Retirement Planning
401(k)s, IRAs, withdrawal strategy, and the math of retiring on your terms, for every stage of the journey.
77 guides in Retirement Planning, page 1 of 4
FEDVIP 2027: Dental and Vision Premiums for Every Plan
FEDVIP 2027 biweekly premiums for all 21 dental and 10 vision plan options, from OPM's rate charts. How rating regions work, who can enroll, and the Open Season deadline of December 14, 2026.
FEP Blue 2027: Basic vs Standard vs Focus Premiums and Benefits
BCBS FEP Blue Standard, Basic and Focus side by side for 2027: what you pay per paycheck and per month, deductibles, out-of-pocket limits and copays, from OPM's rate tables and the 2027 brochures.
FSAFEDS 2027: Limits, Carryover, Deadlines and the New FSA Card
FSAFEDS for 2027: the health care, limited expense and dependent care FSA limits, the carryover rule, the $100 minimum, Open Season dates and the new FSAFEDS Visa FSA Card, from IRS and OPM sources.
Medicaid for Nursing Home Care: Eligibility, the 5-Year Look-Back, Spouses and Estate Recovery
How Medicaid pays for nursing home care: the income and asset tests, the 60-month look-back and transfer penalty, the 2026 home equity limit, what a spouse at home keeps, how much of your income goes to the nursing home, and estate recovery. From federal law, CMS and Medicaid.gov.
What Is Probate? Steps, Timeline, Cost and How to Avoid It
Probate is the court process that settles a person's estate after death. What goes through probate and what doesn't, the steps, how long it takes, what it costs in California and Florida, the tax returns involved, and how to avoid it.
CSRS Retirement: Formula, Eligibility and How It Differs From FERS
CSRS pays 1.5%, 1.75% and 2% of your high-3 salary per year of service, capped at 80%. Age and service rules for retiring, and what CSRS does not include.
FERS Retirement: Formula, Minimum Retirement Age and the Supplement
FERS pays 1% of your high-3 salary per year of service, or 1.1% at 62 with 20 years. The minimum retirement age by birth year, and the FERS supplement.
Social Security Payment Schedule 2027: Dates by Birthday, Month by Month
Social Security pays on the 3rd or on the 2nd, 3rd or 4th Wednesday, depending on your birthday. Full 2027 calendar, SSI on the 1st, and what happens when a date falls on a holiday.
FEHB Open Season 2026: Dates, 2027 Changes and a Deadline Checklist
FEHB Open Season runs November 9 to December 14, 2026. Effective dates, the 9.3% average 2027 premium increase, plans leaving and joining, Medicare tips from OPM, FEDVIP and FSAFEDS deadlines.
Power of Attorney: Types, How to Make One, and the Rules in Every State
What a power of attorney is, the types (general, limited, durable, springing, medical), how to sign one, when it ends, what your agent must do, and why banks refuse them. Signing rules checked against the statute in every state we could verify.
How Much Should I Contribute to My 401(k)? The Percentage That Fits
Get the full employer match first (the median plan needs 6% of pay), then work toward 15% of pay including the match. What the average worker saves (Vanguard 2026), the 2026 limits, auto-enrollment rules, and what each percentage means in dollars.
401(k) Loan vs. Withdrawal: What Taking Money Out Really Costs
Borrow from your 401(k) or withdraw? Our calculator shows the tax and 10% penalty on a withdrawal, a loan's monthly payment, what each does to your balance at retirement, and the tax trap if you leave your job. IRS loan limits and penalty exceptions explained.
Can I Retire at 55, 60 or 62? The Age Gates and the Money Test
Retiring at 55, 60 or 62 depends on four dates: the rule of 55, age 59½ for IRAs, Social Security at 62 (30% less than at 67) and Medicare at 65. What unlocks at each age, how to bridge the gap, and worked examples with real market history.
Medicare Part B Premium 2027 and IRMAA Brackets: What We Know Before CMS Announces
The 2027 Medicare Part B premium is not announced yet. The Trustees project $209.50 a month and a $292 deductible. The 2027 IRMAA brackets, calculated with the law's formula, start above $112,000 single and $224,000 joint.
SSDI Benefits in 2027: Who Qualifies, How Much You Get and How Long It Takes
SSDI pays monthly benefits to insured workers who cannot work because of a disability. In January 2027 the average disabled worker gets an estimated $1,701. Work credits, waiting period, Medicare, work rules and wait times.
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) in 2027: Payment Amounts, Rules and Payment Dates
SSI pays up to $1,029 a month for one person and $1,544 for a couple in 2027. Who qualifies, the income and $2,000 resource rules, state supplements and payment dates.
How to Make a Will: Steps and Signing Rules in Every State
How to make a valid will step by step: what to include, how many witnesses you need, whether a handwritten or electronic will counts, and the self-proving affidavit. Rules checked for all 50 states and DC.
Lady Bird Deed: How It Works and Which States Allow It
A lady bird deed (enhanced life estate deed) passes your home at death without probate while you keep full control. Which states use it, how it differs from a transfer on death deed, Medicaid and tax effects.
Living Trust vs Will: Which Do You Need?
Living trust vs will compared: probate, privacy, incapacity, guardians for children, taxes, creditors and Medicaid. Includes a California probate fee calculator and cheaper ways to skip probate without a trust.
Reverse Mortgage Calculator: How Much Can You Get From a HECM?
Estimate how much you can get from a reverse mortgage (HECM) using HUD's principal limit factors, the 2026 $1,249,125 limit, upfront mortgage insurance, fees and the 60% first-year cap. Plus how the loan works and when it comes due.
Rule of 55: Withdraw From Your 401(k) at 55 Without the 10% Penalty
How the rule of 55 works: leave your job in or after the year you turn 55 (50 for public safety) and take 401(k), 403(b) or TSP money without the 10% penalty. IRA trap, 20% withholding, free calculator.
Small Estate Affidavit: Limits in Every State and How to Use One
A small estate affidavit lets heirs collect a loved one's money and property without probate when the estate is under the state limit. 2026 limits for all 50 states and DC, from $15,000 in Rhode Island to $400,000 in Wyoming, with the law for each.
Transfer on Death Deed: How It Works and the Statute in Each State
A transfer on death (beneficiary) deed passes real estate at death without probate. How it works, how it differs from a will, trust, joint tenancy and life estate, what it does not do, and each state's statute as checked on official pages.
FEHB Premiums 2027: Every Nationwide Plan's Rate, What Changed, and Open Season Dates
2027 FEHB and PSHB premiums for every nationwide plan from OPM's rate charts, the 9.3% average increase, Open Season Nov 9 to Dec 14, 2026, and what retirees should check.