Can I Opt Out of FERS?
Can I opt out or not contribute to the FERS-FRAE annuity system?
Q&A
Q&A from FedSmith authors addressing readers’ questions. We share them here to help you with your federal career or retirement planning.
Will Part-Time Income in Retirement Lead to Social Security Penalties?
I am planning to retire from federal service soon and will being collecting Social Security as well as my federal pension. I also plan to work part time. Will the income from working penalize my Social Security income?
Should I Wait for a Buyout to Retire?
I’m planning on retiring at the end of May. However, last week my agency announced that it was undertaking a re-organization that is likely to affect the area in which I work. Very often agencies will offer buy-outs during an organization; should I wait for a buy-out?
Should I Put My TSP Into an IRA So I Can Retire When I Want?
I am 61 and have heard that I can take my money out of the TSP and place it into an IRA. I have been trying to manage my TSP the best that I can, but, my TSP has lost 20% this past year. Should I place my TSP into an IRA so I can still retire when I want?
What Are the Average Earnings for a TSP Account With Mostly ‘High Risk’ Funds?
My TSP has the same contribution mix: 85% risk and 15% safe funds. What would you estimate are the average earnings for the TSP, and what would be the average earnings of a TSP account with mostly high risk funds?
I Keep Trying (and Failing) to Time the Market with My TSP; What Am I Doing Wrong?
I keep trying to time the market with my TSP investments, only to end up buying high and selling low. How should I allocate my money into selected funds with the idea of leaving it there to ride out the highs and lows?
Is Holiday Premium Pay a ‘Right’?
I’m a FWS supervisor. Management recently announced that each supervisor now will work only 4 out of ten holidays each year, and will be excused from work on the six holidays they are not scheduled to work. In the past, we get paid if we work or not, and, as a result, were paid holiday premium pay for the time worked on each holiday. Do we have rights in this situation?
Do the New Locality Pay Areas Impact My Wage Grade Pay?
If I work in Shawnee County KS, which is just outside Kansas City, and will be covered by the new GS Kansas City-Overland Park-Kansas City MO/KS locality pay area, will my WG-5 wage automatically increase to the same level as that paid to WG-5 employees whose duty station is Kansas City?
Does the Recent Spending Bill Expand ID Theft Protection for Federal Employees?
I’ve heard that the recent tax and spending legislation expanded identity theft protection to federal employees who were affected by the OPM data breach. Is this true?
Can I Contribute to Both an IRA and the TSP?
A co-worker recently told me that I could contribute to both an IRA and the TSP. Is this true?
