Expert’s View

Finally! After two years without cost-of-living adjustments, all Social Security recipients got an increase in their benefits. And so did …More

Okay, during the Federal Employees Health Benefits Open Season you either changed health benefits plans or stood pat with the …More

If you are a federal employee, you may be enrolled by Option B or C coverage under the Federal Employees’ …More

You’ve all heard about the problems OPM has been having processing retirement applications and the hardship it has caused recent …More

While the turn of a new year is a common time to retire, this year presents a special advantage due …More

Over the last three weeks I’ve given you a rundown on Open Season, when it is, why you should care …More

Over the last two weeks I’ve given you the dates of the 2011 Open Season – November 14 through December …More

Last week I gave you the dates of the 2011 Open Season – November 14 through December 12. I also …More

Once again it’s Open Season time. Running from November 14 through December 12, it gives federal employees and retirees a …More

Last week, I wrote about two “what ifs” that may occur early on in the retirement process. What if I …More

Over the last two weeks, I’ve written about your role in planning for retirement and your agency’s role in moving …More

Last week I explained how important it is to plan ahead for retirement. I also pointed out that while a …More

In an ideal world, you should begin planning for retirement at least a year ahead of the day you expect …More

Over the last three weeks, I’ve been exploring the pluses and minuses of early retirement and the rules covering the …More

Last time I wrote about the Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA), which allows employees who meet the age and service …More

Last time I went over the advantages and disadvantages of early retirement. This time I’ll summarize the early retirement rules. …More

In the midst of all that wrangling over the debt limit, there was a lot of talk about reducing the …More

It’s that time of year again: The time when employees who have the age and service needed to retire begin …More

Last week I wrote about how unused sick leave is credited when a CSRS employee retirees. This time I want …More

Here’s one of the less recognized benefits of being a CSRS employee: When you retire you’ll get credit for any …More

Last time I wrote about the unfunded liability of the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund (CSRDF). That liability was …More

Lately, there has been a lot of talk in Congress – at least on one side of the aisle – …More

When the Affordable Care Act was signed into law by President Obama on March 23, 2010, it generated a lot …More

Under normal circumstances, federal employees get an across-the-board pay increase each January. What that increase should be is determined by …More

Over the past weeks we’ve been working our way through some of the recommendations made by the Congressional Budget Office …More

Over the past weeks we’ve been working our way through some of the recommendations made by the Congressional Budget Office …More

I’m sure that all of you know that the earliest age at which you would be eligible for a Social …More

Formulas are the foundation for determining benefits, never more so than when calculation what a retired or disabled worker is …More

Breathes there the man with soul so dead, Who never to himself hath said, "Don’t mess with my COLAs!" With …More

Last week I talked about the Congressional Budget Office recommendation to increase the age at which you become eligible for …More