Skip to content
  • FS
  • Retirement
  • Pay & Benefits
  • HR
  • Agency News
  • Topics
    • TSP News
    • OPM Updates
    • Workforce News
    • Court Cases
    • Leadership
    • Q&A
  • Authors
FedSmith.com

Q&A

Q&A from FedSmith authors addressing readers’ questions. We share them here to help you with your federal career or retirement planning.

Why is Inauguration Day Treated Differently Than Other Holidays?

FedSmith.com author Ralph R. SmithBy Ralph R. SmithJan 16, 2017 12:30 PM Categories Pay & Benefits, Q&A Leave a comment

Can you explain why Inauguration Day is treated differently than other legal public holidays, for “in lieu of” purposes? Some of OPM’s guidance on the holiday is perplexing.

Why Isn’t the President Giving Federal Retirees a Higher Raise?

FedSmith.com author Ralph R. SmithBy Ralph R. SmithJan 5, 2017 4:11 PM | Updated: Jan 10, 2017 7:50 AM Categories Pay & Benefits, Q&A Leave a comment
Image of a businessman pulling out his pants pocket liners to show he has no money

Why isn’t the president giving a higher pay raise to federal retirees? I am a federal retiree and seeing current federal employees get a higher raise than me I feel is unfair.

Will Retiring in the Middle of December Lower My FERS Pension?

FedSmith.com author John GrobeBy John GrobeJan 3, 2017 3:42 PM | Updated: Jan 7, 2017 6:57 AM Categories Q&A, Retirement Leave a comment

I understand that there is often a “best date” to retire to maximize one’s pension, but I want to retire in the middle of December 2017 to take my family on vacation. What effect will that have on my FERS pension?

Why are TSP Annuities the Least Popular Withdrawal Choice?

FedSmith.com author John GrobeBy John GrobeDec 19, 2016 5:03 PM | Updated: Dec 22, 2016 8:36 AM Categories Q&A, Retirement Leave a comment

FedSmith.com author John Grobe recently stated that TSP annuities are one of the least popular withdrawal choices for plan participants. One user wanted to know why this was the case. Here is his answer.

When Does an Employee Have to Retire to Receive the 2017 COLA?

FedSmith.com author John GrobeBy John GrobeDec 14, 2016 2:36 PM Categories Q&A, Retirement Leave a comment

An employee who plans to retire on 1/3/2017 wants to know if he has to be off of the government’s payroll by 12/31/16 to receive the COLA. The author provides the answer.

How is the TSP Annuity Supplied by MetLife Calculated?

FedSmith.com author John GrobeBy John GrobeDec 12, 2016 3:04 PM Categories Q&A, Retirement Leave a comment

Can you tell me how the TSP annuity that is supplied by MetLife is calculated? I have been given a bunch of different answers and none match what the TSP rate is offering (which is of course much lower).

What is the Correct Pay When There is an Unscheduled Shift Change?

By Wayne ColemanNov 26, 2016 5:23 PM | Updated: Dec 2, 2016 1:41 PM Categories Q&A Leave a comment
Image of time clock and punch cards

What is the correct pay when there is an unscheduled shift change for a General Schedule employee?

What Happens if a Holiday Falls on My Day Off?

By Wayne ColemanNov 2, 2016 5:31 PM | Updated: Jun 29, 2017 11:27 AM Categories Pay & Benefits, Q&A Leave a comment

If a holiday falls on a Monday and that’s my day off, does the holiday move to Tuesday or does my day off move to Tuesday?

Can Career Complacency Cause Retirement Regret?

FedSmith.com author Randy SilveyBy Randy SilveyAug 8, 2016 5:53 AM Categories Q&A, Retirement Leave a comment
Image of businessman looking at computer with look of concern

I am a 42 year old GS-10 FERS employee with 12 years of service. As long as I work at least 30 years and put 5% into the TSP, will my retirement income be that much different from someone that is a higher grade than me?

Interest Rates and Your TSP Annuity

FedSmith.com author John GrobeBy John GrobeAug 4, 2016 8:34 AM Categories Q&A Leave a comment

Have the low interest rates we have been having for the last several years affected the amount of money a person would be entitled to if he chose the TSP annuity option?

Older posts
Newer posts
← Previous Page1 … Page5 Page6 Page7 Page8 Page9 Page10 Page11 … Page21 Next →

Free Email Lists

Subscribe to our free email list to get our news updates in your inbox.

Use a personal email if possible (i.e. Gmail); some agencies restrict emails from lists
Choose Lists:

Daily TSP Performance

April 17, 2026

Fund Last % YTD
G Fund $19.8322 +0.01% +1.25%
F Fund $21.0773 +0.38% +0.94%
C Fund $114.4069 +1.20% +4.47%
S Fund $108.9131 +1.96% +8.47%
I Fund $62.1880 +1.24% +12.07%
L Income $30.1358 +0.39% +3.05%
L 2030 $60.8789 +0.76% +4.79%
L 2035 $18.6502 +0.90% +5.49%
L 2040 $71.7563 +0.97% +5.86%
L 2045 $19.9136 +1.04% +6.17%
L 2050 $44.2467 +1.10% +6.49%
L 2055 $23.0558 +1.30% +7.59%
L 2060 $23.0531 +1.30% +7.59%
L 2065 $23.0504 +1.31% +7.59%
L 2070 $13.6616 +1.31% +7.59%
L 2075 $11.9335 +1.31% +7.59%
Get detailed TSP data at TSPDataCenter.com

Archives

Popular Tags

AFGE Annuity Backlog Bargaining Budget COLA COVID CSRS Data Breach Donald Trump Election Employee Relations Executive Order FedSmith Polls FEGLI FEHB FERS FLRA FRTIB GAO General Schedule Government Shutdown Hatch Act Hiring Holidays Inflation Insurance IRA IRS Labor Relations Locality Pay Medicare MSPB Official Time OPM Pay Raise Postal Service Proposed Legislation Roth Social Security Taxes Telework Travel TSP Unions VA Vaccinations

FedSmith.com is a certified Ezoic Premium publisher
© 2026 FedSmith Inc. All rights reserved.
  • About
  • Write for Us
  • Resources
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use