Resources news
DailyFED's resources section collects practical articles for federal employees: how to find and read your records, which forms to file and when, checklists for retirement and life events, and explainers on everyday benefits questions. For the full rules, each piece links to an FFEBA guide.
September20248 stories
- What To Do With The Proceeds From Selling Your HomeWith mortgage interest rates currently on the decline, experts expect more buyers to enter the real estate market - driving up the average cost of a home.
- 80% Of Americans Over Age 60 Cannot Afford Long-Term CareWhen it comes to the need for long-term care in retirement, most Americans have a huge blind spot.
- Over 50 million Americans Have Been Victims Of Credit Card FraudAccording to Security.org, “52 million Americans had fraudulent charges on their credit or debit cards last year, with unauthorized purchases exceeding $5 billion.” Even more...
- The Pros & Cons Of Different Types Of AnnuitiesAn annuity can provide a reliable source of income in retirement but it’s important to understand the pros and cons of the different types of annuities before you buy one.
- How Inflation Erodes Your Savings Over A Long RetirementIf you’re a FERS participant planning to retire in five to 10 years, you may have to start contributing more to your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) to weather the storm of rising...
- Why Everyone Needs A Durable Power Of Attorney (DPOA)Did you know that a general power-of-attorney document is null and void if you become incapacitated or mentally incompetent?
- Understanding The Life Insurance Underwriting ProcessIf you’re considering purchasing life insurance offered by the private-sector marketplace, it’s important to understand the underwriting process.
- Reasons You May Be Disqualified For LTC InsuranceA previous article warned against waiting too long to purchase Long-Term Care (LTC) Insurance.
August20248 stories
- How To Research A Charity Before You DonateAccording to the Philanthropy Roundtable, people aged 61 to 75 are more likely to donate to charities.
- Which Is A Better Investment For Retirement: Bonds Or An FIA?In times of economic uncertainty, the traditional wisdom for pre-retirees has been to rebalance their investments to help minimize risk.
- Get The Facts Before You Sell Your Home In RetirementSelling your home after you retire is a huge decision you shouldn’t rush into.
- How To Stay Mentally Sharp As You Enter Your Golden YearsWith longevity on the rise, it may be more likely we’ll all be dealing with memory loss and other cognitive issues, in the later years of retirement.
- Do Feds Need To Buy Short-Term Disability Insurance?An estimated 80% of private-sector employers offer their workers Short-Term Disability Insurance for non-work-related illnesses or injuries.
- The Downside Of The 4% Withdrawal RuleThough the 4% rule has been around for decades, in recent years a good number of financial experts have come to believe it’s outdated.
- You May Be Spending More On Auto-Pay Subscriptions Than You RealizeFree trials and auto-renewals for streaming services you no longer watch.
- Is It Time To Invest In A 529 Plan?With the increasing cost of tuition leaving many graduates mired in student debt, more people are opting for tax-advantaged 529 savings plans to help future generations pay for...
July20244 stories
- If You Think Estate Planning Is Just For The Rich And Famous, Think AgainYou may think only multi-millionaires with yachts and mansions need an estate plan but you’re wrong.
- Why Women Are More Likely To Need Long-Term Care InsuranceAccording to the most recent data available from the CDC, the average life expectancy for women in the US is 80.2 years while the average for men is 74.8 years.
- What You Need To Know About Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)Some federal retirees delay taking distributions from their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) because they’re working in the private sector or running a side business.
- Does Your Retirement Plan Include The Rising Cost Of Healthcare?One aspect of retirement planning that’s often overlooked is the consistently rising cost of healthcare, year after year.
What we cover here
- Records. Finding your SF-50, eOPF and service history.
- Forms. Beneficiary designations, retirement forms and when to file them.
- Checklists. Before you retire, after a life event, at Open Season.
- Everyday questions. Leave, pay stubs and benefits basics.
Start with the guides
Our evergreen guides are the fullest version of these topics, updated when rules change:
- Your SF-50 and service computation date
- Beneficiary designations, all four forms
- The retirement application
- The full learning library
New to all of this? Start with your career stage, or try the calculators.
When you want a second set of eyes
Checklists cover the general case. A Federal Retirement Consultant (FRC®) can go through your own paperwork with you. Get matched with an FRC, free.
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