When it comes to certain federal benefits, President Barack Obama and Florida Senator Marco Rubio have something in common. One of them is admiration for the federal Thrift Savings Plan, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey Says.
Last month, Tammy Flanagan, senior benefits director for the National Institute of Transition Planning, joined Federal News Radio's senior correspondent, Mike Causey, to answer feds' questions as part of an exclusive online chat. The experts fielded dozens of questions from readers -- but couldn't get to all them. So, Federal News Radio went back to the experts to answer another round of questions for readers. In this special Q&A, find the experts' take on everything from the best date to retire this year and what happens to insurance premiums when you retire to whether the Thrift Savings Plan plans to offer in-plan conversions.
All funds in the Thrift Savings Plan showed gains in April, except for the S Fund. This is the second month in a row that the S Fund has returned in the red.
Financial advisor Arthur Stein will answer your calls and emails about the TSP. Also, Andy Medici and Amber Corrin of the Federal Times will discuss, among other things, Public Service Recognition Week and the recently passed DATA Act. April 30, 2014
The agency that runs federal employees' (401)k-style Thrift Savings Plan needs to do a better job monitoring potential cyber incidents against its website, strengthen security at its data centers and come up with a plan for tracking all of its technology hardware. That's according to recent audits of the TSP program undertaken by the Labor Department, which were presented to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board Monday.
The Thrift Savings Plan could stand to collect more than $500,000 in unpaid debt thanks to expanded authority to garnish employees' pay even after they leave federal service. A final rule published in the Federal Register Wednesday will allow the Treasury Department -- on behalf of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, which runs the TSP -- to garnish the wages of nonfederal employees who owe the TSP money.
Are you sick of the constraints in the Thrift Savings Plan? Are you anxious to get outside investment help? Well before you turn your retirement nest egg over to a bank, or your freelance neighborhood dog walker, check out Senior Correspondent Mike Causey's column today.
The Thrift Savings Plan is unrolling a "Take Five for Your Future" initiative to help you understand your TSP options better. It's using the number five to drive home advice on agency contributions, from the five life cycle funds to how long it takes to start planning your financial future. The TSP even has a video to try to make the learning curve extra smooth. Tammy Flanagan, senior benefits director for the National Institute of Transition Planning, filled in Francis Rose on In Depth.
With gains on Wall Street hitting some headwinds in March, the performance of funds in the Thrift Savings Plan last month lagged behind February's advances. Three of the TSP's five regular funds ended the month in negative territory.
Where and how you watch the Superbowl or Dancing With the Stars may depend on when and if you pay your taxes, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. So how can a Roth TSP help you, maybe, make a million tax-free dollars?
Investing for retirement might be a lot easier if you were a robot, rather than a flesh-and-blood human-being, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. Especially one who watches the news a lot.
Financial advisor Arthur Stein will answer your calls and emails about the TSP. Also, Nicole Blake Johnson and Andy Medici of the Federal Times will discuss a possible downsizing of the U.S. Postal Service. March 26, 2014
If your spouse or know-it-all sibling told you about free money you would probably ignore them, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says. But if financial guru Suze Orman said it's available through your TSP, you'd stand at attention!
The Thrift Savings Plan passes the $400 billion mark in dollars they have under management. It's the first time they've ever passed that mark, but it may not be the last. Kim Weaver, director of External Affairs at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, told In Depth with Francis Rose the up-trend is a pretty simple equation.
Thanks to a roaring stock market in February, total assets in the Thrift Savings Plan have climbed to the highest level in the plan's history. All told, assets in the TSP exceeded $400 billion at the end of last month. At the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board's monthly meeting Thursday, board members heard another recommendation to revamp the Lifecycle Funds.