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.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.comTitle: Is Working after Retirement Worth the Costs?
Article Snip: "...because the SRS (in this case) is treated the same as a Social Security benefit, it can be reduced or eliminated if you exceed the earnings limit. The limit for earnings before impacting either SSA or SRS payments is $17,040 in 2018..."
Reference: www.fedsmith.comTitle: Federal Annuity and Benefits
Article Snip: "...FERS and FERS Specials Cost-of-Living Adjustments are not provided until age 62, except for disability, survivor benefits, and other special provision retirements. FERS disability retirees get the adjustment, except when they are receiving a disability annuity based on 60 percent of their high-3 average salary. Also, under FERS, if you have a CSRS component, the component is subject to the CSRS COLA calculation. FERS survivors receive the FERS increase on their entire annuity, even where component service is involved..."
Reference: www.opm.govTitle: For American Workers, 4 Key Retirement Issues to Watch in 2019
Article Snip: "...It’s going to be a busy year in Washington and state capitals for policymakers working to improve the retirement security of millions of Americans. Savings Plans, Saving One Million Pensions, Protecting Investors From Conflicted Advice, Expanding Social Security ..."
Reference: www.nytimes.comTitle: The Middle Class Retirement Nightmare
Article Snip: "...Like a squirrel that hasn’t saved against approaching winter… 80% of American workers have under one year’s salary salted away for retirement. This we learn from a recent report issuing from the National Institute on Retirement Security..."
Reference: dailyreckoning.comArticle Snip: "...For the first time, those using Tricare can take part in an open enrollment season akin to civilian healthcare, allowing users to change or keep their current plan. In addition, military retirees will no longer receive dental benefits through Tricare, but will be able to obtain..."
Reference: www.tampabay.comTitle: The Social Security Retirement Age Increases to 66.5 in 2019
Article Snip: "...Here's a look at how the retirement age is changing, and what this means for your retirement payments. An older Social Security full retirement age. The full retirement age used to be 65 for those born in 1937 or earlier. Those born between..."
Reference: usnews.comTitle: What is 'Provisional Income'
Article Snip: "...Provisional income is an IRS threshold above which social security income is taxable. The base, from §86 of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC), triggers taxability social security benefits requiring its inclusion in gross income tax payment on excess amounts..."
Reference: www.investopedia.comTitle: What is considered income relative to social security benefits?
Article Snip: "...In general, the Social Security Administration defines “earned income” as “income from wages or net earnings from self-employment.” For example, earnings may include bonuses, commissions, and severance pay. Investment income, pensions, capital gains, and inheritances are not considered wages. Other types of payment made by an employer may be considered earnings under certain conditions..."
Reference: www.aarp.orgTitle: Are Social Security Benefits Taxed?
Article Snip: "...Some of you have to pay federal income taxes on your Social Security benefits. This usually happens only if you..."
Reference: www.ssa.govTitle: New legislation would improve retiree cost-of-living adjustments
Article Snip: "...Retired federal employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System currently can end up receiving a lower cost-of-living adjustment than retirees under the older Civil Service Retirement System, due to the legislation that created the FERS in 1986. Rep. Gerry Connolly, D-Va., introduced legislation Nov. 20 that would amend Title 5 of U.S. Code to ensure that COLAs for all retirees are equal..."
Reference: www.federaltimes.comTitle: It Might Be Worse To Take Social Security At 66, Here's Why
Article Snip: "...it's extremely unlikely that benefit cuts would be visited on those already collecting benefits or on those about to start collecting in, say, the next decade. Roughly one fifth of the elderly subsists on Social Security and it's the main source of financial support for roughly half..."
Reference: www.forbes.comTitle: Retirement benefits and LWOP
Excerpt Quoted from OPM.GOV: "An aggregate nonpay status of 6 months in any calendar year is creditable service. Coverage continues at no cost to the employee while in a nonpay status. When employees are in a nonpay status for only a portion of a pay period, their retirement deductions are adjusted in proportion to their basic pay (5 U.S.C. 8332 and 8411).
High-3 average salary computations are based on periods of creditable service. Thus, periods of nonpay status of 6 months or less in a calendar year that fall within an employee’s average salary period are included in the calculation of the average salary using the rate of basic pay in effect during the period of nonpay status. For example, if a full-time employee whose annual rate of basic pay is $85,000 per year is placed in nonpay status for 3 months, that 3-month period would be credited in the average salary calculation using the $85,000 basic pay rate. (If the rate of basic pay changed to $86,500 per year after 2 months of the nonpay period, the first 2 months of the nonpay period would be credited in the average salary calculation using the $85,000 basic pay rate and the last month of the nonpay period would be credited in the average salary calculation using the $86,500 basic pay rate.)"
Title: What It's Like to Live in Key West
Article Snip: "...On the southernmost point of the U.S., discover what it's like living on island time..."
Reference: www.greatamericancountry.comTitle: Now You Can Save More for Retirement
Article Snip: "...Good news for retirement savers: Starting in 2019, the IRS just raised the annual contribution for IRAs, the first increase since 2013. Those who participate in 401(k), 403(b), most 457 plans and the Thrift Savings Plan for federal workers can now put aside more, too. It's also become easier to qualify for a Roth IRA, to have your contributions to a traditional IRA be tax-deductible and to claim the Saver's Credit. Here's a summary..."
Reference: www.investopedia.comTitle: Should I start drawing down my savings or claim Social Security early?
Article Snip: "...There are solid arguments to be made for both options. The argument in favor of claiming Social Security is that your retirement savings..."
Reference: www.usatoday.comTitle: Were you called by a Social Security scammer? Feds issue warning
Article Snip: "...The Feds issued a warning that scammers are spoofing a real, actual number used by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to try to get personal information from people across the country. “Scammers are spoofing SSA’s 1-800 customer service number to try to get your personal information..."
Reference: wtop.com