Title: If you don't know these 3 things about your 401(k), you're losing out
Article Snip: "...If you fund a traditional 401(k), the money you contribute is made with pre-tax dollars, which means you immediately shield income from the IRS. That could translate to some huge savings. For example, if you're under 50 and max out your 401(k) this year at $19,000, and you're in the 24% tax bracket, that means you effectively shave $4,5..."
Reference: www.usatoday.comTitle: Can this civil service retiree get Social Security benefits?
Article Snip: "...currently retired from United States Postal Service under Civil Service, so I didn’t pay into Social Security the whole time. I did before that job, and I’m four credits short for Social Security. However, my wife collects on disability. Can I possibly get my credits through her?..."
Reference: www.nj.comTitle: TSP Two-step authentication mandatory before the end of 2019
Article Snip: "...You can avoid interruption to your account access by adding these security features in your My Account Profile Settings now..."
Reference: www.tsp.govTitle: Best City to Live in Every State
Article Snip: "...The majority of the cities on this list are relatively wealthy. Valley, Alabama is an exception. The typical household in Valley earns just $39,387 a year, about $5,000 less than the typical Alabama household. Still, serious financial hardship is less common in Valley than in Alabama as a whole as 15.7% of area residents live below the poverty line, well below the 18.4% state poverty rate. Valley residents also benefit from a low cost of living as goods and services are about 6% less expensive in the city than they are nationwide on average. Valley is a pilot city for the Alabama Communities of Excellence program, a non-profit that partners with governments, businesses, and universities to prepare participating communities for a more vibrant future..."
Reference: 247wallst.comTitle: States Where People Live the Longest
Article Snip: "...To identify the states where people are expected to live the longest, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed life expectancy at birth figures for 2010-2015 obtained from the National Association for Public Health Statistics and Information Systems (NAPHSIS) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF)..."
Reference: 247wallst.comTitle: United States Life Tables, 2008
Article Snip: "...Objectives — This report presents complete period life tables for the United States by race,Hispanic origin, and sex, based on age - specific death rates in 2008..."
Reference: www.cdc.govTitle: Life Tables for the United StatesSocial Security Area1900-2100
Article Snip: "...Actuarial Study No. 120 displays life tables based on historical and projected mortality in the area covered by the United States Social Security program. This projected mortality was used in estimating the future costs for the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program included in the2005 Report of the OASDI Board of Trustees to Congress. A web address for this and other Actuarial Studies is www.socialsecurity.gov/OACT/NOTES/actstud.html.The historical calendar year life tables in this study differ from those published by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS). NCHS prepares U.S. Decennial Life Tables based on the decennial census of population and deaths for a three year period containing the census year..."
Reference: www.ssa.govTitle: Why Delaying Social Security Benefits Could Be a Costly Mistake
Article Snip: "...Determining whether it's wiser to claim early or delay benefits comes down to your life expectancy. If you have health issues or other reason to believe you won't spend a long time in retirement, waiting to claim benefits may not make financial sense. For example, if you live until, say, age 75, you'll likely receive much more in benefits overall if you were to claim as early as possible at 62 rather than wait until age 70..."
Reference: madison.comTitle: Here's How Having A Pension Affects Your Social Security Benefits
Article Snip: "...The WEP may impact your retirement income if you qualify for both a pension and Social Security benefits. The WEP has been an ongoing source of debate among lawmakers. It was initially implemented to add fairness to the Social Security benefit calculation. But now lawmakers aren't so sure it's fair enough..."
Reference: madison.comTitle: Will The Maximum Social Security Benefit Increase In 2020?
Article Snip: "...There is some good news and some bad news for workers near the top of the Social Security payroll tax levels. For 2019, the top-level is $132,900 or more. The bad news is that more of your income will get hit with Social Security taxes in 2020..."
Reference: www.forbes.comTitle: Retire Before 40?! 10 Towns Where Your Dream Can Come True
Article Snip: "...#1 is Huntsville, Alabama, Average salary: $54,630**, Percentage of high-paying jobs: 28.1%, Median home sale price: $202,900. This Southern city is anything but sleepy, since it serves as home to the NASA Marshall Space Flight Center, the U.S. Army’s Redstone Arsenal, and offices for Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. With such aerospace, defense, and tech heavyweights in the area, Huntsville is famed for its educated workforce and sky-high wages to go with it. Paired with Huntsville's low home prices and a cost of living 3.3% lower than the national average..."
Reference: www.chron.comTitle: Federal Retirees Will Get 1.6% COLA in 2020
Article Snip: "...Retired federal workers will receive a cost of living adjustment of 1.6% to their defined benefit pensions next year..."
Reference: www.govexec.comTitle: Watch for These 9 Signs of Identity Theft
Article Snip: "...contact the three major credit bureaus, Equifax, Experian and TransUnion, to request a credit freeze on your accounts. Also known as a security freeze, this helps prevent new accounts from being opened in your name. A credit freeze is free and won’t affect your credit score..."
Reference: www.msn.comTitle: Elizabeth Warren’s new plan calls for tax hike on wealthy to pay for Social Security overhaul
Article Snip: "...Sen. Elizabeth Warren is calling for the wealthy to pay for an overhaul of Social Security that would boost the annual payment to retirees by $2,400 and extend the program’s solvency by two decades..."
Reference: www.chicagotribune.comTitle: Top Retirement Strategies for Government Employees
Article Snip: "...Retirement planning is different if your career has been as a government employee. The mainstream advice about 401(k) plans and Social Security benefits doesn’t apply to you. Here’s a look at the top strategies for government employees to plan for a successful retirement..."
Reference: www.investopedia.comTitle: Should You Carry Your Mortgage Into Retirement?
Article Snip: "...there can be some drawbacks. Carrying a mortgage in retirement can be a good idea in certain situations, but it is certainly not a one-size-fits-all solution for increasing retirement income..."
Reference: www.investopedia.comTitle: Baby Boomers: Don't Buy Into These 10 Pre-Retirement Investment Myths
Article Snip: "...As Baby Boomers approach retirement, they may encounter a lot of so-called “expert” advice telling them how to invest just before or during their golden years. While some of this guidance is sound, other tips are myths that may, in fact, steer investors in the wrong direction..."
Reference: www.forbes.comTitle: What You Don't Know (But Should) About Your Thrift Savings Plan
Article Snip: "...federal employees and members of the military save for retirement with a different kind of account: the Thrift Savings Plan, or TSP. In some ways, TSPs function similarly to 401(k)s. You make contributions, and your..."
Reference: www.forbes.comTitle: What's a Roth 401(k)? The other employer-based retirement plan that lets your savings grow tax free
Article Snip: "...The Roth 401(k), like a Roth IRA, lets you build a nest egg that grows tax-free, but relatively few workers take advantage of this opportunity..."
Reference: www.nbcnews.comTitle: The 10 Worst US States for Opportunity
Article Snip: "...The Alabama State is ranked 3rd worst in opportunities mainly due to poor remuneration for employees. The workforce earns below the national average per household.Allocation to public schools is lesser than in other states. Crime rates are comparatively higher. The recent job growth is about 0.04% while the cost of living index is at 91.2. Alabama is ranked 48th in economic opportunities though in terms of affordability it is ranked 17th..."
Reference: www.worldatlas.comTitle: Alabama next to last in US News ranking of best and worst states
Article Snip: "...Alabama ranked last among the states in the education category. Its other rankings were..."
Reference: www.al.comTitle: You're Most Likely to Die From Cancer in 1 of These States
Article Snip: "...looking at data from the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention on cancer rates in different states. The states with the highest incidence rates for cancer are Kentucky, Rhode Island, Delaware, Louisiana and New Jersey. The states with the lowest rates are New Mexico, Arizona, Wyoming, Alaska and Virginia..."
Reference: www.usnews.comTitle: Rates of Unsolved Murder by State
Article Snip: "...News reports based on FBI statistics show that somewhere between 35%-40% of homicides in the US go unsolved in the US today. Uniform Crime Reporting data, available at the state level (excluding Florida)..."
Reference: www.unz.comTitle: America's Most Dangerous States
Article Snip: "...Of course, crime rates cannot be analyzed in isolation. To gain a better sense of safety across the country, it's helpful to incorporate statistics pertaining to clearance rates to gauge how often crimes are actually solved. Additionally, historical figures present a more balanced picture of how violent crime is evolving in each region: For example, the South has the highest murder rate per capita, but did boast the most year-over-year improvement in that category in 2017..."
Reference: www.safehome.orgTitle: 10 Best and Worst States for Health Insurance Costs
Article Snip: "...The combination of a high monthly premium, high deductible and high copays make Alabama the third-worst state for health insurance costs. The state’s lowest-cost silver plan, the Silver Compass 5000 plan offered by UnitedHealthcare, has a high deductible of $5,000, after which the enrollee is still responsible for 20 percent of care costs and a $20 copay for primary doctor visits. These lackluster benefits come at an above-median cost of $288 a month, or $3,456 a year. The state has not opted to expand Medicaid..."
Reference: www.huffpost.comTitle: Top ten states with the highest sales tax rates in the US
Article Snip: "...ALABAMA (9.14%) – The state sales tax rate in Alabama is only 4%, but again the majority of the sales tax rate comes from a combination of city, county, and district rates. Many cities have a combined rate in the double digits, with the highest being 11% in the city of York..."
Reference: intuit.comTitle: Which States Tax Groceries?
Article Snip: "...States that tax groceries (rate if not fully taxed): Alabama, Arkansas (3%), Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois (1%), Kansas, Mississippi, Missouri (1.225%), Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee (5.5%), Utah (1.75%), Virginia (1.5% + 1% local option tax), and West Virginia (5%)..."
Reference: taxfoundation.orgTitle: Retired feds avoid high-tax states
Article Snip: "...Nine states don’t have any personal or state tax: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming. Another nine states exempt CSRS and FERS annuities from state tax: Alabama, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York and Pennsylvania...When it comes to the highest sales tax Tennessee, surprisingly, is No. 1 with a rate of 9.47%, which is why a lot of residents drive north to Kentucky — 38th with 6% sales tax..."
Reference: federalnewsnetwork.comTitle: This Retirement Mistake Could Cost You $301,479
Article Snip: "...A classic mistake, made by millions of people, is not starting to save for retirement soon enough. It's a mistake so huge that it could cost you $301,479 -- or more. Here's a closer look at what it could cost you..."
Reference: www.fool.comTitle: TSP Tax Deferred vs. Tax Exempt
Article Snip: "...Federal employees hired after July 31, 2010, have 3 percent of pay is deducted from every paycheck into the TSP account, and each government agency contributes 1 percent of pay. The agency also contributes 3 percent in Agency Matching Contributions. If hired before August 1, 2010, the TSP receives 1 percent equivalent pay contributions from the individual agency. His agency contributes up to 5 percent in matches..."
Reference: smallbusiness.chron.comTitle: Retirement Bills to Receive Big Push From Industry Lobbyists
Article Snip: "...The bills would provide U.S. workers with expanded opportunities to participate in employer-provided retirement plans while providing some administrative relief to employers and incentivizing them to offer more savings plan opportunities..."
Reference: 401kspecialistmag.comArticle Snip: "...If you already have 35 years of earnings, your benefit may or may not be affected by a decision to stop working now. Here's why: Any future..."
Reference: www.aarp.orgTitle: It’s going to get easier for some Americans to save for retirement
Article Snip: "...Small businesses across the country could use this type of program. Three-quarters of business owners who do not offer a retirement plan said they are not likely to implement one in the next two years..."
Reference: www.marketwatch.comTitle: If you are a postal employee nearing retirement you should use eRetire to properly prepare
Are you contemplating a retirement from the United States Postal Service (USPS)? Retirement is one of the most important decisions most of us will face in life. There are so many questions we must ask ourselves prior to making this move ...or deciding we are not ready to do so yet. The USPS makes the decision easier for us by providing a great site with links and applications to assist you with the entire process. Once you are eligible for retirement, eRetire found on liteblue, you will be able to do one or all of the following:
 |
| Retirement Travel |
Title: Secrets Of A Successful Retiree: From A Retirement Professional
Article Snip: "...What are the retirement planning strategies that an internationally recognized retirement expert successfully has used to plan her own retirement? There’s plenty you can learn from Anna Rappaport, a researcher, consultant, author, and speaker on a variety of retirement planning topics..."
Reference: www.forbes.comArticle Snip: "...The Social Security Expansion Act is profoundly wise legislation that increases Social Security benefits for all current and future beneficiaries, as well as providing additional targeted benefit increases. These include ensuring that those who work a lifetime at low wages are not forced to retire into poverty...The benefit increases in the Social Security Expansion Act are paid for entirely by requiring the wealthiest to pay their fair share into Social Security. It provides that they contribute the same percentage of their incomes to Social Security that minimum wage workers pay..."
Reference: www.commondreams.orgTitle: 3 Things to Know About Social Security if You’re Divorced
Article Snip: "...Did you know Social Security spousal benefits extend to certain ex-spouses who have gotten divorced? Social Security benefits currently provide..."
Reference: www.fool.comTitle: Equal COLA Act
Article Snip: "...Equal COLA Act. The legislation aims to bring equity to the way the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) is determined under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)..."
Reference: augustafreepress.comTitle: The jobs with the best retirement benefits
Article Snip: "...GOBankingRates analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ 2017 Employer Costs for Employee Compensation data and determined the best occupations for retirement benefits based on the field with the largest employer contribution per hour. The worst jobs for retirement benefits had the lowest employer contribution per hour..."
Reference: www.msn.comTitle: Getting Started on the Retirement Process
Article Snip: "...You should begin planning for retirement at least a year ahead of the day you expect to retire. However, an early retirement offer, a “buyout,” or a RIF can motivate you to make a quick retirement decision..."
Reference: www.fedweek.comTitle: Five Considerations for Federal Employee Disability Retirement Cases
Article Snip: "...Federal employees thinking about filing for disability retirement should consider the following five issues as they debate whether or not to proceed..."
Reference: www.arlnow.com