Check out these recent articles written by ProFeds Founder and federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik.
Quitting Your Federal Job Before You’re Fully-Eligible to Retire?
A question that we often hear is, “I have plenty of years in the federal system (but I am nowhere near the required age), yet I want to retire now! Can I retire today and still get a pension?”
Four Actions to Take Now to Avoid the FEGLI Trap
The federal government made it so easy for you to sign up for life insurance – and at such a great price while you were young – you most likely took advantage of their offer. Then you probably never really gave much thought about your life insurance needs again. But are you aware of the “FEGLI trap”?
Can I “Max Out” the TSP Even if I Don’t Work the Whole Year?
The end of the year is a very popular time for federal employees to retire. However, many choose to retire in other months of the year for various reasons. Perhaps you reach full eligibility in March or simply decide to call it quits in September. Are you curious how your last year of work might affect your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) balance?
3 Questions to Ask When Hiring a Financial Professional
Choosing the right financial professional might be one of the most important decisions you make. After all, you’re trusting this person to manage your money and to help you plan for your financial future.
3 Year-End Retirement Planning Moves to Make
If this year has disrupted your retirement planning, you still have some time to get back on track. As we say, it’s never too late, never too early and never too often to plan!
4 Important Considerations for Getting the Most Out of Your 2020 Tax Return
No one looks forward to filing their income taxes. And 2020 was, to put it lightly, a vastly different tax year. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced the federal income tax filing due date for individuals…
3 Financial Pitfalls to Avoid in Retirement
A financially stable retirement depends on knowing what to do – and what not to do – with your benefits, money and assets. Here are some common pitfalls to watch out for (and what to do about them)…
5 Things Retirees Wish They Were Told Before Retiring
ProFeds Founder Chris Kowalik was recently interviewed as a part of Authority Magazine’s series about the “5 Things Retirees Say They Wish They Were Told Before They Began Retirement.” Below is an excerpt from that interview…
7 Retirement Regrets to Avoid
Many American retirees have regrets about how they saved for retirement and are finding they are unable to maintain their pre-retirement standard of living…
8 Frequently Asked Questions About Your TSP
Many federal employees have concerns about their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts. Either they’re not sure what they should be doing in the TSP, or they may not know how it fits into their bigger retirement picture…
3 Crucial Federal Retirement Choices
There are a lot of moving parts when it comes to your retirement. Many of us become overwhelmed when faced with all of the options and decisions we need to make. Your retirement planning is a series of choices. Some are minor while others can have major consequences on your future and financial security…
4 Tips for Dealing with Financial Stress During Uncertain Times
In these unprecedented times, your financial stress is most likely at an all-time high. To help you navigate, federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik has four tips on how to deal with monetary worries and protect your financial health…
Top 5 Things to Know About Your TSP During a Market Downturn
Many Thrift Savings Plan investors have seen their accounts dwindle in value in just a few days. Whether you’re close to retirement or have a ways to go, federal retirement expert, Chris Kowalik, provides some candid insights on this topic before making any knee-jerk reactions…
4 Myths About Taxes in Retirement
This article explains why taxes can derail an otherwise great retirement plan…
3 Retirement Resolutions You Should Make for the New Year
This article discusses three retirement resolutions you should be making in the new year — specifically how making smaller, realistic goals (and sticking to them) can lead to big results over time…
New Long Term Care Insurance Plan FLTCIP 3.0
This article discusses who is eligible for the FLTIP 3.0 version, what options 1.0 and 2.0 participants have, changes in the benefit periods and inflation protection options, and the premium stabilization feature…
Financial Planning Pep Talk for Federal Employees
This article discusses how procrastination can derail your financial planning — and provides tips on reaching your goals…
Retiring Under the FERS MRA+10 Provision
This article discusses the way to avoid one of the penalties associated with MRA+10 rules — plus how MRA+10 affects the FERS Special Retirement Supplement…
3 Financial Planning Commands Federal Employees Need to Know
This article describes how not taking action can negatively affect your retirement…
Federal Employee Pay Raises vs. Retiree COLAs
This article discusses the differences between pay raises and COLAs — including who gets them, how they are determined, and when they are applied…
How FEHB and Medicare Work Together in Retirement
This article examines the two parts of Medicare that retiring federal employees should be most concerned about, the pros and cons of having both FEHB and Medicare in retirement, plus three different FEHB and Medicare combinations — and their advantages and disadvantages…
3 Myths About FEHB in Retirement
This article dispels several misconceptions about how the Federal Employee Health Benefits program works in retirement…
10 Must-Do Action Items to Prepare to Retire from Federal Service
As you begin planning for retirement, you may be concerned that you’ll miss some critical steps. This article provides the action items to ensure you’re on track…
How Federal Employees Can Prepare for Taxes in Retirement (Part 2)
The tax consequences in retirement can be overwhelming when you consider all of the benefits you have available to you. This article discusses the the tax consequences under Social Security, FEHB, and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)…
How Federal Employees Can Prepare for Taxes in Retirement (Part 1)
This article discusses the the tax consequences of the CSRS/FERS pension, survivor benefits, and the FERS Special Retirement Supplement…
Tips on Updating Beneficiaries to Your Federal Benefits
This article helps federal employees to understand how beneficiaries work, and what happens if no one is assigned to receive the benefit upon the death of an employee or retiree…
Why 62 Is the Magic Age for FERS Employees to Retire
This article outlines three potentially significant incentives for FERS employees to wait until the age of 62 to retire — plus some natural by-products of waiting longer to retire…
Why Having Emergency Savings is Vital for Feds
This article outlines the importance of emergency savings and how you can build an emergency fund with no out-of-pocket costs…
10 Tips to Get Your Financial Plan on Track in the New Year
How confident are you that you will have the money you need — when you need it? This article provides some tips to make the most of your financial resolutions…
