The FEDZONE contains all articles written by Ed Zurndorfer:
A former career Federal employee, Ed has published a staggering 1,200+ separate articles on Federal Benefits and Retirement!
Just “Google” his name, and you are likely to find a plethora of sites that contain his writings. Drawn to its mission to reach, teach
and serve Feds, Serving Those Who Serve is the only financial planning practice with which Ed has chosen to affiliate in over
20 years teaching. In addition to conducting Federal Benefits seminars for Serving Those Who Serve, you can find Ed’s
writings here on our blog in the FedZone, and on Fed-Soup, MyFederalRetirement, FederalNews Radio and NITP. He is a
member of the Maryland Society of Accountants, the National Association of Enrolled Agents, the International Society of
Certified Employee Benefits Specialists, the Financial Planning Association, the National Association of Health Underwriters,
and the Society of Financial Service Professionals. Since 1999, Ed has taught many thousands of Federal employees about
their benefits, in person and at Federal agencies all over the country. Ed is a true national treasure.
This column discusses the mortgage interest income tax deduction changes resulting from the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of 2025 (OBBBA). Before discussing these changes which could…
Two key deadlines are approaching for some federal employees and retirees. The first deadline is for those federal employees and retirees born between January 1 and December 31, 1952, and…
In July 2025, President Trump signed into law Public Law 119-21, commonly known as the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) of 2025. Among the provisions passed into law is…
The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 (TCJA) made two changes to the state and local taxes deduction included as an itemized deduction on IRS Form 1040 Schedule A.…
In this episode, Dan and Ed explain the new Roth TSP in-plan conversion feature beginning January 28, 2026. They review how the process works, eligibility requirements, tax considerations, and important…
In this episode, Dan and Ed review key year-end tax planning considerations for federal employees and retirees, with a focus on Roth IRA conversions in light of recent tax law…
Through the years, individuals have contributed to the different types of Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs). These different types of IRAs include deductible and nondeductible traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. In…
In this episode, Dan and Ed provide an overview of the Federal Flexible Spending Account (FSAFEDS) Health Care FSA (HCFSA) program for federal employees in 2026. They review enrollment rules,…
A recent STWS column, TSP Announces Start of Roth TSP In-Plan Conversions (https://stwserve.com/tsp-announces-start-of-roth-tsp-in-plan-conversions/) presents information regarding the start of Roth TSP in-plan conversions on January 28, 2026. This column discusses…
IRS Form 5498 (IRA Contribution Information) is vitally important for individuals who own any type of Individual Retirement Arrangement (IRA). The Form 5498 is completed by every IRA custodian meaning…