Federal Report

  • If other-world aliens landed next to your building and said "take me to your leader," would you head for Washington, your state capital or your boss on the top floor? Also, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey wants to know: how did the government once manage to slash the number of managers almost overnight?

    January 15, 2014
  • Thanks to some surgical budget-cutting by Congress and the White House, Uncle Sam now has a three-tiered retirement plan: First-, second- and third-class where the service is the same but the price tag is higher for some than others.

    January 14, 2014
  • Thanks to a portion of the media and many politicians, a lot of federal and postal workers have a low opinion of themselves. But when you crunch the numbers, feds are significant players in the stock market and in the net worth department, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. Crunch your own numbers.

    January 13, 2014
  • Want to lose weight, pack on muscle and become more tech savvy? Uncle Sam has this magic plan in the works, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. When approved, it will benefit young and old alike.

    January 10, 2014
  • It's been so cold this week that Washington, D.C. has -- temporarily -- lost its title as Wimp City USA. Places like Chicago, Minneapolis and Boston, tough towns, also surrendered to the frigid arctic weather blast, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So how cold was it?

    January 09, 2014
  • If you are a Thrift Savings Plan investor in any of the stock funds, give yourself a pat on the back ... and purse or wallet, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. Because everything is gold, except gold itself....

    January 08, 2014
  • Financial planner Arthur Stein will answer your questions about the TSP, and Federal Times writers Andy Medici and Nicole Blake Johnson will discuss what's ahead for feds in 2014. January 8, 2014

    January 07, 2014
  • Is 2014 shaping up to be the year you get your first promotion in a long time? Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says you should check out what could be a retirement surge in February.

    January 07, 2014
  • Hope you had a good holiday season and are ready for whatever 2014 brings, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. It's hardly likely to be worse than 2013, unless of course it is. Keep your New Year's resolutions handy. This time for sure...

    January 06, 2014
  • In the fifth guest column in a series of five, a long-time Federal Report reader shares his take on why it's important for young feds to start long-term planning early in their careers.

    January 03, 2014
  • One of the toughest, most important decisions, any worker ever makes is when to call it quits. Even people who are sick, tired or hate their jobs find it difficult to let go. Will it work financially, and emotionally? What happens next? Today's guest column is No. 3 in our five-part series. These are from real people, some like you maybe, who have been there-done-that-got-the-T-shirt. Today's guest columnist, Connie Hendryx, spent a long (mostly happy) time with Uncle Sam. She advises people how to prep for retirement.

    January 02, 2014
  • The 2014 white-collar pay raise is not for everybody. Feds at the top of their grades in some cities won't be getting anything at all, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    January 01, 2014
  • When deciding to retire there is one day, but lots of different dates, that is best for you, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. How do you figure out the difference?

    December 31, 2013
  • In the third guest column in a series of five, a Mike Causey Federal Report reader offers her take on what happens after you age out of the "prime demographic."

    December 30, 2013
  • In the second guest column in a series of five written by Federal Report readers, a federal old-timer shares his thoughts on the workforce and being a political punching bag as he prepares to retire.

    December 27, 2013