1st Quarter 2013

While the tax deal to avoid the fiscal cliff protected all but the wealthiest Americans from higher income tax rates, Congress’ decision not to extend the payroll tax break increased the Social Security tax rate by two percentage points for everyone who pays into the system [...continued]

The average tax refund this year will be around $3,000. Magnify the value by using the money to improve yourself and your finances...

ICMA-RC offers weekly newsletters that can help you stay informed about the events shaping the future of your retirement savings. You can also manage your account online and update your contact information. Learn more about these resources...

Be sure to check out ICMA-RC’s new RealizeRetirement^SM resource, an educational website designed to help public sector employees save and plan for retirement. Find out more about the information available on this website...

A diversified portfolio is one of the cornerstones of investment to build retirement security. By spreading your savings among assets – for example, some in stock funds and some in bond funds – you may mitigate the risk of all of your investments losing money at the same time. Learn more about how the multi-manager investment approach may add yet another layer of diversification...

Getting a big tax refund may feel great, but it may not be the savviest of financial moves. It amounts to giving the government an interest-free loan for the year. Why not give that boost to your retirement savings instead? Find out how to adjust your withholding, and how you can use the extra money to boost your retirement savings...

When you start investing, you need to decide how much money to invest in various types of investments, based on your time frame and risk tolerance. Learn more about the importance of rebalancing, and the steps to take to rebalance your portfolio...

The conventional wisdom holds that you’ll usually come out ahead financially if you buy a car and keep it long after you’ve paid off the loan. But what if you buy a new car every few years and trade it in as soon as it’s paid off…or even before? Find out when you might come out ahead by leasing vs. buying your next car, and the steps to take to get a good deal...