For many federal employees, the retirement question isn’t “Can I retire?” so much as “Should I retire now, or is it smarter to wait?” Your federal retirement income is usually built on three pillars: your CSRS or FERS annuity/pension, Social Security, and the Thrift Savings Plan. A federal retirement counselor outlines how you can optimize the best timing choice from these three pillars more…
Federal Employees & Retirees: Are You Getting Shortchanged on COLA?
Federal employees may hear “COLA increase” and assume their retirement income keeps full pace with inflation, but under FERS, the cost-of-living adjustment can work differently than many expect. Before you retire, it is important to understand how the FERS COLA, CSRS COLA, Social Security COLA, and your overall federal retirement income may interact over time more…
How Supplemental Benefits from Your FEHB Plan Can Put Money Back in Your Pocket
Many Federal Employees Health Benefit plan enrollees overlook valuable supplemental benefits included in their plans, such as wellness incentives worth hundreds of dollars to gym discounts and shopping rewards. Watch this short video to learn what your FEHB plan may be offering and how to start taking advantage of it today. more…
Can Federal Employees Save Money on Prescription Drug Costs with TrumpRX?
43 TrumpRX medications were compared against Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage from one nationwide PPO plan — and the results are mixed. Some drugs are significantly cheaper, others far more expensive…. more…
Understanding the Impact of TSP In-Service Withdrawals
The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) just released this helpful video on the Thrift Savings Plan in-service withdrawal options. In-service TSP withdrawals are withdrawals you make from your TSP account while you’re still working for the federal government, and can have a serious impact on your TSP account. This video covers hardship withdrawals, age 59½ withdrawals, and other withdrawal considerations. more…
New TSP Training Webinars
The Thrift Savings Plan has announced its recent line-up of free training including the topics of TSP contributions, investment funds, loans, withdrawals, and death benefits more…
Bill Would Protect Federal Employee’s Credit Scores During Shutdowns
Senate Democrats introduced last week new legislation to protect federal employees from financial penalties they may experience while working without pay or furloughed during a government shutdown. more…
New TSP Catch‑Up Contribution Rules in 2026
If your are turning age 50 or older in 2026, a new law could change how your Thrift Savings Plan catch‑up contributions are made. Learns what catch‑up contributions are, who the new requirement applies to, how age and income affect your options, and what to consider if you don’t want Roth contributions. Real‑world examples are included more…
How to Check the Status of Your Federal Income Tax Refund
This IRS online tool is a convenient way to check the status of your federal income tax refund. Here’s what you need to know more…
2027 Federal Pay Freeze More Likely
The likelihood of a 2027 pay freeze for civilian federal employees continued after the House Appropriations Committee approved a government spending bill on Wednesday that makes no mention of a pay increase in January more…