7 Tips to Help You Determine if Your Social Security Benefits are Taxable Many people may not realize the Social Security benefits they received in 2011 may be taxable. All Social Security recipients should receive a Form SSA-1099 from the Social Security Administration which shows the total amount of their benefits. You can use this information to help you determine if your benefits are taxable . . . more Employee Group Criticizes Federal Pension Cut Proposals The leader of the nation's largest independent union of federal employees yesterday sharply criticized and called for the defeat of legislation that would would require all federal workers to pay an additional 1.5 percent toward their pensions . . . more Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Returns: Monthly and Annual - G, F, C, S, I and L Funds Updated: February 2, 2012 View the latest Thrift Savings Plan returns . . . more Federal Employees Should Be On Guard Against "Self-Directed" IRAs Certified Financial Planner, Ed Zurndorfer, discusses what federal employees should be on the lookout for with respect to self-directed IRAs -- offering individuals the opportunity to invest in riskier assets including real estate, promissory notes and tax lien certificates . . . more CBO Study: Compensation of Federal Employees vs. Private Sector Workers The Congressional Budget Office released a study that addresses the question: How does the compensation of federal employees compare with that of workers in the private sector? . . . more Should You Take a Survivor Annuity for Your Spouse? Federal retirement seminar attendees often ask about the CSRS or FERS survivor annuity at time of the employee's retirement: "Should I take any annuity for my spouse? Can I take a partial benefit? How much does it cost? Are there alternatives?" Here are some considerations for those inquiries . . . more More federal retirement articles

What Is Your Investment Risk Tolerance? Take the Quiz The online quiz was developed by two university personal finance professors, and is provided by Rutgers University . . . more 2012 Federal Leave Chart / Record / Calendar Keep track of your 2012 leave with this handy calendar -- downloadable in PDF, Excel spreadsheet, and a new app for mobile devices . . . more 2012 Federal Holidays Federal law (5 U.S.C. 6103) establishes these public holidays for federal employees in 2012. . . . more 2012 Checkbook Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees and Annuitants The guide tells you how much money you can save by changing -- or by staying in -- your health insurance plan. It summarizes thousands of facts about the plans to simplify your choice. Some agencies have arranged for free access to the guide their employees. . . . more More federal retirement resources