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Recent Federal Retirement Articles
CSRS - FERS - Thrift Savings - FEHB - FEGLI

New TSP Perks: Adding a Mutual Fund Option and Depositing Unused Leave Are Examined
November 4, 2009
In a hearing on Nov. 3, a House subcommittee examined proposed enhancements to the Thrift Savings Plan . . . more

NARFE: Concerned About TSP Losses For Feds Near Retirement
November 3, 2009
The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association is concerned that the current volatile financial market is forcing federal employees at or near retirement to keep working until they can regain their losses . . . more

OPM to Work With Congress to Control Long-Term Care Costs
November 2, 2009
In a letter to a Senate committee, OPM Director John Berry commended their commitment to work with OPM to control Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) premium costs . . . more

President Signs Bill Giving FERS Sick Leave Credit Toward Retirement, Ending NSPS
October 29, 2009
President Obama signed the 2010 Defense Authorization Bill allowing those in the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) to count unused sick leave toward their retirement. The bill also repeals the NSPS pay-for-performance program, and provides other retirement changes . . . more

FERS Sick Leave Credit: How Much Will You Get?
October 29, 2009
Federal workers under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) will now be able to count their unused sick leave as creditable service in calculating their retirement annuity. But what does that mean in real numbers to FERS employees soon to retire? . . . more

Year End Investment and Tax Planning May Be a Challenge for Many Individuals
Edward A. Zurndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
Year-end tax planning may prove to be something other than straightforward. The extreme downturn in the stock market during 2008, the rebound in the stock market during most of 2009, and the uncertain direction of future tax rates are proving to be a challenge for individual investors who are performing year end investment analyses and perhaps rebalancing their non-retirement investment portfolios . . . more

Democratic Lawmakers Warn of Tax on FEHB, Hurting Federal Employees and Retirees
October 22, 2009
In a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Northern Virginia Congressmen Gerry Connolly and Jim Moran expressed concern that the proposed excise tax on health insurance providers adopted by the Senate Finance Committee in its health insurance reform bill may adversely affect health coverage for federal employees and retirees . . . more

FEHB and Medicare: Expert Outlines Needed Improvements, Lessons Learned From Both Programs
October 21, 2009
Noted health insurance expert Walton Francis says not only that both Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) can be improved, but also that each program contains lessons -- both positive and negative -- for national health care reform today . . . more

OPM Extends Deadline for Long-Term Care Enrollees with Automatic Compound Inflation Plan to Make Choices
October 23, 2009
OPM has extended the deadline for current enrollees in the Federal Long-Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) with the automatic compound inflation option to make their special decision period choice . . . more

Time is Running Out on the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit
Edward A. Zurndorfer, Certified Financial Planner
Qualifying individuals who purchase a primary residence before Dec. 1, 2009 can claim the tax credit on either their 2008 or 2009 federal tax return . . . more

Nearly Three Dozen Tax Breaks to End in 2009 and 2010
October 19, 2009
This list gives an overview of a few of the provisions scheduled to expire that are of particular interest to federal employees and retirees . . . more

2010 COLA for Federal Retirees : CSRS / FERS
UPDATE: October 16, 2009
There will be no 2010 federal retiree cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to their CSRS or FERS annuities, the government announced yesterday. . . . more

2010 Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Contribution Limit
October 15, 2009
The Thrift Savings Plan contribution limits will remain unchanged for 2010 at $16,500. Also, the 2010 TSP Catch-Up contribution limit will remain at $5,500 . . . more

Lawmakers, NARFE Question Long Term Care Insurance Rate Hike in Senate Hearing
October 15, 2009
A 25 percent premium increase in the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) could have been mitigated had earlier warning signs been heeded, said NARFE. Lawmakers said the promotional materials for the FLTICP were misleading . . . more

3 Important Tax Considerations Regarding Payments From Your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Account
Before you decide on how you will receive the money in your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account, you should review these three important tax considerations. Understanding the tax treatment of TSP payments can help you avoid costly surprises. . . . more

Report: Despite Huge Losses in 2008, Ongoing Contributions in Work-Place Retirement Plans Pay Off in 5-Year Account Growth
October 8, 2009
American workers who held 401(k) accounts (similar to the Thrift Savings Plan for federal employees) consistently from 2003-2008 suffered a 24.3 percent average drop in their account balance during 2008's bear market. "But the growth in account balances among consistent participants over five years highlights the benefits of a regimen of disciplined saving in work-place retirement plans" . . . more

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Read articles written by federal benefits expert and Certified Financial Planner, Edward Zurndorfer