Tuesday, July 20, 2021

Democrats and Republicans agree on one thing: Retirement security is in jeopardy

Democrats and Republicans agree on one thing: Retirement security is in jeopardy

Article Excerpt: "...Economic Innovation Group proposes to expand on the federal Thrift Savings Plan—the retirement savings plan used by the federal government for its employees—to all working Americans. Voters seem to be on board, and support for a universal savings plan (78%) beat out other prominent wealth-building initiatives by a large margin like universal basic income (47%), child allowances (41%), and baby bonds (40%), according to the survey..."



Resource: yahoo.com



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Friday, July 16, 2021

For retirees on fixed incomes, rising prices for consumer goods can be tough

For retirees on fixed incomes, rising prices for consumer goods can be tough

Article Excerpt: "...“I’m a little bit worried about retirees who are very sensitive to gasoline prices … and thinking they have to cut back might might make elders more isolated,” she said..."



Resource: www.marketplace.org



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Social Security Benefits Could Skyrocket Next Year

Social Security Benefits Could Skyrocket Next Year

Article Excerpt: "...We won't know exactly how much Social Security will increase next year until October, but based on June's inflation data, the cost of living adjustment (COLA) in 2022 could top 6% for the first time since 1982..."



Resource: www.nasdaq.com



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Friday, July 9, 2021

21 States With a Higher Social Security Benefit Than the National Average

21 States With a Higher Social Security Benefit Than the National Average

Article Excerpt: "...The average retired worker should receive $1,479 in December from Social Security. But the typical retiree in these states nets an even beefier average benefit..."



Resource:



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Tuesday, June 29, 2021

How Your Social Security Benefits Are Taxed

How Your Social Security Benefits Are Taxed

Article Excerpt: "...Social Security taxes are based on what's known as your provisional income -- your adjusted gross income (including pension payouts and retirement-account withdrawals but not counting Social Security benefits)..."



Resource: www.kiplinger.com



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Friday, June 4, 2021

2022 Federal Pay raise and the inequality of a FERS COLA vs CSRS COLA

Pay raise: Not if or when, but how much!

Article Excerpt: "...future retirement benefits of the vast majority of feds who are under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Unlike the earlier Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), which gives retirees full inflation protection for life, FERS has a diet cost of living adjustment (COLA) feature that over periods when inflation is 2% or higher can and will dramatically reduce their benefits, even as living costs rise dramatically..."



Resource: federalnewsnetwork.com



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Wednesday, June 2, 2021

How Much Money Does A Federal Employee Need In Retirement?

How Much Money Does A Federal Employee Need In Retirement?

Article Excerpt: "...You might have read the common rule of thumb is that you should have “80% of your pre-retirement income in retirement to maintain the same lifestyle”. How much money should you really have, and how does this “rule” pertain to federal employees? The “80% rule” is what many financial professionals ..."



Resource: www.fedsmith.com



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Tuesday, June 1, 2021

A Walk Through Your Federal Retirement Application

A Walk Through Your Federal Retirement Application

Article Excerpt: "...There are two application forms for immediate retirement. You’ll find the one for CSRS employees at www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf2801.pdf and the one for FERS employees at www.opm.gov/forms/pdf_fill/sf3107.pdf. While the explication and direction for the CSRS one takes up 11 pages, the one for FERS takes only four. Both do a pretty good job of leading you through the boxes but I thought it might be useful to walk you through the forms and highlight what you’ll need to have at hand when you do fill one out..."



Resource: www.fedweek.com



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Monday, May 31, 2021

President Biden Inflation Could Create Social Security Increase for Seniors in 2022

President Biden Inflation Could Create Social Security Increase for Seniors in 2022

Article Excerpt: "...Each year, Social Security recipients are eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA. COLAs are calculated based on data from the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), which measures fluctuations in the cost of common goods and services. When inflation strikes and the CPI-W rises, seniors on Social Security are given a raise. But when the CPI-W drops or stays flat, seniors can be denied a COLA..."



Resource: www.msn.com

CPI-W,2022 COLA,

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Thursday, May 27, 2021

How to Boost Your Retirement Income When Social Security Only Covers 40%

How to Boost Your Retirement Income When Social Security Only Covers 40%

Article Excerpt: "...These tips on retirement saving and investing can help retirees get more income than Social Security provides...."



Resource: www.fool.com

Retirement Tips

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Your Residence Is Your Retirement

Your Residence Is Your Retirement

Article Excerpt: "...For many contemplating retirement, one’s future living arrangements is the most thought about – yet least acted upon – aspect of retirement planning. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics even though housing is the largest average cost in retirement, older Americans move far less often than the general population..."



Resource: www.forbes.com



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How to fight off boredom in retirement

How to fight off boredom in retirement

Article Excerpt: "...There are other ways to stoke your curiosity. Start a “Things To Learn About” list and keep it in a visible place. For instance, ask neighbors how they’ve planted such a lush garden or read about a foreign country to get to know it better..."



Resource: www.marketwatch.com



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Tuesday, May 25, 2021

Mistakes to Avoid When You Retire from a Federal Job ...or Postal Service Job

Mistakes to Avoid When You Retire from a Federal Job ...or Postal Service Job

Article Excerpt: "...While some of them may come a little late in the year for those of you who have already decided to leave around the end of this year, they will really help any of you who are planning to retire in 2021 and beyond..."



Resource: www.fedweek.com

Retirement Tips

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Friday, May 21, 2021

What it Takes to Be an Average Retiree

What it Takes to Be an Average Retiree

Article Excerpt: "...What is “average” of course depends on what is being measured, but it’s instructive to see how federal retirees fit in a recent study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute which concluded that there are five broad categories of retirees. In the middle, of course, are what it called average retirees. They are characterized, for example, by having “intermediate” levels annual income—for three-fourths of them, between $40,000..."



Resource: www.fedweek.com

Average Retiree

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Tuesday, May 18, 2021

The ins and outs of the FERS supplement

The ins and outs of the FERS supplement

Article Excerpt: "...The supplement represents what you would receive for your FERS civilian service from Social Security. It is calculated as if you were eligible to receive Social Security benefits on the day you retired. The supplement is paid by the Office of Personnel Management as part of your FERS retirement. Here are five things to know if you’re thinking about retiring with a FERS supplement—or are already receiving one..."



Resource: www.govexec.com



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