Readers' Comments
Total Comments: 26
Page 1 of 3
Page 1 of 3
« Previous | Next »
"Where Can I Get Good, Reliable Retirement Information?"
Total Comments: 26
Page 1 of 3
Page 1 of 3
« Previous | Next »
Free Email Newsletter
| Close | Change | YTD | |
| G | $12.6985 | +0.0013 | +3.41% |
| F | $11.9771 | +0.0022 | +0.39% |
| C | $9.2069 | +0.5468 | -44.40% |
| S | $9.9674 | +0.5424 | -49.63% |
| I | $12.1847 | +0.7026 | -50.79% |
| Close | Change | YTD | |
| L 2040 | $10.9552 | +0.5238 | -39.94% |
| L 2030 | $11.2418 | +0.4750 | -35.43% |
| L 2020 | $11.6629 | +0.4168 | -29.95% |
| L 2010 | $13.1223 | +0.2434 | -15.12% |
| L Income | $12.3256 | +0.1516 | -8.50% |
November 23, 2008
Search:
Custom Search
Home | About Us | FAQ's |
Site Map | Terms of Use |
Privacy Policy |
RSS 
© 2008 FedSmith Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Retirement seminars
IRS
Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:37 AM
Post Reply
Although an IRS employee can only attend one seminar, the IRS allows the employee to obtain copies of the seminar in the form of CD's or tapes along with a copy of the text.
I have watched the CD's and followed the text and have found them to be very good. One is not limited to one order.
FERS TSP Annuity
MCLB Mainyenance Center
Tue Jun 10, 2008 8:58 AM
Post Reply
I understand how the TSP annuity works, but a friend of mine who is already retired sent in his paper work to purchase a life long annuity. What happened is he never received his annuity and a month later the bottom fell out of the interest rate index. The reason he never received his annuity he was told is because he had filled out his paper work incorrectly. Filled in portions that were supposed to be left blank.Yet nobody notified him by email or phone to clarify his application.My question is how can I guarantee that this doen't happen to me. Is there a phone number to these people that handle annuities, a web site? Thank you.
Retirement Seminars
DOT
Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:16 AM
Post Reply
After 30 years of a mixed bag of agencies I finally attended a retirement seminar last year where the presentor had many open jaws dropping due his statements. Excellent presentor. In his openeing remark he asked if there were any HR personnel. There were none. I received correct information from a contractor. Now I have a bill to pay to correct incorrect information the HR "Specialist" gave me years ago.
Where can you receive reliable info regarding ret
DOC
Tue Jun 10, 2008 9:31 AM
Post Reply
So the answer to the question: "Where can you receive reliable info regarding retirement planning?" is
Nowhere?
Reliable means guaranteed. If I consult my agency HR and they tell me something which I act upon, there is always the possibility that whoever ends up "cutting" my check may see things differently in a way that negatively impacts the bottom line. If I complain to them they have a legal right to say "Your HR was mistaken, sorry, too late, you lose".
On the other hand if I replay a telephone conversation with OPM, or some designated "guaranteed" authority, showing the advice I acted upon, then I'm the one who has the legal right.
Pre-retirement
Us Postal Service/Now Retired
Tue Jun 10, 2008 11:22 AM
Post Reply
As someone who does financial literacy and pre-retirement seminars, I think that offers for free consultations by experts with knowledge of federal benefits are worthwhile. As long as the employee understands the context of the "recommendations". My experience is that federal employees need more than just the rules and regulations, but insight into how it all works together in an integated plan. Retirement is part of financial planning, not the other way around. Unfortunately, some of the pre-retirement seminars tend to spend more time on the black and white rules of retirement, than on the gray areas of how retirement decisions impact a future financial plan.
Why So Complicated?
NRCS
Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:15 PM
Post Reply
I would sure like to know Why the Feds Retirement Systems are So Complicated. Do they really have to be? Can't someone who understands them (if there is such an individual) Un-Complicate them?
I'm in a divorce situation and at retirement age, and cannot believe all the horror stories I've read about retirement benefits/TSP benefits and especially when dealing with a divorce. My soon to be X's attorney said he'd Never try to figure out the Feds retirement stuff agian...way to complicated to had to hire an actuary, which of course is added expense to both parties and time consuming.
Just the stories about how long it takes to even get your first check after retirement is Scary to say the least. You'd better have 3 to 6 months monies on hand to tide you over until you maybe finally get a real check and find out how much you'll really be getting.....Seems No One Anywhere can tell you Before you Retire !!!
NON RESPONSE FROM OPM
UNITED STATES AIR FORCE
Tue Jun 10, 2008 12:20 PM
Post Reply
I have been retired for 20 years. Three years ago I divorced and remarried. OPM has failed to advise me if a court order has been approved related to my divorce and survivor benefits. I have contacted OPM by telephone, by registered letter, and finally I ask my state congressman to make an official inquiry. OPM advised my congressman they would resolve the inquiry and advise me. (That was 4 months ago). I firmly beleive that OPM is so overloaded with court orders related to survivor benefits that any living retiree's inquiry is placed at the bottom of the legal backlog. Since I am 73 years old, I would like to resolve any legal issures so that my current wife does not have to battle the system after I am gone. I would appreciate any comments or reccomendations from your readers.