Serving Those Who Serve Logo

Category Archives: Taxes

Understanding Spousal IRA Beneficiary RMD Rules

09/17/2024
This column reviews three important required minimum distribution (RMD) rulings with regard to the naming of a surviving spouse as the beneficiary of the deceased spouse’s traditional IRA. These three rulings are:                 ... Read More

How the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) Affects Your Social Security Benefits

09/13/2024
Understanding the rules surrounding retirement benefits can be a challenge, especially for federal employees covered by the Civil Services Retirement Systems (CSRS). We often speak to Feds who are blindsided by an unexpected reduction in their Social Security benefits due ... Read More

ZERO PERCENT RETURN FOR THE C FUND OVER THE NEXT 10 YEARS?!

09/13/2024
Written By: Tom Lee The underlying index for the C fund within TSP is the S&P 500 Index. Is the S&P 500 currently over valued? If so, what does that mean for potential C fund performance, and what does the ... Read More

TSP Update for Month Ending August 2024 

09/11/2024
Jennifer Meyer, CFP© My last monthly update was written when the market started in August with a few very volatile days. It is something of a déjà vu as I write this monthly recap. September is starting off on the ... Read More

The Fed15 Podcast: Enriched Leave Strategy and Smart Giving with DAFs

09/10/2024
Dan and Chelsea explore strategies for federal employees to gain an extra year of service credit without working longer. They also delve into donor-advised funds (DAFs), explaining how to avoid capital gains taxes and highlighting the benefits of using a ... Read More

New IRS Regulations on Year-of-Death RMDs

09/08/2024
Much has been written in recent years in financial journals and media outlets about the year-of-death required minimum distribution (RMD). Nevertheless, the rules governing the year-of-death RMD continue to confuse retirement account owners and financial advisors. On July 18,2024, the ... Read More

Federal Pay Raise 2026

09/06/2024
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) recently proposed a 3% federal pay raise for 2026, sparking keen interest among government workers. While this preliminary figure is not final, it has drawn the attention of Feds looking to understand the ... Read More

Unlocking Hidden Retirement Value: Redeposits and Military Buybacks Explained

09/04/2024
The Feds we help at Serving Those Who Serve all have one thing in common – they’re all eager to learn how to maximize their Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) or Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) benefits. They realize that with a little advance ... Read More

IRS Issues Final RMD Rules Under SECURE Act 2.0: What Should Affected Individuals Do?

09/03/2024
The SECURE Act became law on January 1, 2020. One of the provisions passed as part of the SECURE Act was regulations on required minimum distributions (RMDs) for inherited IRAs and qualified retirement plans (including the Thrift Savings Plan). The ... Read More

Maximizing Your FERS Annuity: Strategies for Higher Retirement Income

08/31/2024
As a federal employee, your retirement benefits under the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) are an important part of your financial future. Whether you’re nearing retirement or just beginning your planning, understanding the following five key FERS annuity maximization strategies ... Read More