Featured Resources CHECKLIST: Your Survivor's "Peace of Mind" Have you provided your survivors with the critical details they will need when you pass away? Use this checklist to make sure your survivors have peace of mind. . . . more VIDEO: Retirement Planning Tips and Trends for Baby Boomers View online videos (free): a two-part documentary from PBS that explores the many challenges and opportunities faced by the 78 million Baby Boomers who are now heading into retirement . . . more FEHB and Medicare: How They Work Together for Federal Employees A brief overview of how the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Plan and Medicare work together. Includes a handy FEHB and Medicare primary payer reference chart. . . . more Retirement Relocation Tools: Taxes, Community Comparisons and More Several useful websites that will help you examine the "best fit" location for your desired retirement lifestyle. . . . more 2008 Federal Pay Tables General Schedule and Locality Charts 2008 federal employee pay raise tables and locality charts are now available . . . more Which Thrift Savings Plan Withdrawal Method Is Best? (Free Video Gives Pros and Cons) By far, the most popular is the monthly payment option. This free online video illustrates the pros and cons of the three different TSP monthly withdrawal options. . . . more 2008 Federal Pay Tables More federal retirement resources

Recent Articles TSP Funds Annual and Monthly Returns (May 1, 2008) Latest Thrift Savings Plan returns . . . more Final Ruling: No More TSP Frequent Trading Day traders and market timers are a thing of the past -- at least when it comes to the Thrift Savings Plan. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board officially published its amended interfund transfer (IFT) regulations today to limit the number of interfund transfer requests to two per calendar month. . . . more 2008 Survey: Americans' Confidence in Comfortable Retirement Lowest in 7 Years, Health Costs a Big Concern Americans' confidence in their ability to afford a comfortable retirement has dropped to its lowest level in seven years, reflecting worries about health costs, the economy, and home values . . . more Proposed Bill Offers Up to $10,000 Cash-Out for Unused FERS Sick Leave At Retirement The bill would compensate FERS-covered employees at retirement for unused sick leave based on a formula that would take salary and total hours of sick leave into account. Taka a look at what the real cash-out could be for a federal employee. . . . more How (and Why) You Should Review and Update Your Beneficiary Designations Not updating your designation of beneficiaries to your federal employee benefits could result in unfortunate financial situations and possible legal disputes for your survivors down the road. This article includes s directory of beneficiary designation forms you need for your CSRS or FERS annuity, TSP and FEGLI . . . more More federal retirement articles

News & Commentary 5 Mistakes That Will Sink Your Retirement With distractions like a turbulent stock market and a shaky economy, it's easy to take your eye off the ball and forget your ultimate financial goals. Here is a look at five retirement planning mistakes you absolutely need to avoid. (Note: While this article discusses private sector 401(k)'s, it is noteworthy since 401(k)'s are similar to the federal employee Thrift Savings Plan) . . . . more Retiree COLA Gets Sweeter The amount of the 2009 COLA, which is automatic, will be higher if living costs continue to increase between now and the end of September. The COLA countdown measures the rise in inflation from the third quarter of 2008 over the third quarter of the previous year . . . . more Americans Delay Retirement As Housing, Stocks Swoon As the falling real-estate and stock markets erode their savings, many aging Americans are delaying retirement, electing labor over leisure in uncertain times . . . . more 6 Blunders That Ruin Retirement Plans Securing a comfortable retirement is a tricky process that requires careful planning; a few bad moves can cost you dearly in the long run. Here are six common missteps. . . . more