MyFederalRetirement.com is an independent publication that has served federal employees and retirees since 2007. Its mission is to help readers understand federal retirement benefits, evaluate their options, and make informed decisions. This page explains how content is researched, sourced, reviewed, corrected, and funded.
Mission and Audience
The site serves federal employees planning for retirement and retirees managing their benefits. Coverage focuses primarily on the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), federal health insurance, Social Security, federal pay, taxes, and related retirement issues.
The goal is to make complex federal benefits rules understandable and useful. In addition to reporting government announcements and policy developments, the site publishes original explanations, calculations, comparisons, and analysis to help readers understand how those rules may affect their retirement decisions. Hypothetical examples and estimates are identified as such, and assumptions are explained where relevant.
Sourcing Standards
Articles, guides, tools, and data are researched using official government publications whenever available. Primary sources are preferred over secondary reporting or commentary. Common references include:
- The Office of Personnel Management (OPM), including retirement and benefits handbooks, regulations, and published rates
- TSP.gov and the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB)
- The Social Security Administration (SSA)
- The Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
- The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
- Congress.gov, for federal legislation
- The Federal Register and other official government publications
When retirement rules, benefit calculations, tax provisions, rates, or deadlines are discussed, the underlying official sources are identified and linked where practical so readers can verify the information themselves. When official guidance is incomplete or open to interpretation, established requirements are distinguished from analysis, estimates, and projections.
Proposed legislation, agency proposals, and pending regulatory changes are identified as such and are not presented as enacted laws or finalized rules.
Accuracy and Updates
Federal retirement benefits, tax rules, insurance premiums, and other financial information change over time. Content is reviewed for factual accuracy before publication, with particular attention to eligibility requirements, calculations, rates, deadlines, and the distinction between current law and proposed changes.
Updates are prioritized for frequently used reference pages, benefit guides, calculators, and other resources containing information that changes over time. These include cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs), federal pay tables, health insurance premiums, TSP returns, and retirement benefit rules.
News articles generally reflect the information available at the time of publication and may not be updated to incorporate later developments. Where available, reference pages display a last-updated or last-reviewed date to help readers judge how current the information is.
Corrections Policy
Factual errors are taken seriously, and readers are encouraged to report suspected mistakes. Reports are reviewed, and confirmed errors are corrected as promptly as practical.
To report a suspected error, use the contact page and include the article title or URL and, if possible, the information that needs correction.
Authorship and Editorial Review
Content is written or edited by the site’s publisher and editors, identified on the About page, and by contributing authors with experience in federal retirement and benefits topics. All contributors are expected to follow the same sourcing, accuracy, and editorial standards.
The editor is responsible for reviewing and approving content before publication, including factual claims, use of sources, clarity of explanations, and relevance to federal employees and retirees.
Advertising, Sponsorships, and Editorial Independence
MyFederalRetirement.com is supported by advertising, sponsorships, and affiliate relationships. These relationships help fund the publication and make its information available to readers.
Some links may result in compensation if a reader takes an action, such as requesting information, registering for a service, or making a purchase. Sponsored and promotional material is identified as such, and material commercial relationships are disclosed where relevant, consistent with guidance from the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).
Advertisers, sponsors, and affiliate partners do not control editorial coverage or review or approve independent editorial articles before publication. Payment does not guarantee favorable coverage or influence conclusions. Editorial decisions are based on the relevance, usefulness, and accuracy of information for readers, and readers are never required to use a sponsor or affiliate product to access MyFederalRetirement.com’s information.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
MyFederalRetirement.com uses artificial intelligence (AI) to fact-check content and cross-reference it against official government sources. AI may help flag factual inconsistencies or claims that need additional verification.
AI-generated information is not treated as authoritative simply because an AI system produced it. Official government sources and other reliable references remain the basis for verifying factual claims.
AI supports the editorial process and does not replace human judgment. Every article is reviewed and approved by a person before publication.
Independent Publication
MyFederalRetirement.com is not affiliated with, operated by, or endorsed by the Office of Personnel Management, the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, or any other federal government agency.
Not Financial, Tax, or Legal Advice
Information published on MyFederalRetirement.com is educational and general in nature. It is not individualized financial, investment, tax, or legal advice.
Federal retirement decisions can depend on individual circumstances, including employment history, retirement eligibility, family situation, health insurance coverage, and applicable laws. Readers should confirm information relevant to their situation with the appropriate government agency or a qualified professional before making consequential decisions.