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Month: December 2022

Newsletters and Quizzes

Serving Those Who Serve’s Weekly Quizzes: Top 5 of 2022

Dec 30, 2022 STWS

Celebrating the end of the year with the top 5 quizzes of 2022 with the most submissions!

Federal Employee Benefits

Top 5 Articles by Jennifer Meyer in 2022

Dec 29, 2022 Jennifer Meyer

Celebrating the end of the year with the top 5 most-read articles of 2022 by STWS advisor, Jennifer Meyer!

Federal Agency News

Benefits Ben’s Blog: Top 5 of 2022

Dec 28, 2022 Benefits Ben

Celebrating the end of the year with the top 5 most-read articles of 2022 by Benefits Ben!

The FEDZONE

Strategies to Reduce Medicare Part B IRMAA Thresholds

Dec 28, 2022 Ed Zurndorfer

Using Roth IRA Conversions, QCDs and Asset Allocation to Reduce Medicare Part B IRMAA Thresholds.

FEDLIFE Podcast The FEDZONE

The FedLife Podcast: Ins and Outs of Medicare and FEHB

Dec 27, 2022 STWS

In this episode, Dan Sipe and Ed Zurndorfer talk about FEHB and Medicare season

Newsletters and Quizzes

Weekly Quiz #37: Federal Retirement, Sick Leave, and NASA

Dec 23, 2022 STWS

Take our latest quiz and share with your federal friends and family!

Federal Agency News

Happy Holidays from Serving Those Who Serve

Dec 23, 2022 STWS

From All of Us At STWS- Happy Holidays!

Federal Employee Benefits

Annual Leave for Federal Employees: Accumulation and Retirement

Dec 22, 2022 Benefits Ben

How does annual leave impact a federal employees’ retirement? How does it accumulate, and in what situations can it be restored?

Federal Agency News

OPM Releases Updated Guidance for Weather and Safety Leave

Dec 22, 2022 Benefits Ben

Winter is here and OPM has updated their guidelines for Weather and Safety leave.

The FEDZONE

Appealing a Medicare B Premium Notice

Dec 21, 2022 Ed Zurndorfer

What you need to know about taxable income, Social Security, and challenging a Medicare B Premium notice.

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Fedlife Podcast
https://youtu.be/hRk3MybMmdc
Recent Posts
  • FedLife Podcast: Medicare Enrollment Deadlines and What Feds Need to Know
  • The Fed15 Podcast: Navigating Return-to-Office Costs and CFPB Uncertainty
  • Departing Employees Need to Consider What Happens to Their HCFSAs and HSAs
  • The Future of Social Security: Potential Reforms and Their Impact on Feds
  • What USAID’s Shutdown Means for Federal Employees and Their Financial Futures
Upcoming Webinars
Understanding Your FEGLI Benefits
Understanding Your FEGLI Benefits
5 May 25
Understanding Your Social Security Benefits
Understanding Your Social Security Benefits
14 May 25
Understanding Your FEHB & Medicare Benefits
Understanding Your FEHB & Medicare Benefits
21 May 25
TSP Planning With Ed Zurndorfer
TSP Planning With Ed Zurndorfer
22 May 25
Tax Planning with Ed Zurndorfer
Tax Planning with Ed Zurndorfer
28 May 25
Early Retirement Planning (RIFs, VERA, VSIP, Discontinued Service Retirement, and more) for FERS Employees
Early Retirement Planning (RIFs, VERA, VSIP, Discontinued Service Retirement, and more) for FERS Employees
28 May 25

Checkbook’s FEHB comparison tool lets you easily compare 158 FEHB plans and helps instruct how Medicare Part B will integrate with your FEHB plan.

USE CODE “stwserve” FOR A 20% DISCOUNT for the Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees

*Consumer’s Checkbook not sponsored or endorsed by Raymond James, and should in no way be considered an endorsement of, referral to, recommendation for, or offer to purchase any product or service from Raymond James or the Financial Advisors.

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Lee Sipe and Associates DBA Serving Those Who Serve.

2025 Forbes Best-in-State Wealth Management Teams

Best-In-StateWealth Management Teamsis based on an algorithm of qualitative criteria, mostly gained through telephone and in-person due diligence interviews, and quantitative data. This ranking is based upon the period from 3/31/2022 to 3/31/2023 and was released on 01/09/2024. Advisor teams that are considered must have one advisor with a minimum of seven years of experience, have been in existence as a team for at least one year, have at least 5 team members, and have been nominated by their firm. The algorithm weights factors like revenue trends, assets under management, compliance records, industry experience and those that encompass best practices in their practices and approach to working with clients. Portfolio performance is not a criteria due to varying client objectives and lack of audited data. Out of approximately 10,100 team nominations, 4,100 advisor teams received the award based on thresholds. This ranking is not indicative of an advisor's future performance, is not an endorsement, and may not be representative of individual clients' experience. Neither Raymond James nor any of its Financial Advisors or RIA firms pay a fee in exchange for this award/rating. Compensation provided for using the rating. Raymond James is not affiliated with Forbes or Shook Research, LLC.

Please see https://www.forbes.com/lists/wealth-management-teams-best-in-state/ for more info.

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA/SIPC

Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC, marketed as Serving Those Who Serve (STWS). Investment advisory services offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Serving Those Who Serve (STWS) is separately owned and operated and not independently registered as a broker-dealer or investment adviser. Raymond James financial advisors may only conduct business with residents of the states and/or jurisdictions for which they are properly registered. Therefore, response to a request for information may be delayed. Please note that not all of the investments and services mentioned are available in every state. Investors outside of the United States are subject to securities and tax regulations within their applicable jurisdictions that are not addressed on this site. Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website's users and/or members. Contact our office for information and availability.

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SIPC

STWS is owned and operated by Daniel Sipe and Tom Lee (the “Financial Advisors”). The Financial Advisors are registered financial professionals of Raymond James Financial Services, Inc. (“RJFS”), a broker-dealer registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. (“RJFSA”), an investment adviser registered with the SEC, (collectively, with their affiliates, “Raymond James”).

Mr. Zurndorfer does not pay compensation to or receive compensation from STWS in connection with Presentations hosted by Mr. Zurndorfer. However, Mr. Zurndorfer does provide similar educational presentations at certain Federal Retirement Benefits Seminars (“Seminars”) hosted by STWS, for which Mr. Zurndorfer receives compensation from STWS. All presentations, seminars, articles and videos are informational in nature and are not geared toward the circumstances or goals of any particular attendee; they are not intended to be, and should not be relied upon as, investment advice to anyone or a solicitation of Raymond James' services.

Mr. Zurndorfer is not affiliated with Raymond James, and is not authorized to provide investment advice on behalf of Raymond James, to solicit or refer investors to Raymond James, or to act for or bind Raymond James. The presentations, seminars, articles, videos, Mr. Zurndorfer, and the educational information provided therein are not sponsored or endorsed by Raymond James, and should in no way be considered an endorsement of, referral to, recommendation for, or offer to purchase any product or service from Raymond James or the Financial Advisors.

Federal government agencies, including the SEC, do not endorse or sponsor particular securities, issuers, products, services, professional credentials, firms, or individuals. Neither Raymond James, the Financial Advisors, STWS, nor Mr. Zurndorfer are affiliated with, endorsed by, or authorized to speak on behalf of the U.S. Government, the Federal Employee Retirement System, or any other Federal Government-sponsored benefits programs or retirement plans, including the Thrift Savings Plan (collectively, “Federal Benefits Plans”).