VERA and Accessing your TSP before 59.5: The general rule for Traditional retirement accounts such as IRAs, 401(k)s, TSP is that they can only be accessed at age 59.5. If you dare access them before 59.5, the IRS slaps you with a 10% early access penalty. But there are two notable exceptions to the age
Should you take the “Deferred Resignation” Offer? I wanted to share the general guidance I’ve been giving my clients. Although this should not be viewed as personalized advice, I hope it helps clarify the thinking that surrounds this “fork in the road” decision. If you need my assistance, please email me. stephen@stephenzelcer.com Wishing you all the best, Stephen
I’m sure you got the memo. President Trump is offering something that appears to be 8 months’ severance pay. You could stop working on Feb. 6th, collect payment and full benefits until the end of September, and then end your federal employment at the end of September. Should you do this? First of all, please
14 Differences between TSP & IRA TSP vs. IRA: Both are retirement accounts, both offer a Roth and a Traditional option, yet there are many important differences. Here are 14 differences 1. Contribution Amounts (2024): TSP allows $23,000 annual contributions while IRAs only allow $7,000. Furthermore, TSP allows an additional ‘catch-up’ contribution of $7,500 starting
MRA+10 RetirementShould you postpone your FERS pension? (w/video) Read the video transcript: FERS employees, you have the ability to retire early with something known as the MRA plus 10 retirement. Now let’s define that. MRA, Minimum Retirement Age, for most FERS Employees, is 57. So MRA, 57, plus 10, what does that mean? 67? And
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
Fake Social Security (w/Video) Read the video transcript: Welcome back to the channel. So in a previous video, we spoke about the three legged stool. Somebody who retires at minimum retirement age (MRA), which for many FERS employees is age 57. So they could get their first pension. They could get their Thrift Savings Plan,
Is Retirement Better at Beginning or End of Year? Updated for 2024 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
Is it better to retire with the biggest balance of leave, or to spend down your leave? Read the video transcript: Welcome back to the channel. I want to ask a very simple question. What’s better to retire with the biggest balance of leave possible, or is it better to spend down your leave as
Live Webinar – Creating a Retirement Distribution Strategy Which asset do you dip into to create your retirement income stream, and when? What happens when the market goes up? What should you do when the market goes down? We spent a career squirrelling away money for retirement, expecting our portfolios will be able to carry
