For Your Benefit

For Your Benefit

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For Your Benefit episodes

  • It’s National Make a Will Month – Let’s Get Started

    August 14, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, 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 at [email protected]

      Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area

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      52 min
    • Roth vs. Traditional IRA and Roth TSP vs. Pre-tax TSP and a Perspective on RMDs

      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 at [email protected]

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        44 min
      • SECURE ACT 2.0
        July 31, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, 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 at [email protected]
        Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
        53 min
      • Federal Retirement: Fact or Opinion?

        July 24, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, 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 at [email protected]

            Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

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            53 min
          • Don’t Let Your Investments Go On Vacation

            July 17, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, 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 at [email protected]

              Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

              Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

              53 min
            • Medicare Fraud: How to Protect Yourself
              July 10, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® and co-host Bob Braunstein, Federal Benefits Specialist at NITP, welcome Theresa Brownson and Darnetta Bascomb, Senior Medicare Patrol Project, AARP Legal Counsel for the Elderly.
              What is Medicare fraud and abuse?
              What is the difference?
              Who does Medicare fraud affect?
              Examples of fraud and abuse
              How to detect potential problems
              What you can do to help stop Medicare fraud
              How to report your concerns
              How Medicare and FEHB work together
              For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]
              Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.
              53 min
            • Life After Government: Transitioning to the Private Sector
              June 26, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Kathy Lavinder, founder of Security & Investigative Placement Consultants, a niche executive search firm. Kathy will provide the information you need to know about the private sector jobs market.
              Transitioning from the public sector to the commercial sector can be mystifying. It’s certainly different from the public sector. Executive recruiter Kathy Lavinder will offer guidance on how to navigate your job search and increase the odds of a good outcome.
              For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]
              48 min
            • The Life Insurance Coverage Need Gap and American Consumers
              June 12, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Tony Zerante, Chief Strategy Officer, and Stephanie Baker, Chief Experience Officer, WAEPA.  Across the country, there is still a significant need for life insurance, both from consumers who don’t own any and from those who have some but need more.
              The Insurance Barometer Study, published annually by LIMRA, works to identify this need. Blending estimated U.S. adult population data with the survey results suggests the total life insurance need gap now encompasses 101 million adults.
              Today’s guests will talk about the insurance need gap. What exactly is it? Why is it important for the insurance industry, and consumers, to consider?
              For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]
              53 min
            • How Family Impacts Transitioning to Retirement

              May 22, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Herb Casey, Transition and Federal Benefits Specialist.

              There are many things to consider when making the decision to transition to retirement. Most people plan for retirement without thinking about how family can impact the process.  How will your spouse, children, grandchildren, parents, siblings, and extended family affect your retirement?  There are positives and negatives. Herb will talk about how family can impact finances, emotions, and mental health in retirement.

              For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]

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              49 min
            • Social Security FAQs
              May 15, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, hosts Bob Leins, CPA® and Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director NITP, welcome Mary Beth Franklin, Certified Financial Planner®, Contributing Editor for InvestmentNews, President of RetirePro, and foremost Social Security expert.
              What are the claiming strategies for Social Security that will maximize your retirement security?
              When does it make sense to claim Social Security at 62?
              When does it make sense to delay claiming Social Security?
              Can you still do-over your Social Security election or can you suspend your benefit payments?
              What is the difference between payroll taxes and the income taxes you may have to pay on your benefits?
              What are the “Social Security Trust Funds”?
              How is Social Security financed?
              Is Social Security going broke?
              What does the 2023 Social Security Trustees report mean when it states: The fund’s reserves will become depleted and continuing tax income will be sufficient to pay 77% of scheduled benefits?
              What are the likely changes that lawmakers will make to reduce or eliminate the long-term financing shortfalls in Social Security and Medicare?
              What is the purpose of the Social Security cost-of-living adjustment?
              Inflation is at near record highs; will the COLA keep up with inflation?
              If I delay Social Security past age 62, will I miss out on the COLAs?
              For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]
              53 min

            About For Your Benefit

            From the publisher's feed

            Host Bob Leins and presenters from NITP, Inc., the national leader in Federal retirement planning seminars, present topics of interest to the Federal community including Federal benefits, Social…