Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) first became available in 2006 to individuals aged 70.5 and older. QCDs were initially available only through the 2007 tax year. But Congress extended the December 31,2007 QCD deadline several times and made QCDs permanent as ... Read More

This is the first of four FEDZONE columns discussing the withdrawal options that are available to separated Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants. In these columns, a “separated” TSP participant means a civilian federal employee or a member of the uniformed ... Read More

The 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) is in, and there’s some good news. Across the board, federal employees are reporting higher satisfaction, stronger engagement, and more trust in leadership than we’ve seen in over a decade. Conducted by the Office of ... Read More

You served in uniform to protect and defend the United States. Now you have a federal government career. And when it comes to veteran and Fed benefits, you might be faced with some confusion and a lot of paperwork. Not ... Read More

Long-term care isn’t something most people want to think about, but it’s something many of us will need. A lot of Feds assume Medicare or FEHB will cover expenses such as assisted living, full-time nursing support, or help with daily ... Read More

Planning for retirement always requires a thoughtful strategy, but for single federal employees, the stakes can feel even higher. A solid, self-sufficient plan for long-term care costs is critical without a partner to share income, caregiving responsibilities, or decision-making. From ... Read More

Social Security is one of the three components of the FERS retirement. When a FERS employee retires before age 62 under the immediate retirement rules, the FERS employee will receive the first of lifetime FERS monthly annuity checks one or ... Read More

Many financial advisors recommend “529” education savings plans to their clients in order to help for the future cost of higher education. Among the advantages of “529” education savings plans are tax-deterred growth and tax-free withdrawals to pay qualified expenses ... Read More

On January 10, 2025, the IRS issued proposed regulations that facilitate the implementation and operations of one of the provisions passed as part of SECURE 2.0. This provision is that  effective January 1, 2026, qualified retirement plan participants (this includes ... Read More

If you’re a woman who just began a career with the federal government, you likely did so for some great reasons. Like using your skills, knowledge, and education to contribute to the good of society. And, if you’ve just begun ... Read More