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Stephen Zelcer

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Stephen Zelcer

Helping federal employees maximize their benefits, grow their wealth and plan for financial success. As such, they don’t know how to maximize their finances.

Are your Federal Benefits making you money or losing you money? Most people know about money, but they aren’t financial planners. They unwittingly lose money, whether in their savings, taxes, debt, insurances, investments, etc. That’s unfortunate. The problem gets worse when they have more financial opportunities to mishandle. That’s the problem that most Federal Employees have. Federal positions

offer some of the best financial benefits in the country. However, most federal employees don’t know how to maximize them. They lack the Financial Planning background needed to integrate their benefits into their overall financial lives. Their personal financial decisions are often made irrespective of Federal Benefits, and vis versa, many benefits are being over-utilized, under-utilized, or even downright mishandled because they have not been put into the proper context of overall financial planning. Federal Benefits that are not integrated into overall financial planning cause unnecessary losses of wealth.

08/02/2025

𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗦𝗣 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝟱𝟵.𝟱
I wanted to share the general guidance I’ve been giving my clients about VERA and accessing your TSP before age 59½. While this should not be considered personal advice, I hope it helps clarify the key factors in making this important decision.
Understanding the rules around early TSP withdrawals is crucial to avoiding penalties and ensuring financial stability in retirement. If you’re considering early retirement under VERA, it’s important to know your options and how they impact your long-term financial security.
Read the full breakdown here:
🔗 https://stephenzelcer.com/vera-and-accessing-your-tsp-before-59-5/
If you need assistance evaluating your specific situation, please email me at [email protected].
Wishing you all the best,
Stephen Zelcer
StephenZelcer.com

VERA and Accessing your TSP before 59.5: The general rule for Traditional retirement accounts such as IRAs, 401(k)s, TSP is that they can only be accessed at age 59.5. If you dare access them before 59.5, the IRS slaps you with a 10% early access penalty. But there are two…

07/01/2025

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝗼𝗻-𝗧𝗮𝘅𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗶𝘁𝘆
Not every dollar of your federal annuity is taxable—and understanding the non-taxable portion can help you plan smarter.
This article breaks down how to calculate the tax-free share of your FERS or CSRS pension, how long it lasts, and why it matters for your retirement income strategy.
🔗 https://stephenzelcer.com/the-non-taxable-portion-of-your-annuity/

Understand federal and state tax withholding on your FERS or CSRS pension. Learn how to calculate your non-taxable pension portion and get guidance on W-4P and state income tax elections from retirement expert Stephen Zelcer.

06/19/2025

𝗥𝗜𝗙 & 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀
A Reduction in Force (RIF) can create uncertainty, especially when it comes to your retirement benefits. Understanding how a RIF affects your pension, FEHB, TSP, and overall financial future is essential for making informed decisions.
In this article, I break down what federal employees need to know about navigating a RIF and protecting their benefits.
Read the full analysis here:
🔗 https://stephenzelcer.com/rif-your-retirement-benefits/
If you have questions about your specific situation, feel free to email me at [email protected].
Wishing you all the best,
Stephen Zelcer
StephenZelcer.com

RIF & your retirement benefits Yes, if there’s a RIF, you may be eligible for an immediate pension and continuation of your FEHB.As shocking as this sounds, it’s actually pretty straight forward. With a RIF, you may be eligible for a retirement known as Discontinued Service Retirement (DSR). DSR...

06/18/2025

𝟲 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗧𝗦𝗣 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗚 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗱
When markets are shaky, moving everything into the G Fund might feel like the safest move. But is it the smartest?
This article outlines six key points every federal employee should weigh before shifting their TSP entirely into the G Fund—from long-term growth trade-offs to timing considerations.
🔗 https://stephenzelcer.com/6-things-to-consider-before-moving-your-entire-tsp-into-the-g-fund/

Before moving your entire TSP into the G fund, consider six key reasons to stay invested. Explore why patience, market recovery, and global company strength matter more than fear in turbulent economic times.

06/16/2025

𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗔 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗧𝗦𝗣 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝟱𝟵½
Thinking about retiring early under VERA? One of the most important pieces to understand is how and when you can access your TSP—without triggering early withdrawal penalties.
This article outlines what every federal employee needs to know about age rules, exceptions, and strategies for tapping into TSP funds before 59½.
🔗 https://stephenzelcer.com/vera-and-accessing-your-tsp-before-59-5/

06/12/2025

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗗𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗵 𝗦𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗜 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗱-𝗧𝗲𝗿𝗺
Got cash sitting on the sidelines—but not sure when (or if) you’ll need it?
This article explores how federal employees can position mid-term savings for better growth while keeping flexibility and access intact. If you’re trying to balance caution with smart planning, this one’s for you.
🔗 https://stephenzelcer.com/what-to-do-with-cash-sitting-in-savings-that-i-might-need-in-the-mid-term/

Wondering what to do with cash you might need in the mid-term? Explore options like S&P 500 index funds for growth and high-yield money market accounts for stability. Strike the right balance to grow your savings while keeping funds accessible.

06/11/2025

𝗥𝗜𝗙 & 𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀
A Reduction in Force (RIF) can bring a lot of uncertainty—especially when it comes to your retirement plans.
This article breaks down how a RIF may impact your pension, FEHB, TSP access, and long-term financial picture. If you’re a federal employee facing this possibility, understanding your options now can make all the difference later.
🔗 https://stephenzelcer.com/rif-your-retirement-benefits/

06/09/2025

𝗤&𝗔: 𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁?
When new legislation is on the horizon, it's natural to wonder whether you should retire before the changes kick in.
In this Q&A article, I walk through how to approach this kind of uncertainty, what questions to ask, and why jumping early isn’t always the most strategic move.
This isn’t personal advice, but it reflects the thinking I’m sharing with clients facing similar concerns.
🔗 https://stephenzelcer.com/qa-should-i-retire-before-the-proposed-legisation-takes-affect/

Worried about proposed FERS changes like eliminating the annuity supplement or switching to high-5? Here's why most federal employees planning to retire soon—especially by December—don’t need to panic, read why here.

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