Social Security benefits are designed to replace a portion of the earnings an individual (and in some cases , the individual’s family) loses because of the individual’s retirement, disability, or death. The implication of this loss  is that the amount ... Read More

Social Security and Medicare “benefit cliffs” are making headlines again, and the timelines haven’t improved. The projected fund depletion dates are enough to rattle anyone trying to plan for retirement, but for federal employees, the reality may be a bit ... Read More

To help individuals save for their retirement, Congress passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2022 (SECURE Act 2.0). SECURE Act 2.0 was signed into law by former President Joseph Biden on December 29, 2022. There ... Read More

As a federal government employee or uniformed services member, you can borrow money from your Federal Employees Retirement System Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) retirement account. But just because you CAN borrow from your TSP doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Yes, doing ... Read More

Federal benefit rules don’t change all at once. They change in pieces – new contribution thresholds, revised timelines, updated elections – and those pieces add up. The new year brings enough moving parts that it’s a smart time for a ... Read More

In accordance with the Internal Revenue Code, the IRS limits the amount that employees can contribute via payroll deductions to their qualified retirement plans. Qualified retirement plans include 401(k), 403(b) and 457 retirement plans. These limits also apply to the ... Read More

December’s almost gone, but there’s still time to clean up your finances. Nail down your taxes, top off your savings, and wrap up anything that counts when the calendar flips. This federal retirement year-end checklist helps you close out your ... Read More

At most federal agencies, January 11,2026 is the beginning of the 2026 leave year. Many employees and retirees would agree that the 2025 leave year was in fact a tumultuous year with respect to federal employment and retirement. There were ... Read More

If you’re a working Fed, currently, your paycheck is likely going toward “now” expenses – think food, clothing, shelter and extras. A portion of that paycheck is also directed toward the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS), one of the benefits ... Read More

The rules keep changing. There is always some new announcement or proposal, and before long, your benefits look different than they did a year ago. A solid plan can handle those swings and still move you in the right direction. ... Read More