Haws Federal Advisors Podcast

Federal employee within 12 months of retirement, or already retired, with $1 million+ invested? Book a free 15-minute Fit Call: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/whatservicemakessense Do you have an adult child with a disability? Federal benefits have special rules that can protect them for life, through FEHB and a FERS survivor annuity, but only if the paperwork is right. One wrong beneficiary form can also cost them SSI or Medicaid. Quick facts: There are two different age tests. If the disability began before 26, FEHB can continue past 26 for a child who is unmarried, incapable of self-support, and has a disability expected to last a year or more. Carry Self & Family coverage into retirement to keep your child covered, and expect OPM to review the child's status and possibly ask for updates. If the disability began before 18, an unmarried child who is incapable of self-support can receive a lifetime FERS child survivor annuity while the condition continues. For the child to keep FEHB after you die, Self & Family must be in force on the day you die, and the survivor annuity is what lets them keep coverage. The beneficiary-form trap: a lump sum from your TSP or FEGLI can knock a child off SSI and Medicaid. Tools families often use include a special needs trust named as the TSP and FEGLI beneficiary, an ABLE account (the disability-onset age limit is now 46), and a letter of intent with care instructions. Have this paperwork ready: a medical certificate and proof of onset age, the special needs trust if you use one, TSP-3 and SF 2823 beneficiary forms that match the plan, and guardianship or power of attorney documents. Educational only, not tax, investment, or legal advice. Haws Federal Advisors | HawsFederalAdvisors.com 👇 Free Copy of My Book: Building Wealth In the TSP: Your Road Map To Financial Freedom as A Federal Employee: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/free-tsp-e-book Download a copy of our Free Federal Retirement Roadmap: http://bit.ly/4vlqoGY Join our NEW LinkedIn or Facebook groups to answer/ask any federal questions: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13175084/ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Gq3H4Vm5F/

Federal employee within 12 months of retirement, or already retired, with $1 million+ invested? Book a free 15-minute Fit Call: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/whatservicemakessense Thinking about going back to work for the government after you retire? Your pension keeps paying, but your new salary usually gets cut by the amount of your annuity. Here's how the offset, waivers, the FERS Supplement and your benefits work before you say yes. Quick facts: As a reemployed annuitant, your annuity keeps paying, but your salary is cut by the amount of your annuity. Example: a $120,000 salary minus a $45,000 FERS annuity means you're actually paid $75,000 in salary. The 2010 law that let agencies waive the offset (with hour caps) expired 12/31/2024, so today only OPM-approved waivers remain, granted case by case for an emergency hiring need, severe difficulty filling the job, or keeping a key person on a project. They're never automatic, and OPM can say no. Stay long enough and you earn more: 1 year of full-time work earns a supplemental annuity, and 5 years can earn a redetermined annuity. Work done under a waiver doesn't earn extra annuity. Under 62? Your full federal salary counts toward the FERS Supplement earnings test: the 2026 limit is $24,480, and you lose $1 of Supplement for every $2 over it. Your FEHB and retiree FEGLI continue, and TSP eligibility depends on the appointment (ask HR). The contractor route: there's no offset and your pension is paid in full, but the Supplement earnings test and post-employment ethics rules still apply. Educational only, not tax, investment, or legal advice. Haws Federal Advisors | HawsFederalAdvisors.com 👇 Free Copy of My Book: Building Wealth In the TSP: Your Road Map To Financial Freedom as A Federal Employee: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/free-tsp-e-book Download a copy of our Free Federal Retirement Roadmap: http://bit.ly/4vlqoGY Join our NEW LinkedIn or Facebook groups to answer/ask any federal questions: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13175084/ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Gq3H4Vm5F/

Federal employee within 12 months of retirement, or already retired, with $1 million+ invested? Book a free 15-minute Fit Call: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/whatservicemakessense How much life insurance do you actually need as a fed? Not a round number, and probably not 10x your salary. Here's the simple formula: what your family needs, minus what's already in place, equals the gap to insure. Educational only, not tax, investment, or legal advice. Haws Federal Advisors | HawsFederalAdvisors.com 👇 Free Copy of My Book: Building Wealth In the TSP: Your Road Map To Financial Freedom as A Federal Employee: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/free-tsp-e-book Download a copy of our Free Federal Retirement Roadmap: http://bit.ly/4vlqoGY Join our NEW LinkedIn or Facebook groups to answer/ask any federal questions: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13175084/ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Gq3H4Vm5F/ 

Federal employee within 12 months of retirement, or already retired, with $1 million+ invested? Book a free 15-minute Fit Call: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/whatservicemakessense Retired from the military and now in civil service? You can collect both your military pension and FERS, just not for the same years. Here's how the military deposit and waiver work, the exceptions, and why giving up your military retired pay rarely pays off. Educational only, not tax, investment, or legal advice. Haws Federal Advisors | HawsFederalAdvisors.com 👇 Free Copy of My Book: Building Wealth In the TSP: Your Road Map To Financial Freedom as A Federal Employee: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/free-tsp-e-book Download a copy of our Free Federal Retirement Roadmap: http://bit.ly/4vlqoGY Join our NEW LinkedIn or Facebook groups to answer/ask any federal questions: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13175084/ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Gq3H4Vm5F/ 

Federal employee within 12 months of retirement, or already retired, with $1 million+ invested? Book a free 15-minute Fit Call: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/whatservicemakessense Open Season runs Nov 9 – Dec 14, and premiums are up by double digits for the third year in a row. Here's a 7-step checklist to review your FEHB, dental, vision and FSA in about an hour, before the deadline. Quick facts: 1) Mark the dates: Open Season runs Nov 9 – Dec 14 (11:59 pm). New coverage starts Jan 1, 2027 for retirees and Jan 10, 2027 for employees. The average increase in what enrollees pay is 8.7% (2023), 7.7% (2024), 13.5% (2025), 12.3% (2026) and 10.9% (2027). For 2027 there are 118 plan options from 45 carriers, and 9 plan options are leaving. 2) Read "Changes for 2027" near the front of your plan's brochure. If your plan is leaving and you do nothing, OPM moves you to Compass Rose Standard. 3) Compare the real cost (premium plus your out-of-pocket) for a normal year and a bad year, because a cheaper premium can cost more in a bad year. 4) Check every doctor, hospital and prescription in next year's provider directory and formulary. 5) 65+? Line up your plan with Medicare Part B. Some plans waive deductibles or pay part of your Part B premium, and a late-enrollment penalty can apply if you add Part B later. 6) Healthy? Look at an HSA plan: the 2027 limits are $4,500 for Self Only and $9,000 for Self Plus One or Family, plus $1,000 if you're 55+, and the plan's own HSA deposit counts toward the limit. 7) Re-enroll in FSAFEDS (it doesn't carry over) and review FEDVIP (dental up 1.0%, vision up 1.6% on average). New for 2027: adding a spouse or child requires proof such as a marriage certificate or birth or adoption records. Make your changes by Dec 14: employees through their agency's self-service system, retirees through OPM Retirement Services Online, and dental, vision and FSA through BENEFEDS and FSAFEDS. Then check your first January pay stub or annuity statement. Educational only, not tax, investment, or legal advice. Haws Federal Advisors | HawsFederalAdvisors.com 👇 Free Copy of My Book: Building Wealth In the TSP: Your Road Map To Financial Freedom as A Federal Employee: https://app.hawsfederaladvisors.com/free-tsp-e-book Download a copy of our Free Federal Retirement Roadmap: http://bit.ly/4vlqoGY Join our NEW LinkedIn or Facebook groups to answer/ask any federal questions: https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13175084/ https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1Gq3H4Vm5F/