Your Turn with Mike Causey

Six months into an historically-lethal pandemic that potentially threatens everybody on the planet is probably a pretty good time to update or begin your personal financial checklist —In case you unexpectedly check out. Many people, and especially long-time career federal civil servants are almost certainly worth more dead than alive, and by a lot more than they think. Especially true if you can leave a lifetime indexed-to-inflation survivor annuity, subsidized lifetime health insurance coverage, life insurance and more. But how much more? Do you have a clue? Can you think of a better time for a personal tune-up? Benefits expert Tammy Flanagan has spent most of her adult life, in addition to raising sons, probing the mysteries of the federal benefit package, from cradle to grave and beyond. But it’s worth keeping on top of because it is one of the best, anywhere, for you now and for your survivors down the road. She joins us on Your Turn with Mike Causey today to discuss.

After the long-anticipated crash of the record 11-year bull market, a lot of 401(k) investors worried about the hit their stock-fund investments had taken. Others who learned their lessons from the Great Recession of 2008-2009 thought the downturn might be the equivalent of a fire sale. In the case of federal and postal investors, that meant an opportunity to buy more shares of the stock-indexed C, S and I funds. Turns out they were right — that’s what most of the 45,219 (as of June 30) millionaires did. So is it happening again? Arthur S. Stein, a Washington area financial planner, whose client base includes several self-made TSP millionaires, said it would be relatively easy to figure out what ended the bull market, but not so easy figuring out its quick (so far) recovery. He was my guest today on our Your Turn radio show.

Pandemic problem: Retire, carry on or simply survive?

When ‘no plan’ is your plan

Teleworking then, now and tomorrow: Where do you fit in?

Growing your TSP: Time to time the market?

Life after lockdown: New spouse, new career, status quo?

Life after lockdown: New spouse, new career, status quo?

Life after COVID-19: Finding (and keeping) a federal job

COVID-19 impact on 2021 COLA, pay raise and WEP/GPO

A lot of people who know how the market works and what the TSP was designed to do would probably say don’t do it. In part because it involves timing the market — buying when it is low, selling when it is high — which is a lot easier said than done.

GPO and WEP: The other pandemics!

COVID-19’s impact on your TSP and taxes

Feb. 19: The day the earth stood still?

Writing your own obit