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The Index: 2020 Edition
A guide to the most important and relevant Retirement Planning columns of the past 14 years.
Not only is it the start of a new decade, but the year is 2020, which should be a reminder that we need a clear vision for the future. So, in an effort to sharpen the focus of my annual Retirement Planning index and make it a more powerful tool, I’ve rearranged the list to focus not on a huge list of columns, but the best of the best over the past 14 years.
As always, I hope these columns will help you set your sights on a new chapter of life in which you grow bolder.
GENERAL RETIREMENT PLANNING
Solving the Health Plan Puzzle October 31, 2019
Thinking About the Unthinkable August 22, 2019
It’s Time for Change: Make Your Voice Heard July 11, 2019
Do You Need a Financial Adviser? February 14, 2019
How to Seek Help and Advice January 24, 2019
Taking Stock of Your TSP January 10, 2019
The Secrets to a Financially Secure Retirement November 29, 2018
4 Ways to Stop Procrastinating October 24, 2018
Pop Quiz: Can You Tell Truth From Fiction in Federal Retirement? October 11, 2018
What Does That Word Mean? July 26, 2018
A Healthy Tax Advantage July 5, 2018
Avoiding Tax Pitfalls June 7, 2018
Where Retirement Benefits Came From April 12, 2018
Divorce and Your Benefits February 8, 2018
What You Need to Know About Your Health Insurance Choices November 9, 2017
A Retirement Guide for Every Stage of Your Career August 11, 2016
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do March 10, 2016
Is FERS Better? Readers Weigh In January 29, 2015
One Big Advantage of Retiring June 5, 2014
A Different Path for Women January 7, 2014
EARLY CAREER
Don’t Let Your Mind Get In the Way of Smart Decisions June 13, 2019
Buy This and Hope You Don't Get Your Money's Worth June 6, 2019
What If New Employees Were Offered a Bunch of New Benefits? May 23, 2019
Can You Count on Social Security? April 18, 2019
Financial Lessons from the Shutdown February 7, 2019
Cutting Through the Open Season Jargon November 15, 2018
When Can You Retire? October 5, 2017
Weighing Your Life Insurance Options July 13, 2017
Your Money and Your Life Insurance July 6, 2017
Can You Retire at 45? May 18, 2017
Life Changes and Benefits Changes May 4, 2017
What Happens When You Say 'I Do' March 5, 2015
Neither CSRS nor FERS February 5, 2015
Is the Grass Really Greener? February 14, 2014
Don’t Go, Please Stay February 6, 2014
To Stay or Not To Stay in Government January 31, 2014
Retirement 101: Start Planning Now September 20, 2013
Need Money? Save Your Sick Leave July 6, 2012
MIDCAREER
Paying Your Way to a Bigger Benefit September 19, 2019
Five Tips to a Quicker Retirement September 5, 2019
Let It Be, Roll It Over, Move It or Cash It Out July 25, 2019
The Confusing Factor in Calculating Your Retirement Benefit April 25, 2019
6 Myths About Federal Retirement Benefits November 8, 2018
When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn April 5, 2018
Resigning Instead of Retiring March 15, 2018
Retiring Sooner Than You Expected February 15, 2018
Thinking About Getting Out of Government? Here’s What You Need to Know July 27, 2017
The Perils and Pitfalls of Retiring Really Early May 25, 2017
Buying a Bigger Retirement Benefit April 14, 2016
Are You Getting the Credit You Deserve? April 7, 2016
How Divorce or a Job Change Could Derail Your Financial Plan October 29, 2015
Leaving Government Now and Taking Retirement Later March 26, 2015
The Mystery of the Vanishing Service Credit August 2, 2013
Midcareer Checklist July 12, 2013
How Much Do You Deserve? May 25, 2012
PRE-RETIREMENT
Work Long and Prosper November 14, 2019
The Next Generation of Long Term Care Insurance October 24, 2019
Best Dates to Retire 2020 September 12, 2019
3, 2, 1...Retire! August 8, 2019
Achieving Financial Independence July 4, 2019
Life and Death Benefits Decisions June 20, 2019
Separating Fact and Opinion May 30, 2019
The FERS Supplement: Q&A May 16, 2019
De-Stressing the Retirement Process April 4, 2019
Federal Retirement Facts: A True-False Quiz February 21, 2019
If You’re Confused About Survivor Benefits, You’re Not Alone December 20, 2018
Ready to Go? Here’s What You Need to Do First October 18, 2018
More Things To Consider When Making Your Annuity Election July 19, 2018
The Benefits of Retirement Counseling May 24, 2018
Keep These Documents Handy November 22, 2017
The Final Countdown: Filing the Papers November 16, 2017
Are You Mentally Prepared for Retirement? October 12, 2017
Leave Calculations April 27, 2017
What Is the FERS Supplement Worth? October 6, 2016
Is Phased Retirement For You? July 21, 2016
Retirement With Training Wheels July 14, 2016
Comparing Your Income Before and After Retirement June 23, 2016
What Is Your Full Retirement Age? November 14, 2013
Your Own Retirement Savings Plan August 9, 2013
Best Date to Retire Tips March 9, 2012
POST-RETIREMENT
Turning On Your Retirement Benefits August 29, 2019
What Happens to Your Retirement Paperwork August 15, 2019
Big Changes Are Coming to the TSP August 1, 2019
Why You Might Want to Take Social Security Early July 18, 2019
Live Long and Prosper June 27, 2019
The Key to a Happy Retirement May 9, 2019
Weighing the Social Security Benefit Decision March 14, 2019
Answers to Questions You Hope You Never Need to Ask January 31, 2019
Medicare Disadvantage August 30, 2018
The Most-Asked Federal Retirement Question August 16, 2018
Retired, But Still Working August 9, 2018
It’s Not Just About the Money June 21, 2018
The Benefit That Already Can Be Cut May 31, 2018
Tax Assessments January 25, 2018
What Makes the FERS Supplement Special September 28, 2017
Two Medicare Questions You Need to Think About June 29, 2017
So You Want to Retire Overseas January 19, 2017
Paying a Medicare Penalty January 5, 2017
Money-Saving Medicare Tips November 10, 2016
Sometimes, Your Benefit Really Is Too Small May 26, 2016
The New Rules of the Social Security Game February 25, 2016
Changing Stakes on Claiming Social Security February 4, 2016
A Rude Annuity Shock July 2, 2015
Not Exactly Getting Rich May 7, 2015
Beware of Scams December 18, 2014
5 Things You Can Change After You Retire September 25, 2014
Cliff Divers, Worker Bees and Retirees in Training March 8, 2013
A New Retiree’s To-Do List February 1, 2013