NASA Continues Its Reign Atop Best Places to Work
Trump: 'I Am Proud to Shut Down the Government'
DHS Scales Back Troubled Border Hiring Contract
Incoming Oversight Chair Blasts New Hatch Act Guidance
2019 Federal Pay and Benefits Outlook
Face Your Future with Confidence
AUTHOR ARCHIVES
Tammy Flanagan
Tammy Flanagan has spent 30 years helping federal employees take charge of their retirement by understanding their benefits. She runs her own consulting business at www.retirefederal.com and provides individual counseling as well as online training for the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, Plan Your Federal Retirement and the Federal Long Term Care insurance Program. She also serves as the senior benefits director for the National Institute of Transition Planning Inc., which conducts federal retirement planning workshops and seminars.
For more retirement planning help, tune in to "For Your Benefit," presented by the National Institute of Transition Planning Inc. live on Federal News Radio on Mondays at 10 a.m. ET on WFED AM 1500 in the Washington-metro area. Archived shows are available on NITPInc.com.
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Last-Minute Shopping Tips for Open Season
December 6, 2018 Are you a procrastinator like me? If so, you may be waiting until the last minute to review your open season options under the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program, Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program. And if you’re a current employee, you should be thinking about your annual flexible...
The Secrets to a Financially Secure Retirement
November 29, 2018 What is the best way to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable retirement? This week, I thought I’d share some observations I’ve made over the years about employees who end up with the same (and sometimes even greater) income during their retirement years than while they were employed. These folks have...
Retirement by the Numbers
November 22, 2018 I meet federal employees on a daily basis at seminars, through email and as clients who are getting ready to retire after a long career of service. I find that many have prepared well for this next chapter in life and are looking forward to retirement. Others, however, find themselves...
Cutting Through the Open Season Jargon
November 15, 2018 Monday marked the beginning of this year’s health benefits open season. In September, I wrote about 3 Things To Do This Open Season to help you review your health care needs in 2018 and assess your likely situation next year. If you completed that assignment, then it’s time to narrow...
6 Myths About Federal Retirement Benefits
November 8, 2018 In everyday life, rumors, legends and misconceptions abound. For example, were George Washington’s false teeth actually made of wood? Nope. “While Washington certainly suffered from dental problems and wore multiple sets of dentures composed of a variety of materials—including ivory, gold, and lead—wood was never used in Washington's dentures nor...
The One Surefire Way to Make Your Voice Heard
November 1, 2018 I just mailed in my ballot for the midterm elections. It isn’t always easy to decide who to vote for among candidates seeking local, state and national office. And often there are other ballot measures to consider, such as amendments to your state constitution. I found information about the candidates...
4 Ways to Stop Procrastinating
October 25, 2018 Retirement planning is hard for procrastinators. I should know, I am one. As I think about deadlines (to finish this column or other writing projects, for example), I sometimes get anxious. That’s because I often wait until the 11th hour before I put pen to paper or fingers to keyboard...
Ready to Go? Here’s What You Need to Do First
October 18, 2018 The number of federal employees who filed for retirement jumped 24 percent in fiscal 2018. If you are planning to become part of the growing group of people transitioning into retirement, there are some important steps to follow to make sure the process goes smoothly. To help you understand them,...
Pop Quiz: Can You Tell Truth From Fiction in Federal Retirement?
October 11, 2018 I’ve been hearing a lot of false rumors lately, which tells me it’s time for another pop quiz to test your knowledge. Below are 10 statements I’ve heard recently from retirement specialists, financial advisers, federal employees and retirees. Some of them are true and some are false Can you tell...
Don’t Believe Everything You Read
October 4, 2018 By now, all of us have come into contact with false information, especially when it’s spread via social media. Sometimes, this happens in the federal retirement world. A client recently wrote to me in a panic because she had read that if she retired under the postponed MRA+10 retirement provisions...
