Retired Pay World

Making Sure Benefits Are Known

… The ad by Government Benefits Analysts Inc. headlined with a large attention banner, explains that many veterans or widows of veterans are eligible for benefits of “up to $20,924 a year tax-free!” The ad then asks veterans to call a local phone number, where a recording asks the caller to leave a message.
The ad [...]

How Much Does The Military Make?

Here’s an article that makes you think.  The City Of New York, both victim and hero of 9-11 and “proprietor” of some of the world’s best emergency services ought to be taking care of their employees.  Well, they’re taking care of them, all right.  Taking care of them the way the bull “takes care” of [...]

Military Life After Retirement

Reveille and Hyperbole:As employers and industries throughout the country progressively realize the value of hiring military veterans, MilitaryStars, the nation’s largest military career expo company, continues its rollout of new venues throughout 2006. Phoenix, AZ will play host to MilitaryStars’ Western Regional Career Expo on October 3rd, 2006, and regional companies from myriad industries are [...]

Important Deadline Approaches — Don’t Let It Slip By Unconsidered

Survivor benefits: An exit strategy for insurance?
A financial planner says many military retirees were misinformed about a “survivor benefits plan,” and time is ticking away to sign up for it.
BY CHRIS FLORES 247-4738
September 17, 2006
When Steve Hinds retired from the Air Force in 1992, he was confident that his life insurance would cover his wife’s [...]

Important Deadline Approaches — Don’t Let It Slip By Unconsidered

Survivor benefits: An exit strategy for insurance?
A financial planner says many military retirees were misinformed about a “survivor benefits plan,” and time is ticking away to sign up for it.
BY CHRIS FLORES 247-4738
September 17, 2006
When Steve Hinds retired from the Air Force in 1992, he was confident that his life insurance would cover his wife’s [...]

Coke and Pepsi Have Nothing On These COLAs

Federal retirees, from both Civil Service and the Military are entitled to COLA’s — Cost Of Living Adjustments — in their pensions and annuities.  Hmmm, reminds me, I had better do a post soon on the difference between retirement pay and annuities.  These retirements are special in comparison to many in the run-of-the mill commercial [...]

HERO Act and Divorce Division

Another Really Nice Tax Law Change
The HERO Act allows retroactive IRA contributions to both traditional and Roth IRAs for those service members and their spouses, if applicable, who are serving in combat zones. The HERO Act allows IRA contributions for years 2004 and 2005. These IRA retroactive contributions can be made as late as May [...]

TSP — Thrift Savings Plan — Division and Conservation

The TPS (TSP) is a retirement investment vehicle similar … but certainly very different from .. a non-Federal employee’s 401K Plan.  A majority of Federal Workers have invested in the TSP already.  For those under the FERS (Federal Employee Retirement System) it is a prime component of their retirement assets.  Military personnel have had the [...]

More About Those Pesky Points

Yesterday we got into a few of the details about Reserve Component Retirement Points and why the standard months married over months of service might not be the right way to go when calculating options for dividing a reserve component retirement annuity.  here’s a few general pension division rules and why I think some finesse is [...]

A Few More Thoughts On Reserve Component Retirement

I’m sure I cured a lot of people’s insomnia yesterday with my big post on Reserve Military Component retirement. Just in case there’s still a few of you with insomnia, I’ll post another short one at bedtime here in Sunny Colorado.
One thrust to all my posting and study in this government retired pay area [...]

Intro to Reserve Component Retirement — Calculation and Valuation

You may look at the current US Reserve Forces Retirement System as a fragmented house of cards rife with inequities. Or you may feel it’s run exactly as it should be. But of a certainty, if you are a retirement planner, actuary or a lawyer representing a client who is under the system, [...]

Military Retirement — Special Six-Part Series — Part 4 — Combat related Special Compensation

Previous articles are here:

Introduction

In return for years of service, the military offers an array of benefits for retirees, including a pension adjusted every year for inflation, money for college, health-care coverage and more. These days the options for military retirement are even more complex than most any civilian plan. While some benefits are tiny, others [...]

Military Retirement — Special Six-Part Series — Part 3 — Disability Benefits

Here’s the third installment in our six part Military Pay series. Other posts are here:

Introduction

In return for years of service, the military offers an array of benefits for retirees, including a pension adjusted every year for inflation, money for college, health-care coverage and more. These days the options for military retirement are even more [...]

Can A Reservist Get Retired Pay Before Age 60?

Sorry for the late notice on this, but I just came to me desk.  A very interesting ‘chink in the 60th birthday armor’ that Congress has perpetuated for so long, even while making more and more use of Reserve components every year.
12/11/2008 – ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. (AFNS) – Department of Defense officials here [...]

Military Retirement — Special Six-Part Series — Part 3 — Disability Benefits

Here’s the third installment in our six part Military Pay series. Other posts are here:

Introduction

In return for years of service, the military offers an array of benefits for retirees, including a pension adjusted every year for inflation, money for college, health-care coverage and more. These days the options for military retirement are even more [...]

Military Retirement — Special Six-Part Series — Part 2 — Death Benefits

Here’s the second installment in our six part Military Pay series. Other posts are here:
Introduction

In return for years of service, the military offers an array of benefits for retirees, including a pension adjusted every year for inflation, money for college, health-care coverage and more. These days the options for military retirement are even more [...]