For Your Benefit

August 16, 2021 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Bob Braunstein, Federal Benefits Specialist.  The FERS early retirement scenario is one of the lesser known but more flexible retirement options under FERS.

Topics:

What is the MRA + 10 Retirement Option and how do I qualify for it?

How is this option different from other FERS retirements?

What are the benefits? downsides?

What is the age-reduction? Can it be avoided?

What is the postponed retirement option under MRA +10? How does this differ from deferred retirement?

Am I eligible for the FERS annuity supplement if I retire this way?

Do I have other retirement options?

Send in a question:  Email us in advance at [email protected]

August 9, 2021 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Maureen Wilkin, Federal Benefits Specialist for a look back at her lifelong Federal career.  Maureen will talk about then and now and share her best stories serving in Federal benefits and HR for over 25 years, and retiring as a Federal Benefits Officer.

From the dark ages of paper OPFs and handwritten retirement calculations, Maureen will discuss how far Federal processes have changed and progressed.   She will provide information on how employees can stay on track, avoid surprises, and be prepared before filing those retirement forms.

Join Maureen for this walk down memory lane and tips for the future.

Send in a question:  Email us in advance at [email protected]

August 2, 2021 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Karen Schaeffer, CFP® and Megan Schaeffer, Estate Planning Attorney.  Karen and Megan will talk about what financial planners and lawyers specializing in estate planning have learned from the pandemic.

Planning for incapacity is as important as planning for death.

Documents without conversation and conversation without documents is not enough.

Emergencies happen, but planning for them works.

The economy is not the stock market.

Rental real estate requires a strong plan and strong temperament.

Taking money from retirement plans is an expensive way to survive the pandemic.

How to keep emotions from steering us to bad decisions.

Send in a question:  Email us in advance at [email protected]

July 26, 2021 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Michele Bollier, Federal Benefits Specialist. Michele is developing a checklist specifically for Federal employees who are single. This resource will be available soon at www.nitpinc.com. During today’s program, she will talk about some of the key items in the checklist:

Why create a checklist for Singles?

Federal benefits and Social Security – What to consider

Create a reliable support team

Planning for the future and after Federal service

Send in a question: Email us in advance at [email protected]

July 19, 2021 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® and co-host Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director at NITP, Inc. will talk about things that are going on in 2021.

Predication of the largest COLA for retirees since 2012 (3.6%) and 2009 (5.8%)

Employee pay raise of around 3% and the impact on retirement benefits

Retirement processing delays and increased number of retirement cases in 2021

How will the end of telework in some agencies impact the end of year retirement cases?

Postal reform, if passed, may impact their Federal Employees Health Benefits

Legislation moving forward to ease or end the WEP and GPO

Send in a question:  Email us in advance at [email protected]

July 12, 2021 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Patti Hudson, Life Coach and Health Educator.

Stress Defined

Negative and Positive Aspects of Stress

How Mindset Affects Your Stressors

Tips on Using Your Stressors to Your Advantage

Send in a question:  Email us in advance at [email protected]

June 28, 2021 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Justin Dean, CFP®.

As we gain some space from the COVID-19 pandemic, Justin will share tips to help ensure your investments are working hard for you consistently even when you are away on summer travel.

Know your destination

Match goals with investments

Invest for growth

Check your progress

Justin will also answer the question, “How should investors respond to inflation?”

Send in a question:  Email us in advance at [email protected]

June 21, 2021 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes today’s guests to talk about how the pandemic has changed career transitions and job searching.

Sixteen months into the pandemic and many things have changed for those working in government, looking to transition from government, or already working in the private sector.

Alison Bouwmeester, author of MISSION: CAREER TRANSITION – A Career Change Guide for Intelligence, Military, Foreign Affairs, National Security and Other Government Professionals, will share what she's seeing.  Alison will also discuss her personal transition from the Intelligence Community to the private sector and ultimately her role now as a Certified Career Coach.

Kathy Lavinder, the founder and Executive Director of SI Placement, a niche recruiting firm, will offer her perspectives on the private sector as organizations confront return to office, remote work, employee morale and hiring and retention.

Both Alison and Kathy have box seats to what the private sector is looking for, so it's sure to be a fascinating hour for anyone ready to transition or thinking about starting a job search.

Send in a question:  Email us in advance at [email protected]

June 14, 2021 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes M. Shane Canfield, CEO; Stephanie Baker, Senior Vice President, Member Services; and Laurie Lee, Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration, WAEPA.

After a full year of change, what can we expect as the country heads into a new normal with mask mandates being lifted and vaccinations being dispersed? WAEPA’s leadership discusses what this means for Civilian Federal Employees as cities continue to enter these new phases and are looking for ways to keep employees safe.

Send in a question: Email us in advance at [email protected]

June 7, 2021 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes David De Jong and Steve Widdes, tax and estate attorneys with Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC.

The Administration would extend the 2021 broadening of the child tax credit, dependent care credit and earned income credit beyond the current year.

Final legislation, if enacted, may look a lot different than the proposal as Republicans and some “red state” Democrats oppose large portions; many Democrats from high taxing states will oppose any bill which fails to restore the full deduction for state and local taxes.

The Administration is proposing an increase in ordinary income rates for those making over $400,000 per year as well as increases in capital gain and corporate tax rates.

The Administration would limit the like kind exchanges of real estate where there is more than $500,000 in gain.

The Administration would effectively limit the step-up in asset basis for larger estates upon death by taxing the built-in gain.

Send in a question:  Email us in advance at [email protected]