The Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) is a yearly increase to federal retirement benefits, designed to keep up with inflation. For retirees, it’s a key factor in how well your income holds up over time. Those under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) usually receive the full ... Read More

Signed into law on July 4, 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces sweeping changes to the federal tax code and financial landscape. This legislation includes tax cuts, benefit enhancements, and new savings opportunities-many of which will impact ... Read More

When there’s an age gap between spouses, retirement planning often gets more complex. Different timelines can lead to gaps in health insurance, uneven income years, and tax issues that catch many couples off guard. Lifestyle mismatches, such as one spouse ... Read More

This is the second of four FEDZONE columns discussing TSP withdrawal options that are available to all separated Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants. In these columns, a separated TSP participant means a civilian federal employee or a member of the ... Read More

Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) first became available in 2006 to individuals aged 70.5 and older. QCDs were initially available only through the 2007 tax year. But Congress extended the December 31,2007 QCD deadline several times and made QCDs permanent as ... Read More

Career growth in government service isn’t just about getting promoted. It’s about creating more security, meaning, and options now and in retirement. Whether you’re just starting out or thinking ahead to your last five years, professional development is one of the most ... Read More

This is the first of four FEDZONE columns discussing the withdrawal options that are available to separated Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) participants. In these columns, a “separated” TSP participant means a civilian federal employee or a member of the uniformed ... Read More

The 2024 Federal Employee Viewpoint Survey (FEVS) is in, and there’s some good news. Across the board, federal employees are reporting higher satisfaction, stronger engagement, and more trust in leadership than we’ve seen in over a decade. Conducted by the Office of ... Read More

You served in uniform to protect and defend the United States. Now you have a federal government career. And when it comes to veteran and Fed benefits, you might be faced with some confusion and a lot of paperwork. Not ... Read More

On Saturday, June 28th, the Senate voted 51-49 to launch debate on the “One Big Beautiful Bill” (OBBB), Republicans’ sweeping budget reconciliation package including tax extensions, spending cuts, and defense/security funding. Crucially, the Senate parliamentarian has ruled that most of ... Read More