TSP Distributions and Tax Planning for Federal Retirees
Federal employees will face a challenge in retirement – figuring out how to spend their money versus accumulating it. After spending 30+ years saving and investing, distributing funds can be daunting, but it’s exactly what’s needed in retirement. Tax planning during the
FERS Retirees May Want to Delay Social Security
The effective tax could be a great reason for FERS retirees to delay their Social Security until later in retirement.
Should a FERS Retiree Buy a House in Retirement
It’s not uncommon for a federal employee to retire and buy a house later. I have consulted on this topic three times in just the past few weeks. The biggest question retirees have is if they should take the funds
Considerations When Purchasing a Home
Home purchases are arguably the biggest purchase we will make in our lifetime. It is very common for a young physician coming out of residency to be facing this decision head on
Tax Bracket Misconceptions
Federal income taxes can be terribly misunderstood. Sometimes I believe that whoever writes tax law wants us to misunderstand it
Four Things Federal Retirees Can't do With TSP
The Thrift Savings Plan is a great benefit that all federal employees should be using to accumulate funds for retirement, but it doesn’t work quite as smoothly
Rule of 55, 50 for LEO and Early Access to TSP
The rule of 55 is a great feature of your Thrift Savings Plan that helps early retirees. This IRS rule means that those who leave
How to Get a Tax Free Retirement
This is a headline that I see often on retirement articles, but is it possible? Yes, it is possible, but the more realistic headline would be: “How to Retire and Maintain a Low Income Tax Bracket.” Before we dive into details, I want to point out that when you see this title, it is normally “click bait” to try and sell you a type of life insurance product. How can you achieve a tax-free retirement?
Don't Get Taken at a Federal Retirement Seminar
Have you ever been to a retirement seminar put on by your agency or employee union or group? Did it include a “financial advisor” who spoke for a short period of time? Retirement seminars for federal employees are great, but many of these events are actually sponsored by so-called financial advisors who are trying to sell insurance products.
TSP is Getting More Expensive
The Thrift Savings Plan has gotten more expensive in 2023. Problem after problem headlined the TSP news in the previous year of 2022 and they have started 2023 with more of the same.
Warning: Adjust Tax Withholding in Your First Year of FERS Retirement
Two things in life are certain – death and taxes – one we have very little control over and the other some control over, possibly even more in retirement. Retirement is a different situation than our working years because financial psychology changes from the accumulation phase to a distribution phase.
Numbers to Know for 2023
Retirement savings and taxes are two things that we must navigate when saving for retirement. These two topics are forever changing and something we need to keep up with.