You First: Federal Employee Retirement Guide (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9780692335666)

Randy worked within the IRS as a federal employee for eight years. During that time he developed an interest in the many variables associated with federal retirement benefits. He later turned his sights on the world of financial services. For over 13 years Randy has assisted many Federal employees by being able to blend his knowledge of the federal income benefits with sound financial advice. Over the past 13 years, Randy realized that few of his federal employee clients understood the excellent retirement benefits offered by Uncle Sam. Most didn't know: 1)They may qualify for Social Security Administration (SSA), the governments' version of a 401(k), the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), AND an annuity lifetime pension. 2)They control when they start taking payments from their pension, TSP and Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits. 3)They could maximize their TSP benefits by understanding the options and their own stomach for large market swings. 4)When it would be "OK" (financially) for them to retire. 5)That many federal employees will qualify for an additional pension payment while still in their 50's. 6)How much they should contribute out of each paycheck to their personal TSP account. 7)Why their account values would fluctuate up and down, sometimes a great deal, over a very short period of time. 8)And probably most importantly, how to manage their money once they leave federal employment. So, Randy decided to develop this informative guide to make the complex subject as easy as possible for the average federal employee to comprehend. Randy resolved to remove as much industry jargon as possible and bring the subject matter down to its bare "nuts and bolts." This book goes beyond just basic understanding of Federal retirement benefits. Friends, family and clients requested that he include some basic "post-retirement" income guidance. Such as: 1) How to maximize the offered federal income benefits. 2) How to start preparing for the day you retire, beginning as early as possible. 3) What investment choices are offered and how to determine what is right for you. 3) Steps to take when you are nearing retirement. 4) Why the age of 59 1/2 is important. 5) What to do when you are ready to retire. 6) How to manage the unique benefits package after retirement. This is an outstanding resource for new federal employees, long term federal employees and uniquely beneficial to those who have already retired or moved to other careers.