Caterpillar Inc. reported  $100 Million of new cost increases due to the implementation of this bill and these costs will be passed on to YOU the consumer. Nothing is ever FREE, someone and in this case everyone will pay.  Companies have the options to cut benefits, lay off employees, or pass on the cost to consumers, either way it’s bad for the economy.

We must let our representatives know that this out-of-control spending must stop and we must return to our republic’s free market principals before it’s too late.  Call your representatives to tell them how you feel about this and ask them, NO…. Tell them, to STOP THE INSANITY. We can’t afford this any longer.  Contact your Congressman and Senators. This is no time to be complacent and the representatives that continue down this path MUST be voted out of office.

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://postofficejobs.info (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 artilces 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 Tuesday, 16th March 2010 by Linda Sherman

For years you have been contributing to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), building your retirement savings.  After you leave federal service, have you considered what you should do with your TSP savings?  You could choose one or any combination of these options:

• Leave your money in TSP.
• Withdraw all or some of your TSP funds.
• Purchase an annuity.
• Transfer to an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) or new employer’s tax deferred retirement plan.
• Transfer all or some of your TSP to a ROTH

Financial planning is a key element of any retirement plan and the TSP is a major asset for most federal retiree’s. Visit our financial planning forum for assistance with developing your personal comprehensive retirement plan.

Leave your money in TSP – You could leave all your money in TSP.  Money within the TSP account can still be moved to and from the TSP investment fund options available: G, F, C, S, I and L funds.  The advantages of leaving your money in TSP are the low administrative fees and no trading costs. There is one withdrawal option available with TSP that is not available with an IRA.  If you leave federal service after you turn 55, but before you are 59 ½, you can withdraw money without the 10% early withdrawal penalty you would incur with an IRA.  If you left federal service before you turned 55, or you transfer your TSP account to an IRA, there is a 10% penalty for most funds withdrawn prior to age 59 ½.  There are number of issues to consider when deciding what to do with your TSP when you retire.

Withdraw all or some of your TSP funds – You could elect a partial withdrawal, a series of monthly payments, a full withdrawal, or a mixed combination of withdrawal options.  All withdrawals are subject to a mandatory 20% federal income tax withholding, unless the funds are transferred directly to a traditional IRA.

Partial withdrawal – A one-time partial withdrawal must be $1000 or more and is available only if you did not previously receive an age-based, in-service withdrawal while you were employed.

A series of monthly payments – Monthly payments over $25 can be a specified dollar amount or distributed according to the IRS life expectancy tables.  TSP calculators can estimate how long the series of payments will continue before the account is depleted.  If you received monthly payments based on life expectancy tables, the amount of the payments will change every year based on your age and account balance. You must receive your first Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) by April first of the year after you turn 70 ½.

A single lump sum withdrawal – You could withdraw your entire TSP balance in a single payment often used to pay off a home mortgage or consumer debt at retirement.  Although you may be longing to scream, “I’m debt FREEEEEEEE!,” it is not a decision to make without considering the tax consequences and your long term retirement income needs.  Any withdrawal from TSP is taxable in the year you receive the funds.  You should discuss your withdrawal plans with a financial planner and/or tax professional before making a major withdrawal decision.

Mixed Withdrawal – You can create any combination of the above and/or purchase an annuity and/or transfer money directly to an IRA.

Purchase an annuity – One option to consider is purchasing an annuity.  An annuity is an insurance product providing a continuous stream of money over your entire lifetime.  Annuities may be for your lifetime only, or for your lifetime and the lifetime of a joint annuitant, usually your spouse.  TSP annuities also have the option of paying a fixed amount each month or an amount that increases from 0-3% with the Consumer Price Index (CPI).  If you purchase the annuity through TSP, the annuity provider is Met Life, which has a superior A+ rating according to the AM Best rating system.  You could purchase an annuity from another insurance provider, but make sure you compare and consider companies with similar quality ratings.

The advantage of an annuity is that you will never outlive the payments from the annuity no matter how long you live.  The disadvantages include inflation risk and reduced inheritance. Generally, annuities are appealing to conservative individuals.  You enjoy the security of continued payments for your entire lifetime.  Yet, you may not have considered the effect inflation could have on your annuity.  While inflation rates in the past ten years have been relatively low, even low rates have an adverse effect on disposable income.  For example, if you elected $2000 in level monthly payments beginning in 1999, it would only be worth $1521 in 2009 due to inflation over the past ten years.  If you had elected this same $2000 per month payment in 1970, by 1980 the equivalent payment would only have been $1008, because of the double digit inflation during this period.  Even if you had elected the increasing payments option, the increase would have been limited to 3% and would not have kept up in years with high inflationary rates.

Another concern when purchasing an annuity is that once the money is paid to the annuity company, there is no money left for an inheritance.  You could purchase a survivor benefit or cash refund feature for the annuity, but this will lower your monthly annuity payments.

Transfer to an IRA – The main advantages of transferring your TSP to an IRA are the investment options and withdrawal options.  There are an almost limitless number of investment choices with an IRA.  The most common assets held in an IRA are stocks, bonds and mutual funds.  You could research and select the investments yourself, or you could pay an investment advisor to help manage your investment choices.  If you hire an investment advisor, there will be fees or commissions for the services provided.  Investment advice can be extremely valuable in selecting assets that match your risk tolerance and in optimizing the portfolio performance.  If you hire an advisor, you should meet with the advisor at least annually to measure your portfolio’s performance against appropriate benchmarks, and discuss any changes in your investment objectives.

Money in an IRA is usually more accessible than in TSP.  You can take money out of an IRA at any time, provided you pay the income taxes and the 10% early withdrawal penalty (if applicable).  With TSP you can only take a partial, one-time withdrawal after you separate from federal service.  Additional post-employment withdrawals must be either for the entire amount in TSP or in a series of payments.  While you are employed with the federal government, you can only take money out of TSP for two reasons: a financial hardship, or a one-time, age-based withdrawal (at age 59 ½ or older).  Therefore, maintaining a separate IRA outside of TSP could be advantageous if you need to access the funds.

An IRA has additional withdrawal options which avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty.  With an IRA, you can withdraw money for a first-time home purchase, educational expenses, or elect substantially equal periodic payments paid over your life expectancy without penalty.

* IRS must determine if withdrawal meets the IRS definition of disability.
Source: Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits for Financial Planners, by M Dalton

Required Minimum Distributions – The IRS requires minimum distributions to begin by April first of the year following when you reach 70 ½ for both TSP and traditional IRAs.  If the minimum distribution is not distributed by the required date, a 50% excise tax is charged on the amount not distributed.  The percentage of the distribution increases as you age.  The distributions are made according to the Uniform Lifetime Table unless the spouse is ten years younger, or more, than the owner of the IRA, in which case a Joint Life Expectancy Table is used.

What should you do with your TSP savings? Talk with your trusted financial advisor and consider utilizing multiple options including: TSP, an annuity and an IRA with diversified investments.  Develop a comprehensive plan to manage your money that adjusts to changes in your portfolio’s investment value and inflation, so your retirement income can last a lifetime.

Additional sources of information:

TSP Overview

• TSP Fund Choices
• TSP Considerations

TSP Roth Conversion
Inflation information
TSP Annuity Calculator
TSP Withdrawal Options after Leaving Federal Service
Important Tax Information About Payments from Your TSP Account
Full Withdrawal Form
Partial Withdrawal Form
Financial Hardship Withdrawals
Disability Withdrawals
Tax information on in-service withdrawals
Thornburg endowment spending policy

While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in providing retirement and benefits information, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this article and they specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a financial professional where appropriate.

Visit http://federalretirement.net often to learn more about retirement options, benefits, and estate planning issues and I suggest signing up to receive my FREE monthly benefits newsletter.

Linda Duncan

Visit our other informative sites

http://federaljobs.net (Federal Career & Job Center)
http://searchfedjobs.com (Federal, State, & Private Sector Job Search)
http://federalretirement.net (FREE Retirement Planning Guide)
http://federalretirement.net/jobs.htm (Retiree Job Opportunities)
http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
http://postofficejobs.info (Postal Career Center)
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http://stolenplates.com (What to do if this happens to you)
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Posted on Friday, 26th February 2010 by Dennis Damp

On our latest trip south this winter we discovered some really neat travel aids that helped make the journey enjoyable and safe.  Traveling in the winter months is always a concern and this year we used the web site http://www.trippish.comto determine the best day to leave based on the weather forecasts along the route.

This web site also provides directions and it suggests the best time to start the trip to avoid bad weather. You can review detailed weather forecasts along the route. The Web site even forecasts the weather several days in advance of your scheduled trip.

Whenever traveling  I set up a temporary office at my new destination and hotels along the way to check messages, answer emails, and for calling business contacts and family back home.  This trip I purchased the magicJack (associate link).  I hooked up the device to my computer’s USB port and within minutes had national and local phone service. It worked GREAT and I used it for the entire trip for only the cost of the unit, $39.95.  Prices have gone up a little since I purchased mine. You need high speed Internet service for it to work and after the first year you have to pay $19.95 a year to continue the service, quite a bargain.

You not only receive free local and long distance calling, you get free voicemail, directory assistance, and a phone number that you select from any area code. It also connects to 911 in your area if properly configured. I purchased an inexpensive portable phone to plug into the back of the Magicjack, clicked on install, and within 5 minutes I was making calls. You have to follow the installation instructions carefully and mine didn’t auto install completely. I had to click on the installation exe file that popped up on the screen for the installation to complete.  All in all, it is a cost effective alternative for anyone needing phone service while away on trips. Yes, I do have a cell phone. However, with business calls and long discussions; this was the way to go.  On previous trips I exceeded my cell phone minutes and was hit with heavy additional minute fees.

Our trip took 10.5 hours with three short stops and XM radio made the trip easier and much more enjoyable. This trip I purchased Bill O’Reilly’s A Bold Fresh Piece of Humanity (associate link) audio CDs narrated by the author. It is a 6 CD package and we listened to about 4 hours of the book on the way down and the rest of the story on our return trip. It was well worth the price and Mary and I thoroughly enjoyed his life story, growing up in Levittown, NY. O’Reilly is our age, around 60, and his story brought back many good memories of the times. I highly recommend his book and audio CD series, a great way to make a long trip seem all so much shorter.

Winding Down and Around in Retirement

I am envious of those who are truly retired and can devote time to their many interests and pursuits. I often find myself driven with business interests that keep me fully employed and always working to keep everything on an even keel. That said, I am learning to wind down even while working full time and I’m constantly evaluating ways to improve efficiency, streamlining operations, adding employees and consultants to the mix to make things less hectic and to share the tasks at hand.  Now that I’m 60 it seems a good time to wind down a bit and I’m planning a part time schedule by the time I hit 65.

Federal employees are fortunate to be able to retire at 55 or younger in some cases and still have time to enjoy the many fruits of their labor. I hear from many federal employees who feel trapped and forced to stay working long after their eligibility date.  To retire early you have to prepare and plan your escape, many simply just keep on keeping on without much thought to planning for their future.   Getting started is half the battle and if you find yourself in this predicament check out our “Getting Started” page to give you some ideas on what you need to do NOW!  It’s never too early or too late to start planning your exit.

TSP  Update

I received my 2009 TSP annual participant statement last week and my account has appreciated considerably this past year due to initially selecting a conservative investment mix. When I first retired I had the majority of my account in the G Fund which has performed much better than the S&P Index over the past ten years. After a year or so I switched half to the L 2020 fund and left half in the G Fund. I like the G Fund because it is the only fund anywhere that is guaranteed not to go down in value and over the past ten years it has earned from a high of 6.43 % in 2000 to a low of 2.97 % in 2009.  The 10 year compounded rate of return for the G Fund was 4.62% compared to -0.94% for the C Fund.  About 18 months ago, when the market was close to its bottom, I mentioned in one of my articles that I switched much of my account to the C and S funds and they have performed well. The funds grew respectively 26.69 %  and 34.85% in 2009!

With the run up in prices this past year I’ll be going back to a more conservative mix in the not too distant future.  As always, I don’t recommend anyone changing their TSP allocations based on my personal preferences.

A Roth conversion is of interest to me for several reasons. First, your principal, capital gains, and dividends in a Roth account are tax free and you don’t have to take a minimum withdrawal at any age like you do with a standard 401K or IRA.

Another consideration is that taxes are projected to increase substantially next year.  I’m willing to take the hit and pay the taxes on whatever I decide to transfer to a Roth this year while taxes are still at their current level. You have the option to pay the taxes in two installments starting in 2011 however taxes will more than likely increase after 2010.  There are few tax free earnings options today like the Roth other than state municipal bonds but they are a bit too risky for me because so many States are having major financial difficulties. You can convert all or any portion of a 401K plan including the TSP without any limits on personal earnings like in the past.  One downside is the requirement to hold a Roth for 5 years prior to making qualified withdrawals, withdrawals taken before the five year point may be subject to a penalty.  Contact your financial advisor or Linda Duncan, our benefits and finance forum host, to discuss your options. Most financial management firms like Fidelity and Vanguard offer free retirement advice and can set up ROTH accounts for you. Linda Duncan is writing a comprehensive article on TSP fund withdrawal options for her March column and you will find her article on Roth Conversions highly informative.

Learn more about TSP benefits 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://postofficejobs.info (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 reply is not intended nor should it 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 BENEFITS / INSURANCE, ESTATE PLANNING, FINANCE / TIP, LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL, RETIREMENT CONCERNS

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Posted on Monday, 15th February 2010 by Linda Sherman

“Retirement is wonderful if you have two essentials — much to live on and much to live for.” – Author Unknown

To determine how much you will have to live on estimate your gross annuity and complete our retirement costs spreadsheet. After determining that you have the resources to retire comfortably, the following discussion will help you set your most advantageous retirement date.

Any day can be a great day to retire, provided you meet the eligibility requirements and you are personally ready to retire. The retirement day can be a workday, a non-workday or even a holiday.  Retirement dates often coincide with special dates such as, your birthday, attaining 30 years of service, the holiday season, the end of the year or another personal event. However, the selection of a retirement date can have significant financial consequences.  Some points to consider when selecting the perfect date include:

1. Annuity Commencement. Annuities only start on specific days.  Consider selecting a retirement date that minimizes the days in a non-pay status.  To avoid days in a non-pay status, work until the beginning date of your retirement annuity.

• FERS – The voluntary retirement annuities always begin on the first of the month.  FERS retirees can minimize their days without pay by selecting the last work day of the month as the retirement date.  If a FERS retiree selected a September third retirement date, the first annuity payment would be on November first.  By simply changing the retirement date to August 31^st, the first annuity payment would be on October first – one month sooner.
• CSRS – A CSRS annuity may begin on the first, second, third or forth of the month.  Many CSRS employees retire on the third so the annuity begins on the fourth.  If you retire on the first through the third, your annuity is reduced for that first month to compensate for the days worked.  For example, if you worked on the third, your retirement would be reduced by 3/30’s (10%) of a month.  The annuity on the following month would be the full annuity and is always paid on the first of the month.

Unlike most personnel actions, retirements are always effective at the end of the work day. If you select Friday as your retirement date, and Friday is a scheduled workday, then the retirement is effective after your scheduled hours for Friday.  If you are a CSRS employee working Monday through Friday, and you are considering retirement dates of Friday the first, Saturday the second or a Sunday the third, Friday might be the best day to retire.  This is because Saturday and Sunday are your days off, so you do not receive pay for those days from your job. However, the annuity could begin on Saturday.

2. End of pay period. Consider retiring at the end of a pay period for maximum leave accrual.  If you retire at the end of a pay period, you receive additional hours of leave accrual, four hours of sick leave and eight hours of annual leave (if you earn eight hours per pay period). The eight hours of annual leave is paid in a lump sum after retirement and the four hours of sick leave may be used to increase the amount of service used in the annuity computation.  For retirement purposes, the term “end of the pay period” means the end of your bi-weekly scheduled work hours.  Therefore, if you are working a compressed work schedule and you complete your 80-hour tour-of-duty on Thursday, you can retire at the end of the day on Thursday to receive the maximum annual leave accumulation for the pay period.

3. End of the leave year. Maximize the lump sum annual leave payment by retiring at the end of the leave year.  If you accumulated the maximum annual leave carryover from the prior year (usually 240 hours) and you accumulated additional annual leave in your last year (up to 208 hours if you earn eight hours per pay period and did not take annual leave), the result could be 448 hours of annual leave paid to you upon retirement.  There are two additional benefits to receiving the lump sum annual leave payment at the end of the leave year:

• If there is a pay increase in January, the increased pay is used to compute the lump sum annual leave payment as if you actually worked during the period.  For example, it you retire on December 31^st and federal employees are due to receive a 3% pay increase effective on January seventh, the lump sum annual leave is payable for the first week at your current pay rate and the remaining days at the pay rate including the 3% pay increase.
• Potentially, the taxes due on the lump sum payment will be less if you are retiring at the end of the year.  For example, if you retire at the end of 2010 and the lump sum payment occurs in 2011, then the taxes on the lump sum payment will be due with your 2011 taxes.  Since your taxable income is normally less as a retiree, thus the taxes due on the lump sum annual leave payment would be less.

4. Creditable Service. Maximize the full months of creditable service used in the retirement annuity computation.  The annuity is computed using only whole months of service.  Additional days of service are not used in the computation.  For example, if you are a CSRS employee retiring with 30 years, 8 months and 29 days of federal service, your annuity is computed using 30 years and 8 months of service.  The 29 days of federal service are not used in the computation.  If you worked one additional month and did not use your sick leave for the month, the years of service would be 30 years and 10 months of creditable service.   By working one additional month, you receive two months of service – one month for the extra month worked and an additional month when combining the eight hours of sick leave with the 29 days that would have been lost.  Currently, FERS employees only receive 50% of the accumulated sick leave hours when computing creditable service.  However, by 2014, FERS employees will receive full credit for the sick leave, just like CSRS employees.  For more information on how sick leave is used in the annuity computation see: http://federalretirement.net/sickleave.htm

5. TSP Contributions. Maximize your TSP contributions for increased deferred compensation.  You can contribute up to 100% of your bi-weekly earnings to TSP before you retire to maximize the amount in TSP, as long as the contribution does not exceed the annual contributions limit, currently $16,500 in 2010.  Contributions to TSP, 401ks and IRAs can only come from earned income. The retirement annuity is not considered earned income, therefore, this may be your last opportunity to build this tax-deferred retirement fund.

6. COLA. Consider the Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for a maximum annuity increase in the year after retirement.  The COLA increases the annuity amount for the next year based on increases in the Consumer Price Index.  The COLAs are effective on December first of every year and are included in the payment the annuitant receives in January.  If you have been retired less than a full year, the COLA is simply prorated by one-twelfth of the COLA for each full month you received benefits. In deciding which day to retire, the COLA consideration is only important if you are not retiring at the end of a month.  If you select the third as your retirement date, you will not receive a full COLA for this month when the COLA is due the following year – hence losing one-twelfth of the COLA increase for this partial month.  This only occurs in the first year of retirement.  In the second year of retirement you will receive the entire COLA.  For more information on COLAs see: http://www.opm.gov/retire/annuity/cola/2009cola.asp

You likely cannot utilize all of these suggestions in selecting the optimum retirement date.  Occasionally, the stars align and you can use several of these suggestions at once. The key to selecting a retirement date is choosing a date that is most beneficial to you; to retire informed and without regret.  Hakuna Matata!

While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in providing retirement and benefits information, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this article and they specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a financial professional where appropriate.

Visit http://federalretirement.net often to learn more about retirement options, benefits, and estate planning issues and I suggest signing up to receive my FREE monthly benefits newsletter.

Linda Duncan

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http://federaljobs.net (Federal Career & Job Center)
http://searchfedjobs.com (Federal, State, & Private Sector Job Search)
http://federalretirement.net (FREE Retirement Planning Guide)
http://federalretirement.net/jobs.htm (Retiree Job Opportunities)
http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
http://postofficejobs.info (Postal Career Center)
http://ehsjobs.org (Environmental Health & Safety Job Center)
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Posted in ANNUITIES / ELIGIBILITY, BENEFITS / INSURANCE, ESTATE PLANNING, FINANCE / TIP, RETIREMENT CONCERNS

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Posted on Tuesday, 26th January 2010 by Dennis Damp

Thanks to the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act a number of retirement benefit changes were implemented that will help many federal employees and retirees.  Everything from some retirees being able to keep both their annuity and federal check if they decide to go back to work for Uncle Sam as a rehired annuitant , more advantageous part time service annuity computations for CSRS service, actuarial reduced CSRS annuities rather than paying back your earlier withdrawals, to FERS sick leave computations, and more.

There is a little in this bill for everyone and it will be awhile before OPM regulations are published for all programs. These changes can potentially make a significant difference in your annuity calculations and others provide equitable resolutions to long standing problems. OPM issued general guidance on January 12, 2010 in their Benefits Administration Letter number 10-101.

Depositing refunds under FERS (Now authorized)

Until recently, when a FERS employee left government service and withdrew their employee contributions they were not allowed to redeposit their withdrawals if they returned to federal service at a later date. FERS employees irrevocably lost all previous service.  Now individuals who are subsequently reemployed can make a redeposit of the amount refunded, plus interest, and receive credit for the reinstated service.  Read more about this issue including eligibility dates on our FERS Annuity page.

Part-time service CSRS annuity computations

The two tier system of calculation high three average salary was eliminated for part time employment periods. Prior to this new revision there were two systems used to calculate the average high three years salary for service performed prior to and after April 7, 1986. In accordance with previous law, one high-three average salary was based on the pay actually received and the other was based on pay the individual would have received assuming they worked full-time (the deemed high-three).

Section 1903 provides that the “deemed high-three” average salary will be utilized for all service, regardless of when performed.  This revision doesn’t change the other provisions applicable to calculation of annuities involving part-time service.  The amendment applies only to annuities based on a separation from service occurring on or after October 28, 2009.

Actuarially reduced annuity under CSRS

CSRS employees who received refunds of retirement deductions for a period of service ending prior to October 1, 1990, may make a redeposit of the refund by actuarial annuity reduction in lieu of cash redeposit.  Actuarial reductions are now permitted in lieu of cash redeposit for refunds covering periods of service ending prior to March 1, 1991. The amendment applies only to non-disability annuities based on a separation from service occurring on or after October 28, 2009. Visit our CSRS Annuity page for more information on your CSRS annuity.

Other changes included FERS sick leave credit towards retirement, part-time reemployment with the government without penalties, and non-foreign area retirement equity provisions.

Jobs Update

We continue to receive job postings from employers seeking to hire part and full time retired federal employees. Check out the new listings on our jobs board for federal human resource specialists, engineers and others.  There are also many part time Census jobs available and with the latest changes that allow agencies to rehire federal employees part-time without affecting their annuity, there are many opportunities available.

We now offer a free job search in your local area for part time jobs, consulting jobs, and temp jobs. When you click on the link it will automatically display jobs in your geographic area.

If you are collecting Social Security and under full retirement age you can still earn up to $14,160 a year without impacting your Social Security benefits.  For every $2 over the limit, $1 is withheld from benefits. At full retirement age there are no earnings restrictions.

Learn more about benefits and financial issues from Linda Duncan, our Benefits forum host 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)
• http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
• http://postofficejobs.info (Postal Career Center)
• 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 and federal regulations are 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 reply is not intended nor should it 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, LIFESTYLE / TRAVEL, RETIREMENT CONCERNS, SOCIAL SECURITY / MEDICARE

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Posted on Sunday, 24th January 2010 by Chuck Jumpeter

HAPPY NEW YEAR! It seems like just yesterday that we were all concerned about the “Y2K” bug and now, here we are, a full decade later and Y2K is nothing more than an old joke. We were also challenged with another bug, swine flu, and that too, while creating some problems, did not have the severe impact we all braced for.

This last decade also brought us numerous challenges that, while we’ll never forget, we certainly won’t dwell upon them here. Suffice it to say that the first decade of the 21^st century is behind us and now we must focus on moving forward and creating the future we all want.

Concerning our wellness, as we ended 2009, I asked the question, “Did we miss the bus?” Over this past decade, it seems that the only thing that grew more than the cost of health care was the size of our waistlines. While medical science has provided us with better treatment options, heart disease and cancer still top the list of what kills us. Amazingly, the proper usage of prescription medication has now become one of the leading causes of death. Cardiovascular diseases are being diagnosed in children, type II diabetes is still on the rise and numerous other indicators tell us that in spite of technological and treatment advancements which may help us live longer, we are not getting healthier.

Starting this month, I am going to take a page out of David Letterman’s playbook. Over the next months, we’ll take a ride On the Bus to Great Health. I’ll highlight 10 stops along the way to help us all meet our wellness goals. While I’ll present them as #10 through #1, the importance and significance of each will depend upon your own individual circumstances. I’d encourage each of you to keep this list handy and incorporate these suggestions into your daily routine as much as possible. Ready? Let’s ride!

#10 – Plan Your Journey. It is virtually impossible to reach a goal that you haven’t set. During our careers we’ve all had goals and objectives that we had to meet. We developed matrices to track our progress and had specific outcomes to achieve in order to determine if we were successful. Why should we treat our health and wellness any differently?

In order to help you plan your journey, I’ve created the acronym GETFIT. Let’s see what it means.

G is for Goals. How appropriate to set goals in January – can you say New Year’s Resolution? Identify your fitness goals in specific terms. Saying “I want to lose weight” is not a goal, it’s merely a wish that will never come true. If weight loss is your goal, pick a number and a time. “I will lose 20 pounds by March 31^st” is an example of a properly stated goal. While doing this for some topics may seem tricky, you can always drop me a note with what you are trying to do and I can help you craft an appropriate goal.

E is for Evaluation. This step is critical before, during and after each activity. When dealing with your health, knowing where you stand prior to making changes is critical. Getting a physical and consulting your physician prior to starting a wellness program will identify your limitations as well as help you establish responsible goals. Your doctor can also help you track your progress. I like to set up a spreadsheet listing specific, measurable data to help me keep track of my progress.

T is for Time Frame. Unrealistic time frames are a leading cause of failure to meet a goal. E.g. if we use the weight loss example, saying you want to drop 20 pounds by the end of the week will only set you up to fail since your body simply can’t do that. Losing 2 – 4 pounds/week, depending on your current weight, is a more realistic goal. In order for a time frame to be met, it must be reasonable, responsible and measurable.

F is for Fitness. This may sound a bit counter intuitive, but you have to get fit in order to get fit. Huh? Let me describe it this way. I enjoy cycling in the summer, but I would never consider riding my bike to get into shape, rather I get into shape so I can ride my bike. We all should be getting about an hour a day of physical activity. Those 60 minutes do not necessarily have to be consecutive, but that would help. Identify where you have time during your day and get busy.

I is for Information. Remember that matrix we mentioned earlier? Well, now is the time to create it. Whether you use your computer and a spreadsheet or you like a pencil and paper, it really doesn’t matter. Like the Nike commercials say, “Just do it!” Use the information from your evaluation stage as a baseline and then track your progress. I’d recommend a weekly check. Too often may not show the results and too seldom will cause a loss of interest. E.g. tracking your weight on a daily basis could be discouraging since your weight may actually go up occasion as your body adjusts to your new eating habits while monitoring cholesterol too often is not even practical.

T is for Tenacity. Wellness goals require focus, commitment and dedication. Without a tenacious resolve, minimal success may be all you can expect. To fully realize your goals and meet your expectations, you need to remain tenacious and dedicated. The old adage says that if you stick to something for 28 consecutive days it will become a habit. Don’t give up when it gets tough. Push through it and turn your new activities into habits and you’ll be successful in your wellness endeavor.

Well now we’ve taken the first stop along our bus trip to great health. Next month we’ll explore #9 – Back to Basics. In the meantime know that we have numerous products to help you with your trip. Simply visit either of our web sites, www.shaklee.net/jumpeter and www.createyourfuture.com/jumpeter, or drop me a note and I’ll be glad to help you plan your journey along the road to good health.

Visit http://federalretirement.net often to learn more about retirement options, wellness and health issues, benefits, and estate planning guidance and I suggest signing up to receive my FREE monthly wellness newsletter.

Yours in Good Health,

CJ

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)
http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
http://postofficejobs.info (Postal Career Center)
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Educational Opportunities (Find educational opportunities in your area)

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

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Posted on Saturday, 16th January 2010 by Linda Sherman

What’s all the hoopla about the Roth retirement accounts?  Traditional and Roth retirement accounts have been around for years, but recent changes in IRS tax laws, and the TSP-Roth option available in 2011 have created renewed interest in Roth investment opportunities.  With these new opportunities, it is important to evaluate which option is best for you. This is just one of many financial planning issues federal employees and retirees need to consider.

The main advantages of a Roth retirement account are:

• Tax planning
• Retirement income planning
• Inheritance planning

Tax planning: The tax implications are the most easily recognized difference between a Roth and a traditional retirement account.

Traditional IRA: This is a tax deferred account, which means the money deposited into a traditional retirement account is subtracted from your taxable income and potentially decreases your taxes payable in the year the deposit is made.  In addition, the earnings on the funds also grow tax-deferred. Thus, you pay no income taxes on the deposit or the earnings until the funds are withdrawn from the account.

Roth IRA: Money is deposited in a Roth account after income taxes are paid. It will not lower your taxable income in the year of the deposit. The Roth features tax-free withdrawals on the deposit and earnings for qualified distributions.  A qualified distribution is generally a distribution made after the Roth is established and funded for at least 5 years and is either:

1. Made on or after you turn 59½ ,
2. Made to a beneficiary after your death, or
3. Made because you are disabled.

Sounding a little like a pay me now or pay me later argument, with little difference in the Roth and traditional options?  The key is predicting whether your tax rate will be lower now or in the future.  Often people make less money in retirement.  It would seem logical if you make less money, then your tax rate is lower too.  However, income earned is only a part of the taxable equation.  With fewer personal exemptions and deductions, taxable income can increase.  Your effective tax rate is often lowest when you have a house full of kids, deductible education expenses and a large mortgage.

In addition, many experts forecast tax rates will increase because of the exploding federal deficit and the possible expiration of the tax cuts enacted in 2001.  If you expect your effective tax rate to be higher in the future because of higher income or higher tax rates, then a Roth contribution, or a Roth conversion, may be something to consider.

Retirement Income Planning: So much attention is paid to the tax differences between the Roth and traditional retirement accounts that the other advantages are rarely mentioned.  A significant advantage of a Roth retirement account is in retirement income planning.  Traditional retirement accounts require you to begin Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) when you reach age 70 ½, whether you need the money or not.  There are no RMDs with a Roth account.  You decide when to take the money out and how much to withdraw, provided you are at least 59 ½ and the money has been in the Roth for at least five years.

RMDs are based on the average life expectancy on actuarial charts.  If you are not necessarily “average” – because your grandma lived to be 102, or you plan to continue working well beyond the normal retirement dates – the Roth may give you more options for planning your income disbursements.   Perhaps you anticipate needing the funds as you age for medical expenses, or you would like to provide an inheritance for your children.  A Roth account allows more flexibility for financial planning options.

Inheritance Planning: Would you rather pay the taxes on your retirement account assets, or have your beneficiaries pay the taxes on the assets? Since the taxes are not due until the money is withdrawn from a traditional retirement account, the beneficiaries who inherit the funds pay the tax. To learn more about inheritance issues and to explore estate planning techniques visit http://federalretirement.net/estate.htm.

With a Roth, income tax is pre-paid on the contribution and the earnings are not taxable.  Therefore, a Roth IRA is received free of income tax by the person who inherits the account, but a Roth account may be subject to estate taxes. If you have a large estate that is taxable, the size of your estate is reduced by the amount of income tax previously paid. The result is a smaller estate to be taxed, and the end value of the inheritance may be greater. RMDs are mandatory for the person who inherits either a Roth or a traditional retirement account.

2010 Roth Conversion Opportunity: Converting a traditional account to a Roth account has been limited to those individuals with a modified adjusted gross income of $100,000 or less.  In 2010, however, the income exclusion has been removed and people of all incomes can convert their traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.  The tax, retirement income and inheritance planning advantages also apply to Roth conversions.  Keep in mind, when you convert money from a traditional to a Roth account, taxes are due on all funds transferred.  For funds converted in 2010, you can elect to include the entire amount converted as income in 2010, or have the income amount split between the 2011 and 2012 tax year.

Both the Roth and traditional retirement accounts are fantastic methods to save for retirement.  Consider funding both a Roth and a traditional retirement account for maximum benefits and retirement planning options.  If you are considering contributing or converting to a Roth account, plan to do so in years when your effective tax rate is the lowest for the greatest tax benefit.

If you have questions or concerns about your retirement plan, or want to discuss your personal situation with a financial advisor, please contact me toll-free at 1-877-346-3434.

Visit http://federalretirement.net/tsproth.htm for updates, clarifications, and questions and answers concerning Roth IRAs.

Need more information to evaluate your options, try the calculators available at:  http://www.dinkytown.net/java/RothvsTraditional401k.html.

TSP – Roth option: http://www.tsp.gov/forms/oc06-5.pdf

For tax information about converting to a Roth IRA: http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p590.pdf

While the publisher and author have used their best efforts in providing retirement and benefits information, they make no representations or warranties with respect to the accuracy or completeness of the content of this article and they specifically disclaim any implied warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. The advice and strategies contained herein may not be suitable for your situation. You should consult with a financial professional where appropriate.

Visit http://federalretirement.net often to learn more about retirement options, benefits, and estate planning issues and I suggest signing up to receive my FREE monthly benefits newsletter.

Linda Duncan

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)
http://fedcareer.info (Career Development Center)
http://postofficejobs.info (Postal Career Center)
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)

Posted in BENEFITS / INSURANCE, ESTATE PLANNING, FINANCE / TIP, RETIREMENT CONCERNS, SURVIVOR INFORMATION, UNCATEGORIZED

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