Kaufmanrider's Retirement Story

[Kaufmanrider]

Checked my services online OPM account. My retirement packet was assigned to a Retirement Specialist for calculation on Feb 27, 2014. Things are progressing.

 

[nasa1974]

Checked my services online OPM account. My retirement packet was assigned to a Retirement Specialist for calculation on Feb 27, 2014. Things are progressing.

The good news is slow in coming but there is progress. Hang in there it does get better.

 

[Stoplight]

KM,

In my experience, the web site lags a little behind...especially when you first get set up ! Glad to hear you're NOT getting $0.00

Soooo...did the amount you were expecting show up in your bank account ???


Stoplight...

 

[Templefan]

Hi Kaufmanrider,

Received my first interim today, did you get yours?

 

[Kaufmanrider]

Hi Kaufmanrider,

Received my first interim today, did you get yours?

Yes, I received it.

I also received the letter from OPM Saturday with my gross amount, taxes, and net deposit during interim pay. What I could not believe was how much they planned to take out in taxes. I was going to go on-line and reduce the tax amount. OPM posted my anticipated pay for April 1 on the website and they reduced my Federal Taxes. I guess someone made a honey boo-boo. The new amount will be less than 1/3 of what they took out today.

 

[Scout333]

Kauf, My first interim payment had over three times the amount of withheld taxes of my second one. The OPM website explains this process but not why they did it this way. They claim it will be sorted out with the final catch-up check.
We'll see I guess.

 

[Kaufmanrider]

According to the OPM Services On-line website I was finalized yesterday, March 10, 2014 and full numbers were available for me to see. Not bad, two months processing time. My final numbers are right in line with my agency estimate. I'll get $22 more than I anticipated. My FERS is $3 less than the agency calculation and the Special Supplement was $25 more.

 

[Stoplight]

KM,

Congrats ! Looks like OPM HAS cut way down on the backlog ! Maybe fewer of us baby boomers are heading for the exits

My situation was similar...a few dollars more here, a few dollars less there...I ended up a little less than the Agency estimate. Not sure I understand why there's a difference between the Agency, and OPM numbers, in this day of the internet and computers !!! Maybe it's "rounding errors"


Stoplight...

 

[nasa1974]

Nice to hear you are officially retired and getting your full retirement check. Enjoy the good life.

 

[Scout333]

Congrats Kauf! That was speedy! I'm still lookin' for my final amount!

 

[Kaufmanrider]

Received a letter from OPM today about my Special Supplement with basic information about the amount, how it is calculated and a warning the amount could decrease if I earn income during retirement. The letter states I should be getting a booklet soon with the details on my retirement calculations.

I received a deposit today which I assume was for the difference between my interim pay last month and my final calculated pay. Wasn't a big check but I can't complain as I was only on interim pay for 1 month. :laugh:

I might try and hold off on taking 72t distributions until next year. Hopefully my savings can last until then. If not?????

I have started planning travel for the year. Flying to California for the next couple of weeks, weekend Motorcycle trips in April (Texas Hill Country), June (South Padre Island), September (Texas Hill Country), Las Vegas in August for my 50th B-day. I will try and squeeze in Hawaii or Puerto Rico in the Fall to cap the year.

I told my wife next year we will have to go on a budget, start our vegetable garden and enjoy our retirement poolside in the backyard.

 

[Templefan]

Hi Kaufmanrider,

I think you are one day ahead of me. I got finalized yesterday. My FERS annuity was right on the money and my supplement was actually more than what my agency had figured. Received my catch-up today also. Pretty impressed with OPM. I'm gonna hold off until next year also for TSP, at least that is the plan.

Best of luck!

 

[Kaufmanrider]

First official full retirement check deposited April 1 (showed up in bank evening of March 31) without a hitch.


I came back from a two week California vacation and found I had received my "Your Federal Retirement Benefits" booklet from OPM.

Going on three months into retirement and I don't miss work, just the people. Facebook is great for keeping in touch.

I have been keeping busy around the house doing little repairs/upgrades and with Spring on us I'll start spending a few hours a day taking care of my acre.

Still contemplating 72T payments. I have become a coffeehouse/Lazy type investor letting it ride. Since I rolled over in Feb I have collected over $1,000 in dividends. My goal is to make nearly enough dividends to fund 72T distributions so I don't drain my account too much in bad market years. On paper it looks close, but I'll continue to monitor throughout the year.

 

[nnuut]

How long did this process take you, mine took 10 months?

 

[Kaufmanrider]

My last working day was Jan 11, 2014. Being FERS my retirement actually began for payment on Feb 1, 2014. That is about when I got notice from my payroll office that my packet was sent to OPM.

My calculation was finalized early in March. I only received one interim payment. So let's say 60 days.

 

[nnuut]

Well that's a big improvement from 2010!

 

[Kaufmanrider]

I finally decided on taking 72T payments from my Roll-Over IRA. I opted for the Amortization amount, paid monthly beginning May 15. I was leaning toward the Minimum Distribution method but didn't want to be locked in to the lower dollar amount if something came up down the road. I also didn't want to have to worry about doing annual calculations and keeping the records. One calculation, one set of supporting documents for the life of the plan and with the Amortization method I can opt to do a onetime move to the Minimum Dist. Method if I feel the need.

I have downloaded a Google Spreadsheet to track my investments and it includes anticipated dividend payments. It appears about 2/3's of my annual withdrawal amount should be covered by dividends. If moved more money into REITs I could cover it all.