Has Your TSP Hit Bottom Yet?
The ideal time to transfer money from the G fund and back into the TSP stock funds is when the market reaches a bottom and is about to start heading back up. Have we reached that point with the current stock market?
Federal Employee Pay News
Federal employee pay news: If it impacts pay and benefits for federal employees, you’ll find it here. Stay informed about important topics such as annual federal pay raises, the GS pay scale, and Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) including the latest TSP performance updates. You will also find articles about the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program, Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), and Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP), or event legislation in Congress that could impact federal employees’ pay and benefits.
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.
TSP Stock Funds Drop Again: Get a Grip and Put the Current Market in Perspective
Your TSP funds have probably taken a dramatic hit. Put the situation in perspective before hitting the panic button and making decisions you may regret later.
3.9% Average Pay Raise for Feds in 2009 in Temporary Spending Bill
A temporary government spending bill will fund the federal government into March of next year. It also contains an average pay raise for federal employees of 3.9% that will be effective in January.
Average (Total) Federal Compensation in 2007: $116,450
It seems no one is happy with the federal pay system. Many employees and federal unions argue that federal employees are significantly underpaid. But not everyone agrees. The average federal employee in 2007 received a pay and benefits package of $116,450–more than twice as much as the average private sector employee.
Funding Tobacco Legislation by Changing the Thrift Savings Plan
New legislation passed the House this week to protect public health by providing the Food and Drug Administration with authority to regulate tobacco products. The bill will cost about $300 million. An influential Congressman says not to worry–the money to fund this legislation will come from changing the federal Thrift Savings Plan. No doubt, these changes reassure TSP investors that Congress is looking out for their financial future.
Quietly Changing the TSP’s Investment Philosophy
A pending bill would quietly change the TSP’s investment philosophy. The result would be opening the door to more investment options, confusing many investors, applying more political pressure on the TSP and profiting financial interests with Congressional patrons. The likely losers: TSP investors who are benefiting from a simple, inexpensive retirement plan that is currently a model for private sector retirement plans.
Computing Your 2009 Pay Rate
What will your paycheck look like in 2009? It looks like the 3.9% average pay raise for federal GS employees may eventually be approved.
Money, Congress and Your TSP: Watch Out for Your Retirement Money
When a politician says he wants to improve your TSP returns by changing the system, hang on to your wallet. Someone may benefit, but it may not be the TSP investors.
TSP Stock Funds Nosedive in June
TSP stock funds across the board went down significantly in June. Here are the results and a perspective that long term investors should keep in mind before deciding to bail out of the market based on the latest TSP returns.
