February 26, 2024 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes back our original program guests Tammy Flanagan, NITP Senior Benefits Director, Karen Schaeffer, CFP®, Marc Levine, Esquire, and Tom O’Rourke, Counsel. This is our final episode. We have enjoyed our weekly conversations for the past 18 years. Thank you to our loyal listeners for tuning in as we discussed topics ranging from benefits to finance to estate planning and everything in between. Our guests gather today to share...

February 12, 2024 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Marc Levine, Esquire. We will discuss how your assets pass to your loved ones: Through joint ownership of land; Through joint ownership of bank and brokerage accounts; Through government beneficiary forms (including new rules for the TSP); and Through non-government beneficiary forms, and how often they may differ from each other. We will also discuss what we can do when the unexpected and unplanned transfer...

February 5, 2024 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Brian Kurrus, CFP®. The new year is a great time to review: Investment allocations and rebalancing needs Cash flow and budgeting for the new year Retirement contributions, plans and projections Insurance coverage, needs and premium changes For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]

January 29, 2024 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA®, welcomes Bob Braunstein, Federal Benefits Specialist. Have you ever considered how much additional income your loved ones might need if you were suddenly gone? Have you planned their survivor benefits? Today’s program will focus on answering these questions: What types of Federal survivor benefits would go to your loved ones if you pass away? How can you be sure the benefits you have planned/elected for your survivors will be...

January 8, 2024 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Herb Casey, Federal Benefits Specialist. Topics include: Income COLA for FERS and CSRS retirees Salary pay raises & new locality rates Social Security Maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax COLA Earning limitations FEHB Insurances Increased premiums 12 fewer plans Medicare Rising premiums for Medicare Expansion of mental health coverage Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program Increasing...

December 18, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Bob Braunstein, Federal Benefits Specialist. Bob will talk about: The annuity calculation FEGLI 5-year rule Medicare’s different enrollment periods Long term care – What to consider while the Federal plan is suspended For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]

December 11, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Laurie Lee, Chief Financial Officer, WAEPA, and Daniel Eck, CFP®, Ernst & Young Personal Finance. Today’s guests will discuss the importance of wellness at the intersection of finance and mental health. They will also talk about the benefits of WAEPA’s partnership with EY and their Navigate program, making immediate progress on financial goals and positively impacting your future. For questions or comments, email us in...

December 4, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director, NITP. Have you procrastinated on your Open Season homework? Don’t worry, there is still time. Are you in the plan that matches your needs? Price is not the only factor which is why this decision can be confusing. During this program, Tammy will break this process down into simple steps everyone can take to review and select the best coverage for 2024. Step 1: Review your current...

November 27, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Karen Schaeffer, CFP®, and Kaitlin Schaeffer Yardley, CFP®. Karen and Kaitlin will talk about: The new and improved 529 plans Other strategies for meeting education costs Educating children about money For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected] Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

November 20, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, our hosts Bob Leins, CPA®, and Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director NITP, welcome insurance expert and author Walton Francis and his colleague Kevin Moss to talk about FEHBP Open Season. The Consumers’ CHECKBOOK Guide shows that most families can save $2,000 or more by selecting better plan choices. Francis and Moss are the principal authors of both online and print versions of Consumers’ CHECKBOOK Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees. The Guide...

November 13, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® and co-host Ray Kirk, Ph.D., Federal Benefits Specialist, NITP, welcome Jay Fritz, Program Manager, Outreach & Program Services, Healthcare and Insurance, U.S. Office of Personnel Management. It is that time of year again for employees and annuitants to review their Open Season options, which include health plans, dental and vision plans, FSAs, etc. Today’s discussion will include: Federal Open Season: November 13 – December 11,...

November 6, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® and co-host Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director at NITP, Inc. welcome back Paula S. Jakub, RHU, CEO at The American Foreign Service Protective Association, sponsor of the Foreign Service Benefit Plan.  Today’s topic will focus on things to consider during Federal Open Season and how to get the most out of the health plan you choose. Paula is a Subject Matter Expert in Federal Health Insurance and serves on the adjunct faculty of...

October 30, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Marc Levine, Esquire, to talk about Health Care Directives. What is a Health Care Directive (and is it different from a Health Care Power of Attorney)? What should l look for in my Health Care Agent? Why an advocate matters. What is the difference between my Health Care Directive and a Do Not Resuscitate? What is MOLST? Resources for health care decisions. What else does my health care directive do? How does my Health...

October 23, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Herb Casey, Federal Retirement Specialist. In retirement, some will decide to relocate to a different location or residence. Maybe you want to live in a warmer climate or move closer to family. Herb will discuss the main considerations and resources available in making this decision. And if you plan to relocate, it’s important to manage the possessions you have collected over the years. How do you determine what to...

October 16, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Brian Kurrus, CFP®.  Our guest today will talk about cash flow planning and debt payoff strategies for Federal employees and retirees. How much of an emergency fund do you need? How should you invest these assets? Which debt should you pay off first? What is the impact of higher interest rates on debt in general? Should you pay down your mortgage before retirement? What other cash flow changes might you have in...

October 2, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® and co-host Karen Schaeffer, CFP®, welcome Kay Bransford, Daily Money Manager, Professional Financial Advocate & Fiduciary, MemoryBanc. We never know what life will bring. Too often spouses, partners, family, and friends are unable to help because they do not have the information they need. If you are unable to manage the day-to-day bill pay and expenses, how will your loved ones: Pay for the household expenses? Cover your...

September 25, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Tom O’Rourke, Counsel. On today’s program, Tom will discuss how Federal employees can use their Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) program as a tax reduction tool. Specifically, how all FEHB premiums and out-of-pocket medical expenses can be paid on a pre-tax basis. Tom will also talk about how a Health Savings Account (HSA) can be used to both reduce current tax liability and be used as a vehicle to accumulate funds to...

September 18, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Joe Sullender, CFP® to talk about Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Basics of RMDs Understanding RMDs with inherited IRAs Timing your RMDs For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected] Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

September 11, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes M. Shane Canfield, CEO, and Stacy Outlaw, Chief Marketing Officer, WAEPA. September is Life Insurance Awareness Month. Today’s guests will discuss the importance of and uses for life insurance. Why do we need life insurance? What are other uses of life insurance? How does life insurance benefit families? How does WAEPA compare to FEGLI? For questions or comments, email us inadvance...

August 21, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® and cohost Ray Kirk, Ph.D., welcome Phil Gardner, Federal Benefits Specialist. Today’s guest will talk about the cost of benefits for both the employee and the agency. He will discuss the value to the employee, the agency, and the Federal government. We will look through the lens of: Early career employees; Mid-career employees; and, Employees planning to retire. How much can a new/early career employee expect to pay for...

August 14, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Karen Schaeffer, CFP® and Megan Schaeffer, Estate Planning Attorney. In honor of National Make a Will Month, Karen and Megan will talk about: Essential documents for everyone. How to get the process started. What happens when the documents aren’t in place. Why every 18-year-old should have at least health care documents. How and when to update your will and other estate planning documents. Strategies for streamlining...

August 7, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes John Jilek, CFP®. The Basics: Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA The Advanced: Roth TSP vs. Pre-Tax TSP Tax law changes that will affect your decisions The decision to not have some tax-free Roth money available in retirement could be a significant issue in your spending years Impact of the SECURE Act and SECURE Act 2.0 on beneficiaries of retirement accounts For questions or comments, email us in advance...

July 31, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes David De Jong, Principal, and Sarah Broder, Senior Associate, Stein Sperling Bennett De Jong Driscoll PC. The program will review SECURE 2.0 which changed the landscape of retirement plans upon enactment seven months ago. Among the topics to be discussed are: Multiple changes to “over 50” elective deferrals to employer plans Emergency withdrawals permitted from an employer plan or IRA and new emergency savings plans The change...

July 24, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director at NITP. It seems that everyone has an opinion when it comes to retirement decisions. Many of these opinions are stated as though they’re facts. Some of the questions from Federal employees about retirement center around relatively straightforward facts in law or policy. Here are some of the most common: Will I get a cost-of-living adjustment on my retirement benefit? What are the...