When it comes to investing our money, most people put short-term political views aside. When spending their money, they focus on the future of business and the prospects for future growth. If they are confident, stock prices go up. If they are pessimistic, stock prices go down. TSP stock funds dropped dramatically again in February with one fund, the G fund, the only TSP fund with a positive return for the month and for the year.
How much will your pay raise be in 2010? President Obama has proposed 2% for civilians to bring federal pay and benefit practices “more in line with the private sector.”
Government contracting may change dramatically under the provisions of the appropriations bill that is now being considered by the House. Significant limits on contracting are contained in the House bill and there would, instead, be an emphasis on having more work done by federal employees.
How much of a cost of living adjustment will federal retirees see in 2010? Perhaps there will not be one. That has not happened before but we are in unusual economic times.
You have reason to feel your financial future is at risk. We are in an uncertain economic situation. So what about your future retirement? Should you be putting money into the G fund, the F fund or into stocks? Here is a summary of professional investment prognosticators at a recent event for investors. It is not optimistic but may be helpful to you in planning your financial future.
Now that the economic stimulus package has been passed into law, the bill has actually been printed and organizations and going through it to find out what this new law contains. Federal retirees will be eligible for an additional $250.
Federal employees under the FERS system who are nearing retirement may have at least a momentary sense of enrichment. Legislation has again been introduced in the House to credit unused sick leave in computing an annuity payment.
A bill has been introduced to allow former federal employees covered by FERS to return to the federal government and restore their credit for prior service by redepositing money they took out of their federal annuity account.
Will your spouse get a survivor’s benefit from your civil service annuity? In same cases, you may be surprised to find that the answer is “no”. A group has asked OPM to notify all Civil Service Retirement System participants about a provision that is unknown to many and that could result in a spouse not getting this important benefit.
January is often cited as a harbinger for stock market returns for the remainder of the year. TSP investors are hoping that does not hold true for 2009. The stock market dropped significantly, breaking a 113 year record for the lowest returns in January. The January Thrift Savings Plan returns reflect the market decline.
