Curated articles and podcasts from trusted financial experts and real retirees.
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Roth IRAs are a great way to build tax-free retirement income—but the withdrawal rules can be tricky. In this video, I’ll break down the five-year rules, how contributions, conversions, an...
Did you know that the word mortgage literally translates from Latin to death pledge? Banks design mortgages to stretch for decades, keeping you tied to payments for what feels like a lifetime. But it ...
Becoming a millionaire isn’t about luck, inheritance, or some secret formula only the rich know. It’s about choices, what to focus on and what to ignore. Successful people don’t wast...
Retiring early sounds amazing until you realize everything is getting more expensive. Some people panic, convinced inflation makes early retirement impossible. That thinking is wrong. It’s not i...
Buying a cheap home in a nice neighborhood sounds smart, frugal, and wise, right? In reality, it might be a terrible decision for you. The post Why ‘Buy the Cheapest Home in a Nice Neighborhood&...
Fact about your retirement plan that you may or may not be aware of. Things to consider as you take action to participate. The post 5 Facts You Need to Know About Your Retirement Plan appeared first o...
Hey Everyone! This one is for all the harried federal government workers out there. Most civil servants are dedicated and hardworking people. It’s a travesty they are treated like unwanted ... R...
Let's say you've come into a large sum of money—perhaps $1 million or more from stock grants, a bonus, or the sale of a home. Congratulations! After accounting for taxes, the real challenge is d...
As of March 27, the SSA will require beneficiaries who have been accidentally overpaid to repay 100% of the money, reversing a previous policy that allowed for only 10% recoupment....
Federal HHS workers who inspect food, research diseases and administer Medicare and Medicaid are offered $25,000 buyouts...
I recently listened to an episode of the BiggerPockets Money Podcast titled The Middle-Class Trap That Could Keep You from FIRE (How to Escape It). The hosts Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench defined the ...
I know it's a tad excessive, but as a manager I know they will have some shuffling to do to cover my position. I was hoping to make it to mid-November as this was the sweet spot my financial planner p...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reviews the IRS rules which allow federal employees to take from their TSP at various ages if they are RIF’ed. KEY TAKEAWAYS: How do employees access TSP after th...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, explores the rules for keeping various government insurance programs such as health (FEHB), life (FEGLI), dental and vision (FEDVIP), and long term care (FLTCIP).). KEY...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, explains the pension calculation that employees can expect if they are RIF’ed. KEY TAKEAWAYS: The pension formula The challenge of including military service The ...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, discusses the opportunity for many federal employees to collect unemployment if they lose their job due to the Reduction-in-Force. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Who may qualify (and d...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reviews the possibility of cash payments being offered to federal employees as part of the RIF plan. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Rules of the Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment ...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, explains the rules surrounding severance pay and who can expect to receive it if they are RIF’ed. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Who is eligible to receive severance How to calcu...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, walks through the effect that a RIF will have on an employee’s pension based on their length of federal service. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Effect on pension if an employee h...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, lists 12 things every federal employee should do in light of the pending Reduction-in-Force (RIF) plans in the works from federal agencies. These items will help smooth...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, assesses the inherent risk current facing the federal workforce and how agencies' RIF policies could leave many federal employees looking for work in the near future. K...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, makes some observations about what we’ve learned so far about the original Deferred Resignation offer to help federal employees better navigate this next round of...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, introduces the Reduction in Force training series that she developed exclusively for federal employees facing a monumental government-wide downsizing. She describes the...
FROM THE ARTICLE: How House-Sharing Can Help Your Retirement Plan Rent-paying roommates can provide extra income, offset housing costs and help you age in place. By Jane Wollman Rusoff, AARP. *** Ther...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, sheds light on what military veterans should know if they are going through a RIF process. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Ensuring your veterans preference is in your service record Pr...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reviews the rules for getting the FERS Special Retirement Supplement for employees who are RIF’ed. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Explanation of the FERS Supplement Who gets the ...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, discusses what happens if an employee wishes to return to federal service after being RIF’ed. KEY TAKEAWAYS: What processes are in place to facilitate a return to...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, helps federal employees understand what happens to their unused annual leave and sick leave if they are RIF’ed. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Rules for annual leave payout Rules...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, dives into a popular question about if it is better to quit/resign before being RIF’ed. KEY TAKEAWAYS: What happens if you quit/resign? What options employees hav...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, discusses various ways employees can “volunteer” for a RIF and what causes them to be eligible to do so. KEY TAKEAWAYS: The best time to volunteer What caus...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, explores what happens during a RIF for employees who have less than 5 years of federal service. KEY TAKEAWAYS: What happens to the money already paid into FERS What hap...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, explores what happens when an employee is facing a RIF, but doesn’t qualify for an early out or a discontinued service retirement. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Requirements to ...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, reviews how federal employees who are already eligible to retire will be affected by a RIF action. KEY TAKEAWAYS: What it takes to be “fully-eligible” to re...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, contrasts the Reduction-in-Force with the recent “Deferred Resignation” offer to help employees understand the stark difference between these two actions. K...
ProFeds Founder, Chris Kowalik, compares Early Out offers, Cash Incentives, and Discontinued Service Retirements. KEY TAKEAWAYS: Tools available to agencies during a Reduction-in-Force Explanation of ...
With the NHR benefit retiring and pension taxes increasing, you might rethink your retirement plans in Portugal....
Although age is important, it should only be one of the factors that you consider when determining when to file for Social Security benefits....
Do you live in this New England state with the heftiest check? Your Social Security benefit can be affected by where you live....
Portable Retirement Plans allow employees to take their retirement savings with them when they change jobs without losing their accumulated savings....
As you pass through each decade of working life and build wealth for retirement, watch out for the financial traps that can hinder your progress....
Now that WCICON25 is officially over, let's go behind the scenes while I tell you some of my favorite stories from the conference. The post Highlights and Behind the Scenes Stories from WCICON25 (Wher...
As discussed in previous posts, your Funded Status is an easily calculated, robust metric used to measure your financial health in retirement. Measuring and monitoring your Funded Status annually can ...
Ever check your bank statement and wonder where your money went? Companies are experts at sneaking in fees you don’t even notice. These aren’t big, obvious charges. They’re tiny, rou...
Thank You for Making Our Conference a Success! On behalf of our entire team, we want to express our sincere ... Read more...
What's the point of all these income strategies in retirement? Let’s look at the risks and benefits of some and why you might consider them. The post Retirement Income Strategies — And Her...
With fears of a recession rising again largely thanks to the Trump administration’s aggressive policy measures—tariffs, spending cuts, aggressive layoffs, and an increasingly combative tra...
Frugal living gets a bad reputation. People hear “frugal” and think of extreme penny-pinching, boring budgets, and saying no to everything fun. That’s not the reality. It’s abo...
Treasure Valley Silver Award – Sponsored by B.O.S.S. Retirement Solutions & Advisors bySophia DoumaniTo read on CBS2 News, Click Here BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) —One in three youths who age o...
To read on Yahoo Finance, Click Here Salt Lake City, Utah, March 4, 2025 — One of the most comprehensive retirement planning books is celebrating its latest edition with an…...
If the Social Security Trust Fund runs out of money in less than 10 years… When is the optimal time to file for your benefits? Don’t miss the latest episode…...