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.
The way the average American is employed has changed through the years. Parents of the “baby-boomer” generation typically worked for the same employer when they started working in their 20’s…
In this episode, Dan and Ed break down the tax implications of the Social Security Fairness Act and how it affects federal retirees. They discuss the impact of retroactive lump-sum…
Long-term care (LTC) insurance started in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s in response to the growing recognition of the need for financial protection against the prohibitive costs of LTC…
In this episode, Dan and Ed break down what it means to be vested in your FERS retirement and TSP. They explain when employees become eligible for deferred retirement, what…
Many individuals do not understand long-term care (LTC). LTC includes a range of services for individuals who have functional limitations or chronic health conditions. These limitations may be the result…
There is no doubt prescription drug costs are increasing and remain a financial challenge for many Americans, including federal employees and retirees. To help make prescription drug costs more affordable,…
In this episode, Dan and Ed break down the 2025 General Enrollment Period (GEP) for Medicare and what it means for federal employees and retirees. They explain the differences between…
Since early February 2025, thousands of federal employees have received notices from their agencies about losing their federal jobs. Many of these employees are not eligible for any type of…
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) offers two types of loans for TSP participants. One loan is called a general-purpose loan, and the other is called a primary residence loan. When…
A recent FEDZONE column discussed “vesting” retirement requirements for FERS employees. With thousands of federal employees losing their federal jobs in recent months, the question among many of these departing…