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.
A recent FEDZONE column (“TSP Announces Start of Roth TSP In-Plan Conversions”) presented an overview of the newest Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) option. Starting January 28, 2026, traditional TSP participants…
Federal employees who are enrolled in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) associated with a health savings account (HSA) are able to make both tax-deductible contributions to their HSAs and tax-free…
The annual benefits “open season” can be a challenging time for federal employees and retirees. This year’s benefits “open season” which started November 10,2025 and will conclude December 8,2025, is…
Federal employees and retirees are reminded each year at this time of year to perform year-end tax planning. This year is no exception, especially with the passage of the One…
In this episode, Dan and Ed break down the differences between Roth TSP and Roth IRA accounts for federal employees. They explain the advantages and limitations of each option, strategies…
In this episode, Dan and Ed discuss the most common mistakes federal employees make when purchasing and managing life insurance. They explain how to determine the right amount of coverage,…
According to an analysis from the Employee Benefits Research Institute, there are currently (2025) 3.2 million active health care flexible spending account (HCFSAs) in the US. A study from Benepass…
While in federal service, federal employees are privileged to have an important fringe benefit in the form of group health insurance. Employees enrolled in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB)…
The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, which includes the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program, provides health insurance benefits to approximately 8.2 million federal employees, U.S. Postal Service employees,…
In this episode, Dan and Ed break down how TSP beneficiary rules and RMD requirements affect federal employees and their families. They explain the importance of properly naming a TSP…