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.
April 1,2026 is the deadline for federal employees and retirees born between January 1 and December 31,1952 and who own traditional IRAs to take their first traditional IRA required minimum…
In this episode, Ed and Dan explain what happens when federal employees contribute too much to their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), especially if they also participated in another employer-sponsored retirement…
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…
In this episode, Ed and Dan explain how the SECURE Act 2.0 affects the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) for federal employees and retirees. From required minimum distribution (RMD) age changes…
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.…
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, Ed and Dan explain the newest Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) option: Roth TSP in-plan conversions, starting January 28, 2026. Federal employees, retirees, and spouse beneficiaries can now…
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…