Blog

Smart Actions in a Market Downturn

A market downturn, or bear market, can be scary for even the most seasoned investors. Investors can easily run through a rollercoaster of emotions--from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows

Move to the G Fund

What should a federal employee do with their Thrift Savings Plan when the market is going down like it has been?

Retiring This Year? Here is a PreRetirement Checklist

Retiring can be one of the biggest decisions a person makes in their lifetime and should not be taken lightly. Preparation can be a key component to an enjoyable

What Do It Yourselfers Get Wrong

A large percentage of people choose to do their own investing and financial planning. Like anything else, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing if it is done well

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a great tool for federal employees to save for retirement. Saving, and even maxing out your contributions to TSP is normally thought of as a good thing. Yes, maxing out your TSP can be very beneficial, but may

The Secure Act Means Big Changes to Retirement

On December 20, 2019, the US Senate passed a $1.4 trillion dollar spending deal that included the passing of retirement legislation known as the SECURE Act. This law affects many aspects of retirement that are

Going it Alone

Today’s world is full of do-it-yourselfers, and rightfully so due to our access to information. Anything from house repairs to car repairs to investing can be done on your own, but the question I ponder is, “Is it worth it?”

TSP Modernization Act is Here, What Now?

On September 15, the TSP Modernization Act should be in place giving federal employees more access to their Thrift Savings plan. What does that mean and how will it affect federal employees?

Retire Now or Work Longer?

Federal employees considering retirement are constantly debating whether or not they should work for another year, or two years, or even three

Different Advisors and Their Compensation

Seeking financial advice can be a daunting task for federal employees. There are many types of advisors that provide advice and most of them will claim that they are

Evaluating a LEO or ATC Contract Position

Many federal employees are in the fortunate position of having the option of moving to a contract position at retirement, or even before they plan to retire. This can happen with specialties

My Pet Peeves in the Financial Industry

The financial advice industry has gotten plenty of bad press in the past and rightfully so. The industry is not isolated from criminals, deception and

Survivor Annuity Versus Life Insurance

A common practice of married federal employees is to take a survivor annuity when they retire. The goal of the survivor annuity is to guarantee a benefit for a surviving spouse

Benefits Decisions at FERS Retirement

The final step toward retirement in the workplace is filling out retirement paperwork. That paperwork contains a few very important decisions for

Year End Review – 10 Ways to Save on Taxes and Expenses

The end of the year is a great time to do a review of your finances. Things that tend to change at the beginning of each year are contribution limits and taxes.

Should a Federal Employee Pay Off Their House?

The question of paying off your house or not is one that seems to be a constant debate among people approaching retirement. In fact, it’s a good question for anyone with a mortgage.

It’s Time For a TSP Conversion

Everyone loves tax free money, but sometimes it’s hard to pay more today for a future benefit. Roth conversions definitely fall in the camp of

What Happens to TSP When You Turn 70?

Most people are aware that they will be required to take money out of their qualified accounts when they get older. But as with anything in life, the timing is what matters

4 Things to Know About Your FERS Annuity

The FERS annuity is the foundation of the federal employee retirement plan. While some federal employees may know how to calculate their FERS annuity, I have found that

Save Tax $$ By Bunching Deductions

If you knew how to potentially save a couple thousand dollars a year, would you do it? If yes, then I would recommend looking in to bunching your expenses.

Is Dave Ramsey Right?

Dave Ramsey is a household name when it comes to teaching finance. He gives a lot of advice on various financial topics, but should we take what he says to the bank?

How High Income Earners Can Save on the Cost of College

Paying for college can easily be one of the biggest expenses that parents will incur during their lifetimes

The Biggest Retirement Fear

Many studies about retirement fears show that retirees’ biggest fear is running out of money. Running out of money as a valid fear for retirees, but should it be a valid fear for federal retirees?