The recent FEDZONE column entitled “Understanding Spousal IRA Beneficiary Rules” reviewed three IRS regulations concerning the naming of a surviving spouse as the beneficiary of the deceased spouse’s traditional IRA. One of the regulations discussed came out of Section 327 ... Read More

Your federal employee survivor benefits provide financial support to your loved ones after your death. These are some of the most important (and often misunderstood) assistance you receive as a federal employee.  It’s especially critical for your spouse to understand what these ... Read More

This column reviews three important required minimum distribution (RMD) rulings with regard to the naming of a surviving spouse as the beneficiary of the deceased spouse’s traditional IRA. These three rulings are:                 ... Read More

Understanding the rules surrounding retirement benefits can be a challenge, especially for federal employees covered by the Civil Services Retirement Systems (CSRS). We often speak to Feds who are blindsided by an unexpected reduction in their Social Security benefits due ... Read More

Written By: Tom Lee The underlying index for the C fund within TSP is the S&P 500 Index. Is the S&P 500 currently over valued? If so, what does that mean for potential C fund performance, and what does the ... Read More

Much has been written in recent years in financial journals and media outlets about the year-of-death required minimum distribution (RMD). Nevertheless, the rules governing the year-of-death RMD continue to confuse retirement account owners and financial advisors. On July 18,2024, the ... Read More

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently proposed a 3% federal pay raise for 2026, sparking keen interest among government workers. While this preliminary figure is not final, it has drawn the attention of Feds looking to understand the ... Read More

The Feds we help at Serving Those Who Serve all have one thing in common – they’re all eager to learn how to maximize their Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) benefits. They realize that with a little advance ... Read More

The SECURE Act became law on January 1, 2020. One of the provisions passed as part of the SECURE Act was regulations on required minimum distributions (RMDs) for inherited IRAs and qualified retirement plans (including the Thrift Savings Plan). The ... Read More

As a federal employee, your retirement benefits under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) are an important part of your financial future. Whether you’re nearing retirement or just beginning your planning, understanding the following five key FERS annuity maximization strategies ... Read More