The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) recently announced a surge in retirement applications this year. Over 70,000 Feds have already filed to retire in 2025, with large spikes in May, June, and August. This equates to a nearly 40% increase from 2024. ... Read More

The debate over extending Trump-era tax provisions has picked up steam, and retirement savings sit right in the middle of it. While the headlines usually focus on 401(k) plans, federal employees should pay close attention. When Congress adjusts retirement rules ... Read More

Ninety years ago, President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Social Security into law as part of his New Deal. The goal was simple but powerful: protect older Americans from falling into poverty after a lifetime of work. For our Feds today, ... Read More

A recent FEDZONE column discussed the RMD rules for a spousal TSP beneficiary participant. This FEDZONE column discusses the beneficiary participant withdrawal rules when a non-spouse is designated as the beneficiary of a TSP account. When a designated beneficiary of ... Read More

In this episode, Katelyn and Dan explore the growing interest in cryptocurrency among federal employees and the importance of a cautious approach. They cover the risks of crypto investing, regulatory concerns, and why proven strategies like contributing to TSPs and ... 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 federal workforce is shifting, and more Feds are exiting mid-career. Private-sector employers, especially in tech, consulting, and defense, are actively recruiting experienced federal employees with offers of higher pay and remote work. Combine that with burnout, agency changes, and ... Read More

Increasingly, more federal employees are considering contractor roles each year. Higher pay and greater flexibility pull many toward the private sector. Burnout, return-to-office mandates, long commutes, and stalled career growth push others in the same direction. This shift brings real ... Read More

On January 10, 2025, the IRS issued proposed regulations that facilitate the implementation and operations of one of the provisions passed as part of SECURE 2.0. This provision is that  effective January 1, 2026, qualified retirement plan participants (this includes ... Read More

The IRS encourages individuals to set up for themselves an IRS online account. Among the reasons to establish an IRS online account are: Accessing tax records View key data from most recently filed tax return. Check the status of a ... Read More