eNews

By:  Marc S. Levine, Esquire

Published:  May 20, 2019

What are some of the practical considerations when a loved one dies? A lot of my work [or “an estate planning attorney’s work”] with clients is about planning for some low-probability / high-impact events – such as an early or unexpected death, as well as planning for the reality that all of us will pass.  This is one of the most important aspects of what we do – helping people navigate what can be a complicated maze of what has to be done after someone dies.  Continue reading

By:  Joel Cundick, CFP®

Published:  March 20, 2019

What is a “Roth”, and where did it come from? In 1974, Congress passed legislation allowing the creation of Individual Retirement Accounts, or IRAs. Twenty-three years later in 1997, a new form of IRA was created by Congress. Labeled a “Roth IRA” (after the late Senator William Roth of Delaware), this new IRA allowed individuals to choose to pay taxes before contributing to the IRA, and then pay no taxes on growth and income in the account at the time of future withdrawals. From this point forward, the initial tax-deferred IRA option began to be referred to as a “Traditional IRA.” Roth options in employer retirement plans began to be offered in 2006 generally, and specifically in the Thrift Savings Plan in 2012.

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By:  Mike Townshend

Published:  February 20, 2019

As we advance in life, many choices present themselves for how we will live and with whom.  For many, living with our life partner and our children may involve Multi-Generational Living.  This is a model that works very well for many of us.  But, circumstances can and will change and with new life circumstances come different opportunities.  Continue reading

By:  John Jilek, CFP®

Published:  January 22, 2019

When is playing it safe a bad idea?

What does safe really mean?

Federal Employees have a lot of worries going into 2019.  Rightfully so!  I write this on the 25th day of the government shutdown.  Uncertainty seems to be everywhere, but letting this pervade your long term investment strategy is invariably a bad idea.  Continue reading

By:  Maureen Wilkin, Federal Benefits Specialist

Published:  December 20, 2018

If you are a current Federal employee you are most likely covered by the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Or you might be covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). Then again, you could be covered by either of those, but be in a Special Retirement occupation.   If you have a temporary appointment, you are covered only by Social Security.  There seems to be a limitless number of retirement coverage categories.  That’s quite a menu of possibilities or “flavors.”  Continue reading

By:  Michael Townshend

Published:  October 19, 2018

If we Google “Retirement”, over 80% of the references will discuss financial preparations and post-retirement spending.   Another 10 to 15% will address issues of physical health management allowing for an active and enjoyable time in our later years.  Certainly, these are necessary topics to plan well and enjoy a retirement with minimal worry, assured that we will be able to afford a comfortable life in the best health for our age.  Continue reading

By:  Karen Schaeffer, CFP®

Published:  September 20, 2018

For over 40 years we’ve been helping Federal government employees transition from their working years — also known as the accumulation phase of life — into a comfortable retirement.  The future has always been murky.  No one knows exactly how long they are going to live, how the markets will perform, how healthy they will be and for how long, what tax laws will change…you get the picture.  Nonetheless, there are several habits common to successful retirees.   Continue reading

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

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