Even with its drawbacks, the 401K can be a valuable tool in your retirement toolkit. The tax-deferred growth, employer matching, and compounding interest you can earn over time make it a powerful option—though it's far from perfect.
Membership in the Virginia Retirement System (VRS) is automatic. The VRS retirement plan is a qualified 401(a) defined benefit plan which pays eligible members a lifetime benefit amount based on years of service, age, and compensation.
Build up your retirement nest egg through the Thrift Savings Plan. It's the Government version of the private sector's 401K Plan. Contributions are made from pre-tax dollars and both investments and earnings are tax deferred until withdrawn.
The Fairfax County Uniformed Retirement System was established on July 1, 1974, as a public employee retirement system providing defined benefit pension plan coverage for select public safety employees.
You'll owe income tax on your contributions and on your gains. So if you have a bigger income when you retire than when you made contributions, you'll be in a higher tax bracket and owe more than if you hadn't deferred your taxes.
On your 65th birthday or thereafter if you have at least five years of eligibility service, OR • Plans A & B - on your 50th birthday if you have 30 years or more of eligibility service or at any time thereafter when your age plus years of eligibility service total 80 or more.
FLEXIBLE RETIREMENT PLAN As a VA employee, you are part of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). Under FERS, you are eligible for monthly retirement benefits after just 10 years of Federal service. This retirement system is portable.
VRS Plan 1 is a defined benefit plan. Under this plan, the retirement benefit is based on age, service credit and average final compensation at retirement using a formula. View list of participating employers.
A 401(k) is primarily for retirement savings, while a brokerage account can be used for various financial goals and often offers more control over the investments. A 401(k) is a type of qualified retirement plan.