Stay informed on the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) with updates on CSRS annuity calculations, eligibility rules, service credit, and annual COLA adjustments that affect federal retirees. Explore clear explanations of CSRS benefits, survivor options, retirement planning considerations, and policy changes that influence long‑term financial security for CSRS employees and annuitants. Find timely analysis and practical guidance to help you understand how CSRS retirement income is determined and how legislative or regulatory updates may impact your benefits.
How do you determine how much money you will need in retirement? A lot depends on the retirement lifestyle that you desire. The author discusses the “80% rule” and how it applies to giving you the lifestyle you desire to have in retirement.
Are you taking full advantage of the benefits available to you as a federal employee under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS)? In his final article in this three part series, the author discusses actions federal employees in the FERS system should take to best utilize the benefits available to them to prepare for a successful retirement.
A series of actions are leading probable declines in the take home pay of federal retirees in 2017. Current federal employees, however, are on pace to see their largest pay increase since 2010.
Turning accumulated savings in the Thrift Savings Plan into a stream of income is a goal for federal employees who are hoping to retire at a comfortable level. The author looks at choices federal workers have both inside and outside of the TSP to generate retirement income.
Federal employees covered under CSRS Offset have special considerations when it comes to collecting Social Security in retirement. The author describes how this works and provides some real life examples based on a hypothetical scenario.
Phased retirement may be a solution in search of a problem. Agencies have been slow to implement it and reception by federal employees has been languid. DoD is now moving out to implement the program.
The author says that under CSRS, a do-it-yourself approach to retirement was more practical for federal employees, but those under FERS may face bigger obstacles trying to go it alone.
There are circumstances under which former military members who subsequently work for the federal civil service short of a 20 years active duty military retirement can buy time for civil service pension accrual purposes.
Do you want to ensure that you spouse remains covered by FEHB after your death? Then you want to elect some level of survivor benefit for your spouse at the time you retire. The author describes some considerations for choosing a survivor benefit.
Actuaries tell us that a 55 year old can expect to live another 30 years. How will you spend those days after you leave the workforce? The author provides some suggestions on how to find your retirement dreams and make them a reality.
