New TSP Perks: Adding a Mutual Fund Option and Depositing Unused Leave Are Examined 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 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 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 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? 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 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 More federal retirement articles

Quick Guide to the 2009 Federal Benefits Open Season This 12-page guide provides a helpful summary of the descriptions of the programs, eligibility rules, enrollment criteria and options, costs, and tax issues. It also includes dozens of helpful phone numbers and website links to access more detailed information . . . more TSP Returns: Monthly and Annual - G, F, C, S, I and L Funds Updated: November 2, 2009 View the latest Thrift Savings Plan returns . . . more 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 2009 Federal Benefits (FEHB) Open Season: New Premium Rates, Plan Brochures and Comparison Tools Now Available The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has released the plan brochures and comparison tools for the 2009 Federal Benefits Open Season, which will run from November 9 through December 14, 2009 . . . more Federal Benefits Open Season Fact Sheet - 2010 Plan Year Open Season starts November 9, 2009. Here is a quick fact sheet to help guide you in your planning . . . more 2010 Federal Employee Travel Per Diem Rates The General Services Administration (GSA) has released the 2010 federal employee travel per diem rates, which apply to travel from October 1, 2009 to September 30, 2010. To view or download the new per diem rates for the continental United States (CONUS), go to: www.gsa.gov/perdiem  . . . more 2009 Federal Pay Tables More federal retirement resources