Medicare can seem straightforward until income comes into play. The Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) is the extra amount some higher-income Medicare enrollees pay for Medicare Part B and Part D coverage. IRMAA does not affect the Medicare coverage you receive, but ... Read More

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) now uses the Student Aid Index (SAI), replacing the long-standing Expected Family Contribution (EFC). The goal remains the same – measure a family’s ability to pay for college – but the calculation has changed ... Read More

Federal employees rarely react to early budget signals. This year feels different. The White House budget blueprint did not include a civilian raise. House appropriators also left out a federal civilian pay increase from the 2027 spending bill. A Democratic amendment proposing a ... Read More

Many individuals own IRAs. IRA means one of three things, namely: (1) Individual Retirement Arrangement; (2) Individual Retirement Account; or (3) Individual Retirement Annuity. When most individuals hear IRA, they think of an Individual Retirement Account which is a personal ... Read More

  If you’re in your early 60s, there have been recent changes to catch-up contribution provisions that may allow for increased savings opportunities. The SECURE 2.0 catch-up contributions age 60-63 provision may allow eligible Feds to potentially contribute more than the standard ... Read More

A recent FEDZONE column (Getting Ready for the Start of Trump Accounts in July 2026) discussed Trump Accounts which are expected to start on July 4,2026. Trump Accounts were created under provisions of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act of ... Read More

Required minimum distributions (RMDs) are mandatory, taxable withdrawals from pre-tax retirement accounts, like a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) or traditional IRA. They’re not optional, and they can push your income higher, raising your tax bill and potentially rippling into your ... Read More

Delaying Social Security past full retirement age (FRA) increases your benefit through delayed retirement credits – generally about 8% per year up to age 70. That can translate into significantly higher lifetime income and stronger protection for a surviving spouse. ... Read More

A provision coming out of SECURE 2.0 (2022) may allow for penalty-free distributions from certain qualified retirement plans to pay long-term care (LTC) insurance premiums without the 10 percent early withdrawal penalty. This provision allows qualified retirement plan participants younger ... Read More

When you separate from federal service, your retirement benefits are income diversified thanks to the Federal Employees Retirement System and its three “stool legs” of the Basic Benefit, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), and Social Security distributions. You can also benefit from tax ... Read More