Category: Financial Planning

Has Your Federal Raise Kept Up? Analyzing the 2025 Employee COLA

Has Your Federal Raise Kept Up? Analyzing the 2025 Employee COLA Many federal employees approach retirement expecting that each year’s pay increase will keep them on track with the cost of living. However, when the inflation numbers come in higher than your raise, you might find that your paycheck doesn’t stretch quite as far as it used to. If you’re wondering whether the 2025 cost of living increase for employees will carry you comfortably into your golden years, it’s time

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Comprehensive CSRS Retirement Benefits Guide for Federal Workers

Comprehensive CSRS Retirement Benefits Guide for Federal Workers For federal employees who have been in the workforce long enough to remember the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), it remains a tried-and-true pillar of retirement security. Established in 1920, CSRS served as the government’s primary pension system until the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) emerged in 1987. While only about 1.6% of active federal employees are still covered under CSRS today, those who remain can enjoy significant advantages when planning their

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Roth TSP vs Roth IRA: Best Retirement Account for 2025

Roth TSP vs Roth IRA: Best Retirement Account for 2025   Introduction to Roth Options for Federal Employees As a federal employee, it can be challenging to decide which retirement accounts best fit your long-term goals. Two popular choices—Roth Thrift Savings Plan (Roth TSP) and Roth Individual Retirement Account (Roth IRA)—offer a unique balance of after-tax contributions and tax-free withdrawals in retirement. What makes them both appealing is the potential to avoid higher taxes later on if you expect to

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JTWROS: Smart Estate Planning for Federal Co-Owners

JTWROS: Smart Estate Planning for Federal Co-Owners For many federal employees nearing retirement, estate planning can feel overwhelming. Between Thrift Savings Plan decisions, FEGLI beneficiary designations, and pension considerations, there’s a lot to juggle. One powerful tool that can help simplify this process is joint tenants with rights of survivorship (JTWROS). By allowing assets to transfer immediately upon the death of one co-owner, JTWROS can streamline estate planning, helping older federal employees and retirees avoid unnecessary probate delays and costs.

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