Retirement

  • Although phased retirement became the law in 2012, the government hasn't phased it in just yet. And a lot of people say they are waiting. Apparently, the devil is in the details, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So, when will they phase in the phase-in?

    March 19, 2014
  • A financial expert explains what lifecycle investing is and how you can benefit.

    March 18, 2014
  • In time, federal and postal employees may be the only American workers with a guaranteed pension plan, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. The wild card for feds is how, and how much, to invest in the TSP. So what's your plan?

    March 17, 2014
  • A pop quiz coming to make sure your retirement's on track.

    March 14, 2014
  • As lawmakers consider efforts to shore up the Postal Service's financial footing, there's still widespread disagreement over whether the current requirement for the agency prefunding requirement is fiscally responsible, as Rep. Blake Farenthold (R-Texas) argued during a House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee hearing Thursday, or an "onerous mandate" only required of the Postal Service, as Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-Mass.) contended.

    March 14, 2014
  • The Air Force celebrates the retirement of one of its own - doggie style.

    March 13, 2014
  • CBS MoneyWatch Columnist Allan Roth discusses what you can do to maximize your TSP investments, and Nicole Johnson from the Federal Times discusses OPM's plans to reform its IT systems. March 12, 2014

    March 12, 2014
  • New Thrift Savings Plan participants would be automatically enrolled in an age-appropriate Lifecycle Fund -- instead of the G Fund -- under a bill set to be debated Wednesday by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. The Smart Savings Act, introduced by the committee's chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), is supported by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board.

    March 11, 2014
  • More than 12,000 federal employees filed for retirement last month, according to new data from the Office of Personnel Management. That was about 2,200 more retirement applications than the agency expected to receive under new monthly projections it began using this month. Despite an overall slower pace of retirements this year compared to last, OPM's progress in clearing a longstanding inventory of claims appears to have stalled. In fact, the backlog grew in February by more than 2,200 claims.

    March 06, 2014
  • Given the choice, would you choose a date with Justin Bieber, an evening with Beyonce or a $25,000 buyout? Given the odds, chances are you will never have to make a choice, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. But be prepared...

    February 28, 2014
  • Federal Times writers Andy Medici and Sean Reilly and NARFE legislative director Jessica Klement will talk about some of the issues affecting feds in 2014. February 26, 2014

    February 26, 2014
  • When you are expecting a big expensive wedding cake and somebody brings you a single Twinkie it can strain the relationship. That's sort of the situation today between federal and postal unions and the White House, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    February 26, 2014
  • While the latest rounds of buyouts and early retirements span agencies as diverse as the Naval Sea Systems Command and the Interior Department's Bureau of Land Management, one thing many of them have in common is the targeted nature of the offers. In many instances, agencies are targeting offers to employees in specific job areas or agency locations.

    February 25, 2014
  • Was there a monster under your bed when you were a kid? Did demons lurk in your closet waiting for lights out? Well they may be gone, but now as an adult civil servant there's a real terror lurking out there, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says.

    February 25, 2014
  • The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board is eyeing another potential tweak to the Thrift Savings Plan's Lifecycle Funds — their name. Lifecycle Funds, also known as L Funds or target-date funds, are made up of a mix of the five core TSP funds that shifts over time. But board members are concerned the "fund" label may be confusing to TSP participants. In its place, the board is considering changing the name to "Lifecycle strategies."

    February 24, 2014