FRS Survivor Benefits: Independent Guide vs Hiring a Financial Advisor
Comparing a self-service FRS survivor benefits guide against hiring a financial advisor after a Florida public employee dies — cost, scope, and what each covers.
Blog
How to Budget for the NJ Pension First Check Delay Without a Financial Planner
Plan for the 30-to-60-day gap between your last NJ paycheck and your first PERS or TPAF pension payment — a step-by-step cash flow approach.
How to Claim FRS Survivor Benefits Without a Financial Advisor
A step-by-step overview of claiming FRS survivor benefits on your own — the death report, plan identification, form sequence, HIS continuation, and tax paperwork.
How to Prepare for CalSTRS Retirement Without a Financial Advisor
A step-by-step approach for California educators preparing their CalSTRS service retirement application, payout option election, and first payment timeline without hiring an advisor.
How to Prepare for NJ PERS or TPAF Retirement Without a Financial Adviser
A self-directed approach to NJ public pension retirement — tier verification, payout option analysis, health benefits, and the MBOS application without hiring an adviser.
NJ Pension Retirement Guide vs Free NJDPB Fact Sheets: Which Do You Need?
Compare an independent NJ PERS and TPAF retirement guide against the Division's free fact sheets to decide which resource fits your pre-retirement planning.
VRS Return to Work Rules: Working After Retirement
Can you work after VRS retirement? The mandatory separation period, return-to-work rules for VRS-covered employers, and critical shortage exceptions explained.
VRS Plan 1 vs Plan 2 vs Hybrid: Key Differences for Virginia Retirement
Compare VRS Plan 1, Plan 2 and Hybrid retirement plans side by side — multipliers, AFC periods, COLA caps, eligibility rules and what your hire date means.
VRS Group Life Insurance After Retirement: Reduction Schedule and Floor
How VRS Basic Group Life Insurance works after retirement — the 25% annual reduction schedule, the 30-year service floor and Optional Life conversion rules.
Virginia Sickness and Disability Program (VSDP): What State Employees Need to Know
Overview of the Virginia Sickness and Disability Program — who's covered, how short-term and long-term disability work, and how VSDP connects to VRS retirement.
How to Read Your VRS Retirement Estimate in myVRS
Learn how to read and understand your VRS retirement benefit estimate from the myVRS portal — what the numbers mean, what's missing, and how to use the Benefit Estimator.
VRS Retirement and Social Security After WEP Repeal
How the 2025 Social Security Fairness Act affects VRS members — WEP and GPO are repealed, retroactive adjustments paid, and what you need to do now.
VRS Retiree Health Benefits: The 31-Day Enrollment Window You Cannot Miss
How to enroll in the Virginia State Retiree Health Benefits Program, the 31-day deadline, Form A10741, and what happens if you miss the window.
VRS Optional Life Insurance: How to Continue Coverage After Retirement
Understand VRS Optional Group Life Insurance — the 31-day conversion window via Form VRS-39R, how it differs from Basic Group Life, and what happens if you miss the deadline.
VRS Advance Pension Option Explained: How APO Works Before Social Security
How the VRS Advance Pension Option increases your pension before Social Security age and permanently reduces it after — eligibility, mechanics and common mistakes.
How to Calculate Your VRS Pension: The Formula Step by Step
Step-by-step guide to calculating your VRS pension — Average Final Compensation, multipliers, service credit and what counts (and doesn't) in the formula.
Common VRS Retirement Mistakes to Avoid
The most costly VRS retirement mistakes Virginia public employees make — from missing the service credit deadline to botching the break-in-service requirement.
12-Month VRS Retirement Checklist: What to Do and When
A month-by-month VRS retirement countdown — from the 12-month service credit audit to your first pension check, with every deadline and form in order.
VRS Survivor Option: 50%, 75% and 100% Percentages Explained
How VRS Survivor Options work — the 100%, 75%, 50% and 25% percentages, the pop-up provision, spousal acknowledgment rules and what to consider.
VRS Service Credit Purchase: Deadlines, Costs and How to Buy Prior Service
Everything you need to know about purchasing VRS service credit — eligible types, cost windows, military service, Form VRS-26, and the deadline that locks you out permanently.
VRS Rule of 90: How It Works for Plan 2 and Hybrid Members
The VRS Rule of 90 explained — how age plus service credit gets you unreduced retirement under Plan 2 or Hybrid, with examples and common mistakes.
VRS Retirement Payout Options Compared: Basic Benefit, Survivor, APO and PLOP
Compare all five VRS retirement payout options side by side — Basic Benefit, Survivor Option, Advance Pension Option and PLOP — to understand the trade-offs before your irrevocable election.
VRS Hybrid Retirement Plan: How the DC Component Works and Distribution Options
Understand the VRS Hybrid plan's defined contribution side — mandatory and voluntary contributions, employer matching, vesting schedule, and how to take distributions at retirement.
VRS Health Insurance Credit: Rates, Eligibility and How to Claim It
Learn the VRS Health Insurance Credit rates for state employees, teachers and political subdivisions — who qualifies, how much you get and how to file.
VRS Hazardous Duty Supplement: Who Qualifies and How It Works
How the VRS hazardous duty supplement works for SPORS, VaLORS and political subdivision safety employees — eligibility and when it ends.
VRS First Retirement Check: When It Arrives and What to Expect
Find out when VRS sends your first retirement check, how direct deposit works, the payment schedule, and what the confirmation letter covers.
VRS Divorce and Domestic Relations Orders: How a DRO Affects Your Pension
How a divorce affects your VRS retirement — what a Domestic Relations Order (DRO) does, how it limits payout options, and the forms you need to know.
Is VRS Retirement Taxable? Federal and Virginia Tax Rules
How VRS pension income is taxed — federal and Virginia state withholding, the age 62+ subtraction, PLOP lump sum taxes and Form 1099-R reporting.
VRS Retirement Application: Timeline, Steps and What to File
Step-by-step guide to applying for VRS retirement — the 120-to-60-day window, myVRS vs paper VRS-5, spousal acknowledgment and the checklist before you file.
VRS Retirement Age: Unreduced and Reduced Eligibility by Plan
Find out the earliest age you can retire under VRS Plan 1, Plan 2 or Hybrid — unreduced eligibility, reduced retirement and the early retirement penalty.
VRS PLOP: How the Partial Lump-Sum Option Payment Works
How the VRS Partial Lump-Sum Option Payment works — eligibility rules, the 1x/2x/3x tiers, the permanent pension reduction and tax implications of taking a PLOP.
VRS Disability Retirement: Eligibility, Process and What to Know
How VRS disability retirement works — who qualifies, how it differs from VSDP, the application process, and what happens to your benefit if you recover.
VRS COLA Adjustment: How Cost-of-Living Increases Work by Plan
How VRS COLA adjustments are calculated for Plan 1, Plan 2 and Hybrid retirees — the formula, the caps, when it kicks in and the 2025-2026 approved rates.