financial planner Stephen Zelcer
Which retirement account should I take money from?

Q&A – Which retirement account should I take money from?

Q&A – Which retirement account should I take money from? Question Dear Stephen, We have identified a house which isn’t on the market yet but will be soon.  The asking price will probably be 1.5 million and I want to put $650,000 down on it. My question is where/how do I take my money out

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How will my social security impact my CSRS offset pension?

How will my Social Security impact my CSRS Offset Pension? CSRS-offset has got to be one of the more obscure, challenging areas of federal retirement. CSRS-offset retirees have a retirement benefit which combines CSRS and Social Security. The CSRS portion, however, will be reduced by the amount of Social Security earned while employed in CSRS-offset.The

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Should I take a TSP loan?

Live Webinar – Should you take a TSP Loan

Should you take a TSP Loan? Borrowing from your retirement account. Hmmm. Is that smart?This is a topic you will find mixed messages about if you search online. There’s a time when it makes sense, and times when it’s a massive mistake. Join me in my upcoming webinar “Should you take a TSP Loan?” where

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What is the difference between FSA and HSA?

What is the difference between FSA and HSA? Updated 2020

What is the difference between FSA and HSA? Updated 2020 Both accounts allow you pay for qualified medical expenses with tax-free money (thus avoiding Federal, State, Social Security, and Medicare taxes – usually around a 37.65% tax savings). Here’s how the accounts differ: Contribution Limit: FSA has a maximum contribution limit of $2,750.  HSA limits

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When & How to Transition your portfolio for Retirement.

When & How to Transition your Portfolio for Retirement.

When & How to Transition your portfolio for Retirement Your portfolio has a different job in retirement than it has pre-retirement. Pre-retirement, the job of your portfolio is to grow. In retirement, the job of your portfolio is to generate income (for most people). Because the job is different, the allocation of your portfolio will

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Should I retire early form federal service?

Q&A: Should I retire early via VERA from federal service?

Q&A: Should I retire early via VERA from Federal Service? Question I may have the opportunity to retire early via VERA from federal service and am wondering if it would be a smart move financially?   I’m 50 now and my MRA is 56yrs/8mos, therefore I would essentially be retiring 6 years early, thus losing 6%

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creating a retirement investment strategy

Is Retirement Better at Beginning or End of Year? Updated for 2020

Is Retirement Better at Beginning or End of Year? Updated for 2020 I often hear people say “I’d rather retire sooner than later.” But when the choice of retirement dates is just a matter of a few months, then people often assume there’s not much difference between sooner or later. What difference does a few

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RAR Retirement Readiness Workbook

Download my book Ready Aim Retire for Free! Get Financially & Mentally Ready for Retirement! The only way you will know if you are financially and mentally ready for retirement, is by planning it! If you are serious about retirement, then this is your reality check! Inside you’ll address: What’s motivating you to retire? How

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