Best States to Retire 2018: All 50 States Ranked for Retirement

Article Excerpt: "...ranked all 50 states based on financial factors critical to retirees, including living expenses, tax burdens, health care costs, household incomes, poverty rates and the economic wellness of the state itself. Of course, plenty of other factors figure into this major life decision, from proximity to family to climate preferences. But we'll leave assessing those personal considerations to you. Whether you're figuring out where to head next or just how you need to adjust your budget when moving into retirement, see how every state in the union treats its retirees financially..."

Resource: www.kiplinger.com

3 reasons your Social Security payments could rise in retirement

Find out what can give your monthly checks a boost

Article Excerpt: "...there are some other factors beyond your control that can lead to your Social Security checks getting bigger. By being aware of those factors, you can ensure that you get what's coming to you in the event that you become eligible to receive larger benefits..."

Resource: www.usatoday.com

House Committee Hearing Addresses Proposed Retirement Benefits Cuts

House Committee Hearing Addresses Proposed Benefits Cuts

Article Excerpt: "...A hearing held yesterday by the House Committee on Oversight and Government reform addressed various proposals to cut the retirement benefits of federal employees. Front and center at the hearing was OPM Director Jeff Pon..."

Resource: www.fedsmith.com

The ‘7 rules’ of retirement

Article Excerpt: "...The old Civil Service Retirement System provided a much more generous pension/annuity than the Federal Employees Retirement System, which covers most working feds..."

Resource: federalnewsradio.com

CSRS vs FERS

How Much Will You Get in Social Security if You Retire in 2018?

Article Excerpt: "...Your monthly retirement benefit is based on a formula that takes into account the income you earned in your 35 highest-earning years, adjusted for inflation. This means the benefit you'll receive is directly influenced by how much you earned throughout your career. That said, there are minimum benefit amounts to ensure that qualifying retirees receive..."

Resource: www.fool.com

Boost Social Security Checks By Tapping IRAs Early, Suggests Study

Article Excerpt: "...Social Security payments can be boosted by early withdrawals from workplace automatic individual accounts (auto-IRAs) early, says a new study..."

Resource: www.forbes.com

Marrying Before or After Your Federal Retirement: Pros vs. Cons

Article Excerpt: "... going to retire in a few years and I’m in a long-term relationship, but I’m not married. What are the pros and cons of marrying before or after retirement..."

Resource: www.fedsmith.com

Social Security benefits stolen by hackers, leaving families with bill

Article Excerpt: "...For example, a person who claims Social Security after full retirement age is eligible for up to six months of retroactive benefits, payable in a lump sum. If you accept that lump sum, your monthly benefit is smaller. For the cyber crooks, the payout is huge if they use the ID of someone in that age range who isn't already collecting benefits..."

Resource: www.freep.com

5 Books to Read Now if You Want to Retire Rich

Article Excerpt: "...here are some of the top retirement-planning books, according to expert sources and staffers at MONEY. This roundup ranges the gamut from big-picture economic questions to the nitty-gritty of your personal assets..."

Resource: time.com

Retirement Planning, Retirement Tips,

Oops! Did you claim Social Security too early?

Article Excerpt: "...What can you do if you claimed Social Security benefits too early? If you've decided you claimed Social Security benefits before you were ready, you have three primary options..."

Resource: www.usatoday.com

Buying a House on Disability Benefits or SSI

Article Excerpt: "...The complexities of Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits leave many people wondering not only if they can buy a home, but if buying a home will, in turn, affect their benefits in the future. The short answer is many people who receive SSDI and SSI benefits can and do qualify to buy a home, but will also likely face some additional hurdles unique to receiving these benefits..."

Resource: www.zillow.com

Buying a House on Disability Benefits or SSI

Military Service Credit for Federal Retirement

Article Excerpt: "...Deposits to capture military service credit are made to your employing agency and generally must be received by your employing agency before retirement. Because of the processing time involved, it is wise to make the needed arrangements well before retirement. Allow at least three months to receive your military earnings records and the calculation of the needed deposit from the Defense Department; check with your agency regarding how long it needs record a payment as received—it could be several more months. Extensions of time are allowed only in limited cases of administrative error by the employing agency..."

Resource: fedweek.com

$1 increase: Retirees getting socked in 2018 over Medicare, Social Security

Article Excerpt: "...Kane, 90, had heard that Social Security recipients were a getting a 2 percent raise, so he had to chuckle when he saw his statement of benefits for 2018. “I couldn’t believe my eyes,” said Kane, a Scotsman living in Scotland, Pennsylvania. “I’ve never seen an increase of $1..."

Resource: www.publicopiniononline.com

When can i withdraw from my TSP without an early withdrawal penalty tax equal to 10%?

If you receive a TSP withdrawal payment before you reach age 59½, in addition to the regular income tax, you may have to pay an early withdrawal penalty tax equal to 10% of any taxable portion of the payment that is not transferred or rolled over. However, if you separate from service during or after the year you reach age 55 (or the year you reach age 50 if you are a public safety employee as defined by section 72(t)(10)(B)(ii) of the Internal Revenue Code), then the 10% early withdrawal penalty tax does not apply. There are other circumstances in which the 10% early withdrawal penalty does not apply that are not associated with your age at retirement. For more information, read the TSP tax notice "Important Tax Information About Payments from Your TSP Account."

Resource: www.tsp.gov

The Pros and Cons of a Roth IRA

Article Excerpt: "...When you hit retirement age, you won’t have to pay taxes on withdrawals. That can give your savings a powerful boost if your tax rate is higher in retirement. For example, a person who saves the maximum $5,500 for 30 years in a Roth could end up with an account worth $555,902, compared with a traditional IRA worth $472,835..."

Resource: www.usatoday.com