For Your Benefit

October 30, 2023onForYourBenefit,host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Marc Levine, Esquire, to talk about Health Care Directives. What is a Health Care Directive (and is it different from a Health Care Power of Attorney)? What should l look for in my Health Care Agent?Why an advocate matters. What is the difference between my Health Care Directive and a Do Not Resuscitate? What is MOLST? Resources for health care decisions. What else does my health care directive do? How does my Health Care Directive interact with my Power of Attorney? For questions or comments, email us in advance [email protected]

October 23, 2023onForYourBenefit,host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Herb Casey, Federal Retirement Specialist. In retirement, some will decide to relocate to a different location or residence.Maybe you want to livein a warmer climate or move closer to family.Herb will discuss the main considerations and resources available in making this decision. And if you plan to relocate, it’s important to manage the possessions you have collected over the years.How do you determine what to keep?Understanding the reasons why it may be necessary to downsize possessions and the steps necessary in the process will be discussed. For questions or comments, email us in advance [email protected] Copyright ©2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

October 16, 2023onForYourBenefit,host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Brian Kurrus, CFP®.Our guest today will talk about cash flow planning and debt payoff strategies for Federal employees and retirees. How much of an emergency fund do you need?How should you invest these assets? Which debt should you pay off first? What is the impact of higher interest rates on debt in general? Should you pay down your mortgage before retirement? What other cash flow changes might you have in retirement? For questions or comments, email us in advance [email protected] Copyright ©2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

October 2, 2023onForYourBenefit,host Bob Leins, CPA® and co-host Karen Schaeffer, CFP®, welcome Kay Bransford, Daily Money Manager, Professional Financial Advocate & Fiduciary, MemoryBanc. We never know what life will bring.Too often spouses, partners, family, and friends are unable to help because they do not have the information they need.If you are unable to manage the day-to-day bill pay and expenses, how will your loved ones: Pay for the household expenses? Cover your healthcare needs and know what resources are available to pay for medical expenses? Manage if you are terminally ill or die and they have no information about your accounts, retirement plans, insurance, loans? For questions or comments, email us in advance [email protected]

September 25, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Tom O’Rourke, Counsel. On today’s program, Tom will discuss how Federal employees can use their Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program as a tax reduction tool.Specifically, how all FEHB premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses can be paid on a pre-tax basis.Tom will also talk about how a Health Savings Account (HSA) can be used to both reduce current tax liability and be used as a vehicle to accumulate funds to pay future health care costs. For questions or comments, email us in advance [email protected]

August 14, 2023onForYourBenefit,host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Karen Schaeffer, CFP® and Megan Schaeffer, Estate Planning Attorney.In honor of National Make a Will Month, Karen and Megan will talk about: Essential documents for everyone. How to get the process started. What happens when the documents aren’t in place. Why every 18-year-old should have at least health care documents. How and when to update your will and other estate planning documents. Strategies for streamlining transfers to family and charities. For questions or comments, email us in advance [email protected] Copyright ©2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area

August 7, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes John Jilek, CFP®. The Basics: Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA The Advanced: Roth TSP vs. Pre-Tax TSP Tax law changes that will affect your decisions The decision to not have some tax-free Roth money available in retirement could be a significant issue in your spending years Impact of the SECURE Act and SECURE Act 2.0 on beneficiaries of retirement accounts For questions or comments, email us in advance [email protected]

July 31, 2023onForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes David De Jong, Principal, and Sarah Broder, Senior Associate, Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC. The program will review SECURE 2.0 which changed the landscape of retirement plans upon enactment seven months ago.Among the topics to be discussed are: Multiple changes to “over 50” elective deferrals to employer plans Emergency withdrawals permitted from an employer plan or IRA and new emergency savings plans The change in the required beginning date from age 72 to 73 The slashing of the minimum distribution penalty and the elimination of the penalty for excess contributions to an IRA For questions or comments, email us in advance [email protected] Copyright ©2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

July 24, 2023onForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director at NITP. It seems that everyone has an opinion when it comes to retirement decisions.Many of these opinions are stated as though they’re facts.Some of the questions from Federal employees about retirement center around relatively straightforward facts in law or policy.Here are some of the most common: Will I get a cost-of-living adjustment on my retirement benefit? What are the requirements to continue my health insurance coverage into retirement? Do I have to begin taking payments from my TSP account when I retire from Federal service? Other questions, though, require opinions because they lack a definitive right or wrong answer. In the retirement world, these often start with “Should I…” Here are some of the ones frequently asked: Should I… File for Social Security at 62? Leave my money in the Thrift Savings Plan after retirement, or move it to an IRA? Retire when I am first eligible to collect a benefit, or continue working? The answer to all of these is, well, it depends.When it comes to retirement decisions that may be hard to change later, it is important not to focus on the money you save now, but the cumulative cost your decision can have over the next decade or several decades. After all, for many Federal retirees, life after government may last longer than their working careers. For questions or comments, email us in advance [email protected] Copyright ©2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

July 17, 2023onForYourBenefit,host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Justin Dean, CFP®. Justin will share tips to help ensure your investments are working consistently hard for you even when you are away on summer travel. Know your destination Avoid distractions and accidents Check your progress Send in a question:Email us in advance [email protected] Copyright ©2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.