October was a down month for most TSP funds. The F Fund (bonds) bounced back as interest rates eased, and the G Fund (government securities) edged higher, but the C Fund (large U.S. stocks), S Fund (small U.S. stocks), I Fund (international stocks) and most Lifecycle Funds finished lower, with a sharp selloff on the last trading day adding to the losses. Even so, most funds are still ahead for 2026, with the I, C and S stock funds leading and the F Fund hovering near breakeven. See how every TSP fund performed for the month, the year to date and the past 12 months.
Latest Articles
Use or Lose Annual Leave 2026: Key Dates & Deadlines for Federal Employees
Federal employees with annual leave above their carryover limit have two dates to track: the deadline to schedule that leave in writing and the deadline to use it. The scheduling deadline comes first, falling before the start of the third biweekly pay period before the leave year ends, and it decides whether forfeited hours can be restored if work demands or illness get in the way. This guide covers the carryover ceilings, when forfeited leave can be restored, how a government shutdown factors in, and what the timing means for anyone retiring near the end of the leave year.
OPM: Verify Your FEHB Family Member Coverage (Who Qualifies and Who Doesn’t)
The Office of Personnel Management is reminding federal employees and retirees to verify the family members on their FEHB and PSHB plans. Spouses, children under 26, and certain disabled adult children qualify, while former spouses, parents, and domestic partners do not. Ed Zurndorfer outlines who qualifies, the 60-day deadline to remove anyone who doesn’t, and the documents that verify each type of family member
2027 FEHB Plan Cost Explorer (Launching Soon)
A free 2027 FEHB Plan Cost Explorer tool that will show every FEHB plan available to you with the 2027 premium, the dollar and percent change from 2026, the annual cost, how much of the premium the government pays, and a worst-case year that adds the out-of-pocket maximum. Learn more, and sign up to be notified when this new tool is released before Open Season starts Nov. 9.
2027 FEHB Plan Comparison Tools, Brochures, Premium Rates
The Office of Personnel Management has released its 2027 Federal Employees Health Benefits plan comparison tool. Enter a ZIP code and it lists each plan’s premium, annual deductible, out-of-pocket maximum, and medical account. Premiums rise 10.9% on average for 2027, but some plans cost less, so reading the premium next to the other costs matters before Open Season.
TSP Week in Review: Oct. 19-23, 2026
See how every TSP core and Lifecycle fund performed last week as a late-week tech selloff and an oil spike split the stock funds.
The 2027 COLA: Why FERS Retirees Get 2.6% While CSRS Retirees Get 3.6%
The 2027 COLA is 3.6 percent, but most FERS retirees will receive 2.6 percent while CSRS retirees get the full amount. This article explains the diet COLA rules, shows what the one-point gap costs in dollars over six years, and reviews where the Equal COLA Act stands in Congress, including bill numbers, cosponsor counts and the cost debate.
Do You Need Medicare Part B If You Have FEHB? A Break-Even Framework
Adding Medicare Part B to Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) coverage does not lower your FEHB premium. It is an add-on cost of $2,434.80 a year at the 2026 standard rate, offset only by what your plan reimburses or waives. This framework walks through the break-even math, how income-based premiums change it, and what the permanent late-enrollment penalty can cost if you wait.
How FEHB and Medicare Coordinate Benefits
If FEHB and Medicare feel like two separate puzzles you’re trying to fit together, you’re not alone — this is one of the most confusing parts of retirement planning for federal employees. Which one pays first? Do you actually need Part B if you already have solid FEHB coverage? What happens to your premium once Medicare kicks in? This guide breaks it all down in plain language, covering how the two programs coordinate, what changes when you enroll, and the enrollment windows that are easy to miss. It also includes a useful downloadable Medicare enrollment checklist plus a “Who Pays First: FEHB or Medicare” chart.
Medicare Part B Premiums: 2026 Rates and 2027 Projection
The standard Medicare Part B premium is $202.90 in 2026. See the deductible, income-related brackets and the projected 2027 premium of $209.50.