Pay & Benefits
Underpaid Feds?
How does your pay and benefits package compare to the private sector? New statistics compiled by a researcher at the Cato Institute is based on data from the…
2,664 Articles by Ralph R. Smith
Federal Workforce News
Tax Relief for These Feds Dies Along With Senate Bill
How much money would it take to influence your actions or decisions as a government employee? Federal judges sometimes face this problem and wanted a tax break to…
Retirement
Nearing Retirement? You Probably Have Reason to be Thankful
Nearing retirement? You are probably in the CSRS. Be thankful; you are in a system that is a remnant of America's golden economic age.
Federal Workforce News
July TSP Returns: Lifecycle Investors Looking Good for Past 12 Months
Here are the results for the TSP for July. A big surprise for some investors: The L funds were the place to be for many as their return…
Pay & Benefits
COLA’s, Housing Costs and Lawsuits: How Pay is Determined for Some Federal Employees
Federal employees outside of the contiguous 48 states are paid differently than most FedSmith readers who usually get an annual raise and locality pay. OPM did a survey…
Pay & Benefits
World War III (?) and Your TSP Funds
War, political instability, terrorism and fear for our economic future have an impact on financial markets. Some well-known personalities have said we are in a new world war.…
Retirement
“When I’m Sixty-Four”
Are you ready for retirement--however you define it? Plan ahead. Millions of Americans who once thought "don't trust anyone over 30" may be wondering "will you still need…
Federal Workforce News
Will Your 2007 Pay Raise be “Pulled” Up or “Pushed” Down?
The "push-pull" theory applies to both economic and marketing models. It can also apply to how the federal pay raise is approved each year. Will next year's raise…
Pay & Benefits
How Much Would You Make in Private Industry?
There is a continuing debate about the pay of federal employees--too high or too low or about right? With the large variety of federal jobs, there is no…
Federal Workforce News
Should Federal Agents Protecting Our Borders Be Required to Live in the US?
Should federal employees with a duty station in America maintain their primary residence in the United States? Most readers probably thought this was a requirement for Customs and…