FLRA Has a Quorum but Still No General Counsel
FLRA Chairman and member confirmed by the Senate providing a quorum that permits decisions to be issued. The nomination for General Counsel at the FLRA is still pending.
Month: October 2008
Trading Restrictions, TSP Investments, and Lousy Stock Market Performance
Declines in the value of the stock market are leading to proposed changes in retirement plans and complaints from a few investors that the TSP is taking money from their pockets by placing unreasonable restrictions on trading TSP funds. Here is a summary and a response from a TSP official that gives a more in-depth description of TSP expenses in the TSP funds that will interest to all TSP investors.
2009 COLA Jumping 5.8% for Some Federal Retirees
At 5.8%, the 2009 COLA will be the highest increase for federal retireesin about 25 years.
Following the Herd? TSP Investors Moving Billions into the G Fund
As the current stock market doldrums drag on and the value of TSP stock funds dwindle, some TSP investors have been busy moving billions of dollars into the safety of the G fund and out of the TSP stock funds.
Why Invest in Risky TSP Stock Funds? To Make More Money
It is human nature to panic when you see your stock investments losing money. The result is always the same: small investors dump their stock funds as the market goes down and they usually dump the most money when the market is at its lowest point. To preserve your retirement funds, take a deep breath, step back and look at the bigger picture. It may keep you from making a big mistake.
“I would have lost more, but that was all the money I had.”
On October 9, 2007, the stock market hit new highs. On October 9, 2008, the markets hit a multi-year low. Current retirees, those planning on retiring soon and even those hoping to retire in the next five years and concerned. Here is how the TSP funds have fared in the past year–and some hope for the future.
Chilling the Rancor: Suggestions for Federal Union Officials Likely to Produce Positive Results in Labor Relations
The author offers some suggestions to Federal union officials in developing productive relationships with Agency officials. Having served as a representative of both employees and management in his career, the author discusses barriers he has seen created by attitudes that appear widespread in the Federal union community.
Is a 342-Day Federal Employee Suspension Too Long?
A federal court concludes that a decision resulting in the 342 suspension of an employee in the Social Security Administration was arbitrary because it was based solely on a “time served” suspension without logical deliberation on the length of the suspension.
Leaving Government Before Retirement? What Happens To Your Benefits?
Some readers say they are contemplating leaving federal service before they retire. It could be for a better job, boredom, the boss from Hell or a myriad of other reasons. What happens to your benefits when you leave?
2009 Health Insurance Rates: How Much Will Your Rate Change?
You may know that the “average” rate increase for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan is going up 8%. That may not be relevant to your plan. Here is more information on how much of a change there may be in your health benefits costs next year.
