The Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) Program is a federal program designed to encourage students to enter public service by forgiving any remaining loan balance after 120 qualifying monthly payments (10 years) have been made. As simple as that may sound, in practice, qualifying for this program hasn’t gone very smoothly, in part due toContinue reading “The Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program For Federal Employees”
Author Archives: Jose Armenta, MsBA, CFP®, ChFC®, CLU®, EA
Will Your Children Keep FEHB If You Die?
As a federal employee, you know that you have robust benefits, and you’re likely aware that your Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) coverage is one of your most valuable benefits. But what happens to your FEHB coverage if you die? In the past, I have discussed the requirements for a spouse to maintain your FEHBContinue reading “Will Your Children Keep FEHB If You Die?”
The FERS Child Survivor Annuity Benefit
Many federal employees are aware of the survivor annuity benefit elected at retirement and understand that it allows them to leave a portion of their FERS pension to a beneficiary upon their death. But few are aware of the child survivor annuity benefit. Although both may sound similar, the survivor annuity elected at retirement andContinue reading “The FERS Child Survivor Annuity Benefit”
Quickstart Guide To The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program
Most federal employees know someone who has required long-term care at some point in their life. Whether a family member or a friend, we’ve seen how some individuals need support with daily tasks due to chronic illness, injury, disability, or simply the aging process. In fact, a 2019 U.S. Department of Health and Human ServicesContinue reading “Quickstart Guide To The Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program”
How Federal Employees Can Manage Their Investments In Retirement: The Bucket Strategy
As federal employees prepare to retire, they must shift from the accumulation mindset to the distribution mindset; said differently, they must shift from the saving mindset to the spending mindset. This change comes with many challenges, chief among them is deciding on a retirement income strategy. When developing a plan for turning your retirement assetsContinue reading “How Federal Employees Can Manage Their Investments In Retirement: The Bucket Strategy”
Roth Conversions: What They Are & The 3 Things Federal Employees Need To Know
With all the recent talk of Roth conversions in the media and on the hill, many federal employees are asking what the heck is a Roth conversion, and where do I get one? Simply stated, a Roth conversion refers to the process of moving some or all of your tax-deferred retirement savings from accounts likeContinue reading “Roth Conversions: What They Are & The 3 Things Federal Employees Need To Know”
FERS Annual And Sick Leave At Retirement
As federal employees approach the end of their careers and start the retirement planning process, many wonder what will happen to their leave. Will they receive a lump sum payment or credit toward their FERS annuity? There can be a lot of confusion around the treatment of sick leave, especially since prior to the 2010Continue reading “FERS Annual And Sick Leave At Retirement”
Federal Pay Raises Vs. FERS COLAs
With the most significant FERS cost of living adjustment (COLA) in over a decade (4.9%) for FERS retirees and only a 2.7% pay raise for active federal employees set for January 2022, many feds are wondering why the large difference? This is a legitimate question, especially considering the recent jump in inflation. And the reasonContinue reading “Federal Pay Raises Vs. FERS COLAs”
What Federal Employees Should Do 1 Year Before Retirement
Although, as a federal employee, you should begin planning for retirement years before you hand in your application, the year before retirement is critical to set yourself up for the transition. This period is essential since you’ll have limited time to review your finances and make decisions that will affect the rest of your life.Continue reading “What Federal Employees Should Do 1 Year Before Retirement”
Quickstart Guide To Medicare For Federal Employees
As healthcare costs continue to rise, it’s no surprise that federal employees nearing retirement have many questions surrounding Medicare. And while most are familiar with their Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB), many are not familiar with Medicare even though they’ll likely be eligible for the program at age 65. Hence, the topic of Medicare benefitsContinue reading “Quickstart Guide To Medicare For Federal Employees”