Advertise on podcast: For Your Benefit

February 12, 2024 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Marc Levine, Esquire. We will discuss how your assets pass to your loved ones: Through joint ownership of land; Through joint ownership of bank and brokerage accounts; Through government beneficiary forms (including new rules for the TSP); and Through non-government beneficiary forms, and how often they may differ from each other. We will also discuss what we can do when the unexpected and unplanned transfer happens. For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected] Copyright © 2024 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

February 5, 2024 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Brian Kurrus, CFP®. The new year is a great time to review: Investment allocations and rebalancing needs Cash flow and budgeting for the new year Retirement contributions, plans and projections Insurance coverage, needs and premium changes For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]

January 29, 2024 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA®, welcomes Bob Braunstein, Federal Benefits Specialist. Have you ever considered how much additional income your loved ones might need if you were suddenly gone? Have you planned their survivor benefits? Today’s program will focus on answering these questions: What types of Federal survivor benefits would go to your loved ones if you pass away? How can you be sure the benefits you have planned/elected for your survivors will be enough? If you have not elected benefits or designated specific beneficiaries, will your survivors be eligible for them anyway? What survivor benefits must be elected? Can you make these elections later or must they be in place before you pass away? Who ensures your survivors receive benefits? What is your Federal agency’s responsibility? OPM’s responsibility? Should survivor benefits be part of your financial plan? Are these benefits taxable? Which are and which are not?   For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]

January 8, 2024 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Herb Casey, Federal Benefits Specialist. Topics include: Income COLA for FERS and CSRS retirees Salary pay raises & new locality rates Social Security Maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security tax COLA Earning limitations FEHB Insurances Increased premiums 12 fewer plans Medicare Rising premiums for Medicare Expansion of mental health coverage Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program Increasing premiums Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Contribution limits Secure 2.0 changes For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]

December 18, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Bob Braunstein, Federal Benefits Specialist. Bob will talk about: The annuity calculation FEGLI 5-year rule Medicare’s different enrollment periods Long term care – What to consider while the Federal plan is suspended For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]

December 11, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Laurie Lee, Chief Financial Officer, WAEPA, and Daniel Eck, CFP®, Ernst & Young Personal Finance. Today’s guests will discuss the importance of wellness at the intersection of finance and mental health. They will also talk about the benefits of WAEPA’s partnership with EY and their Navigate program, making immediate progress on financial goals and positively impacting your future. For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]

December 4, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, our host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director, NITP. Have you procrastinated on your Open Season homework? Don’t worry, there is still time. Are you in the plan that matches your needs? Price is not the only factor which is why this decision can be confusing. During this program, Tammy will break this process down into simple steps everyone can take to review and select the best coverage for 2024. Step 1: Review your current coverage and changes in your current plan for 2024. Step 2: Did you have any significant healthcare events or issues in 2023? Do you anticipate any changes in your healthcare needs in 2024? Are you planning a move, a marriage, a milestone birthday? Do you now qualify for Medicare? Step 3: Use the www.opm.gov healthcare information and plan comparison tool and the Consumers’ CHECKBOOK Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees to narrow down your options. What are your Top 3? Step 4: Consider your need to continue or enroll in a FEDVIP dental and/or vision plan. Evaluate cost along with value. Step 5: Current Federal employees – it’s time to make your Flexible Spending Account election for 2024. For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected] Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

November 27, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Karen Schaeffer, CFP®, and Kaitlin Schaeffer Yardley, CFP®. Karen and Kaitlin will talk about: The new and improved 529 plans Other strategies for meeting education costs Educating children about money For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected] Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

November 20, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, our hosts Bob Leins, CPA®, and Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director NITP, welcome insurance expert and author Walton Francis and his colleague Kevin Moss to talk about FEHBP Open Season. The Consumers’ CHECKBOOK Guide shows that most families can save $2,000 or more by selecting better plan choices. Francis and Moss are the principal authors of both online and print versions of Consumers’ CHECKBOOK Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees. The Guide gives you vital insurance information that you cannot get from any other source. It tells you how much money you can save by changing – or by staying in – your health insurance plan and summarizes thousands of facts about the plans to simplify your choice. At the Guide’s website, www.guidetohealthplans.org, you can check to see if your agency has purchased access to the Guide for you. It rates about 160 health insurance plans available to Federal employees and retirees, including about 20 national plans, and about 140 health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and other local plan options, including two dozen Consumer-Driven and High Deductible plan options. The Guide rates not only regular insurance plans open to both employees and annuitants, but also about 40 plans open only to annuitants on Medicare that provide special Medicare benefits, pay most or all of the Part B premium, or both. Its ratings of plan costs take into account premiums, catastrophic limits, and estimates of likely out-of-pocket costs for medical expenses of every kind. The Guide compares plans for insurance value in dealing with unforeseen medical expenses, not just for the routine costs you can predict. It rates dental and vision plans as well. It provides dollar estimates of likely dental costs, taking into account both premiums and out-of-pocket expenses. It compares dental coverage in all plans, not just stand-alone plans. For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected] Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

November 13, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® and co-host Ray Kirk, Ph.D., Federal Benefits Specialist, NITP, welcome Jay Fritz, Program Manager, Outreach & Program Services, Healthcare and Insurance, U.S. Office of Personnel Management. It is that time of year again for employees and annuitants to review their Open Season options, which include health plans, dental and vision plans, FSAs, etc. Today’s discussion will include: Federal Open Season: November 13 – December 11, 2023 What programs participate in Open Season? How can I prioritize my Open Season shopping list? What options do I have? What if I do nothing? Resources for further information: Visit: opm.gov/openseason Follow OPM on LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/opm/ For Twitter News and Updates: https://twitter.com/usopm See your Human Resources Office How do I make an Open Season election or change? Flexible Spending Accounts under FSAFEDS (employees only): FSAFEDS.com or call 1-877-FSAFEDS (372-3337) or TTY 1-866-353-8058. Dental or vision under FEDVIP: Everyone – go to BENEFEDS.com or call 1-877-888-3337, TTY 1-877-889-5680. FEHB: Employees – use the Health Benefits Election Form (SF 2809) or use an online self-service system; your agency’s human resources office can help you. Retirees – go to Open Season Online at https://retireefehb.opm.gov or call Open Season Express at 1-800-332-9798, TTY 1-855-887-4957. For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected] Copyright © 2023 Federal News Network. All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area.

November 6, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® and co-host Tammy Flanagan, Senior Benefits Director at NITP, Inc. welcome back Paula S. Jakub, RHU, CEO at The American Foreign Service Protective Association, sponsor of the Foreign Service Benefit Plan.  Today’s topic will focus on things to consider during Federal Open Season and how to get the most out of the health plan you choose. Paula is a Subject Matter Expert in Federal Health Insurance and serves on the adjunct faculty of the Foreign Service Institute.  Paula will discuss: FEHB PROGRAM OPM Initiatives and 2024 Benefits Obesity Treatment Infertility Treatment and Women’s Health Mental Health/Substance Use Disorder Support Gender Affirming Care Lifelong Health/Wellness and Support for Chronic Conditions  Consider how you use health care Latest on Medicare, including the Federal Medicare Advantage Plans and NEW: Plans offering Medicare Prescription Drug Plan FEDVIP Make sure you understand these supplemental plans FSAFEDS ·     Pre-tax reimbursement for eligible costs ·     What is an eligible cost? ·     Rules on carryover amounts For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]

October 30, 2023 on ForYourBenefit, host Bob Leins, CPA® welcomes Marc Levine, Esquire, to talk about Health Care Directives. What is a Health Care Directive (and is it different from a Health Care Power of Attorney)? What should l look for in my Health Care Agent? Why an advocate matters. What is the difference between my Health Care Directive and a Do Not Resuscitate? What is MOLST? Resources for health care decisions. What else does my health care directive do? How does my Health Care Directive interact with my Power of Attorney? For questions or comments, email us in advance at [email protected]