About 18598293

Retirement Health Series, Part 1: Physical Health: Think Health Over Wealth

By:  Kari Utz-Wolsky, (ISSA) CFT, SPN, SSC; Crossfit Level 1, Nutrition and Conditioning Specialist

Published:  August 20, 2018

When we think of retirement, we often have visions of reading our favorite book on the patio. Maybe some of us think about having more time to travel, time to visit kids and grandkids. Or we look forward to having more time for our favorite hobby. And almost always, we think about whether we have enough finances to cover our retirement. Perhaps we should give as much attention to our physical wellbeing as we do to our financial wellbeing. Continue reading

“Tax Cut and Jobs Act” (TCJA) Mid-Year Review

By:  Bob Leins, CPA®

Published:  July 20, 2018

Congress passed the TCJA December 27, 2017 and the law became effective five days later, January 1, 2018. Now, over six months later, how will the TCJA benefit you?  As we enter the second half of 2018, changes within the TCJA have become somewhat easier to identify but remain less clear to apply personally.   A central focus of the TCJA changes is structured to decrease personal total income tax. Let’s review some highlights and focus on their application to you:

Continue reading

What You Really Should Know About Social Security Benefits

By:  Maureen Wilkin, Federal Benefits Specialist

Published:  June 20, 2018

Most people working today tend to think of Social Security benefits as something to consider when they get old.  Human nature being what it is they put off thinking about those benefits.  And that’s not a good idea.  Social Security benefits are not a component of old age.  In fact, as a working individual, you might qualify for some type of benefit long before you reach old age.  Benefits are available to workers at retirement age, if they become disabled, and then to surviving family members at the time of the worker’s death.  If you are married to a worker receiving a benefit, you might qualify for a spousal benefit, even if you do not qualify for a worker’s benefit of your own. 

Continue reading

Why Everyone Must Do Estate Planning Today

By:  Norman Handler, Esquire

Published:  May 21, 2018

Estate planning often falls to the bottom of our “to-do list”, because it is not a pleasant thing to think about and because none of us expect to need it anytime in the near future. And the probability is that most of us will not need it in the near future. But estate planning deals with possibilities, not probabilities, and it is possible that the need will arise. We have to plan to care of ourselves and our families, just in case the need does arrive sooner than expected.

Continue reading

Can You Handle an Unexpected Expense?

By:  Raymond Kirk, Ph. D., Federal Benefits Specialist

Published:  April 20, 2018

 

You had an unexpected car repair; a squirrel got into your attic, your water heater ruptured.  Sudden unplanned expenses can play havoc with your budget and you are not alone.  More than one-third of households (34 percent) endured a major unexpected expense over the past year, according to Bankrate’s latest Financial Security Index survey.

Only 39 percent said they could cover a $1,000 expense with savings.  A quarter of the households would borrow from friends or cut back on other regular monthly expenses.  One out of five would use a credit card and pay off over time, making the total cost even greater.  Your best protection is to have an emergency savings fund as a cushion.

Continue reading

TSP Versus IRA: Which is Better?

By:  Karen Schaeffer, Certified Financial Planner®

Published:  March 20, 2018

 

So, which is better, the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) or an Individual Retirement Account (IRA)? Such a deceptively simple question can fill countless, “well, it depends” paragraphs without getting to an answer.  Rather than ramble on about endless variables, lets walk through some of the strengths of each, trying to keep in mind the correct answer might:

  • Be both instead of either/or;
  • Differ based on whether we’re in the accumulation phase or the spending phase of life; and
  • Be different for you than for someone else – its personal financial planning after all.

Continue reading

January 2018: Twelve Weeks to Better Health

By:  Kari Utz-Wolsky, Nutrition and Conditioning Specialist

Published:  January 19, 2018

As we head into the New Year, many of us desire to make positive health changes.  And for those who make New Years resolutions, a large majority of these goals revolve around diet and/or exercise.  We may hope to give up poor habits, or embark on a new exercise routine.  Or possibly we even hope to make a complete overhaul to our nutrition plan.  Unfortunately, the odds are not in our favor.  Eighty percent of New Year’s resolutions fail by February! Continue reading

December 2017: 10 Common Financial Mistakes to Avoid in the New Year

By:  Justin B. Dean, CFP®

Published:  December 20, 2017

Everyone makes mistakes. Learning from them is what really matters.  Consider these common money mistakes and tips to move past them:

  1. “I live within my means. If I have anything left over after paying my bills, I put it in my savings account.” If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. Develop a well-defined strategy to ensure you are making intentional decisions with your money. Having a plan to follow can help increase your chances of sticking to it.  Continue reading

November 2017: Dual Retirements – The Time In Between

By: Michael Townshend

Published:  November 20, 2017

“We have both been working for many years and our retirements are approaching. Hooray!”

But, we’ve realized that our eligibility dates won’t coincide, often, not even close.  Is that going to be a problem?  Are there ways to prepare for the time in between when one of us is still working while the other is at home enjoying retirement?”

These are not uncommon questions. Many couples with dual careers realize that they will not be able to retire simultaneously.  In fact, most dual retirement horizons will have some period in between.  Continue reading