Benchmark Financial Group Blog

The Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) is one of the most comprehensive retirement benefits packages in the country. But with “comprehensive” system, comes “complex” rules and procedures. The FERS system can be confusing to most people, particularly the annuity part. These three facts tend to be misunderstood... Your COLA probably won’t...

When you retire, you will have the opportunity to pull income from three different sources: Your annuity, your Social Security benefits, and your Thrift Savings Plan (if you chose to contribute to it). This three-tiered system might contribute to greater stability, but of course nothing is guaranteed. Thorough planning is still necessary at every...

Most American workers can look forward to a retirement funded by their own savings (such as a 401k plan) and Social Security benefits. As a federal employee, you have a more comprehensive plan than many; you can claim Social Security, enjoy your annuity payments, and reap the rewards of saving via your Thrift Savings Plan. That adds up to three...

You’re working hard, stashing money in your Thrift Savings Plan for retirement, also knowing that Social Security and your pension will help to round out your future income. You might also enroll in a life insurance policy, such as the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance plan. You hope there will be no need for those benefits any time soon,...