Top Retirement Strategies for Government Employees

Title: Top Retirement Strategies for Government Employees

How retirement benefits differ and work 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.com

Should You Carry Your Mortgage Into Retirement?

Title: 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.com

Baby Boomers: Don't Buy Into These 10 Pre-Retirement Investment Myths

Title: 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.com

What You Don't Know (But Should) About Your Thrift Savings Plan

Title: 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.com
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP),

What's a Roth 401(k)? The other employer-based retirement plan that lets your savings grow tax free

Title: 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.com

The 10 Worst US States for Opportunity

Title: 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.com

Alabama next to last in US News ranking of best and worst states

Title: 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.com

You're Most Likely to Die From Cancer in 1 of These States

Title: 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.com
Cancer Rates (Death)

Rates of Unsolved Murder by State

Title: 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.com
Rates of Unsolved Murder by State

America's Most Dangerous States

Title: 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.org
Alabama (5), Most Dangerous States, Crime,

10 Best and Worst States for Health Insurance Costs

Title: 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.com
Health Insurance Costs, Alabama the third-worst state for health insurance costs, Alabama,

Top ten states with the highest sales tax rates in the US

Title: 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.com
high-tax states for retirement, Taxes in Retirement, highest sales tax rates in the US, Alabama,

Which States Tax Groceries?

Title: 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.org
Taxes in Retirement, high-tax states for retirement, Grocery Taxes, Which States Tax Groceries?, Alabama,

Retired feds avoid high-tax states

Title: 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.com
high-tax states for retirement, Retirement,

This Retirement Mistake Could Cost You $301,479 (Saving Charts)

Title: 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.com

TSP Tax Deferred vs. Tax Exempt

Title: 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.com
TSP

Retirement Bills to Receive Big Push From Industry Lobbyists

Title: 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.com

If I stop working before I begin claiming Social Security, will my monthly benefit amount be reduced?

Title: If I stop working before I begin claiming Social Security, will my monthly benefit amount be reduced?

Article 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.org

It’s going to get easier for some Americans to save for retirement

Title: 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.com

If you are a postal employee nearing retirement you should use eRetire to properly prepare

Title: 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:

• View and print your annuity estimate.
• Select a specific retirement date to start the retirement process.
• Request retirement application forms through the mail or download and print locally.
• Schedule a retirement counseling session.

Reference: Federal Retirement News
Postal Retirement, USPS Retirement, liteblue.usps.gov, eRetire,