Benchmark Financial Group Blog

For many of us, the goals we set are not solely based on our own wants and needs. We also want to enjoy a long life with our spouse. They are part of the reason we work hard and plan for a secure retirement. But what happens if you pass away unexpectedly? How would your spouse be financially affected, and what happens to your federal employee...

You might be surprised to learn that American workers, when compared to the rest of the industrialized world, actually work longer hours than most. In addition, we take fewer vacation days. And yet, we tend to retire at a later age. Why? A number of factors are at play here, but we do know of one very large piece to the overall puzzle: More than...

Throughout the country, most people expect that they will retire at some point in their sixties. This makes sense, because most of us need to work for several decades in order to save up enough money to retire. We aren't eligible for early Social Security benefits until age 62, either, or even later for our full scheduled benefits (age 65 to 67,...

Federal employees enjoy a retirement system that differs somewhat from the norm within the private sector. Whether you're a new federal employee or a long-time public servant, you know that the FERS system encompasses three forms of retirement income for the future: Your annuity payments, withdrawals from your Thrift Savings Plan, and of course,...

Lately, despite evidence of improving economic conditions, the stock market has taken us all on a wild ride. It's important to remember that the stock market does not always react, with perfect correlation, to the state of the economy in general. Market corrections are normal. But it can feel alarming when you've invested any of your retirement...