Expert’s View

If you are a relatively new employee, you’ll remember that when you went to work for the government, you had …More

For those employees who have been waiting for a conjunction of the planets or a lucky roll of the dice …More

While to outsiders the United States government may seem like a place where millions of employees enter at the front …More

Last week I filled you in on a series of basic benefits that your survivors would be entitled to if …More

I know this isn’t a topic you’ve been eagerly waiting for. After all, who wants to think about dying while …More

Let’s take a look at what would happen to your annuity if you returned to work for the government. If …More

In a previous article we looked at rules governing the payment of CSRS and FERS retirement benefits to U.S. citizens …More

I get questions from federal retirees who are thinking about living part time or full time overseas (it seems some …More

The Federal Employees Health Benefits program is one of the most valuable benefits provided to federal employees. It provides comprehensive …More

Over the last three weeks, I answered the most commonly asked questions about the CSRS and FERS systems and about …More

In recent articles we spelled out the rules governing the age and service requirements for a CSRS and FERS employees …More

Last week I started this series on the most common questions regarding retirement by going over the rules governing when …More

This is a transitional period with a new administration and a new Congress looking at potential changes in a host …More

I recently got an email from a reader who wanted to know what would happen to a retiree’s annuity if …More

Over the last two weeks I wrote about 1) the change of administration and what that might mean for federal …More

Over the latter weeks of 2020, I wrote a series of columns about preparing for retirement, since there always is …More

Plans were advanced in the past four years that would have adverse effects on the federal civil service – including …More

Everyone who wanted to retire by the end of the 2020 leave year has already done so. To them I …More

The postponed annuity is a feature of the retirement system only open to FERS employees. If you are in FERS …More

By now most employees who planned to retire before the end of the leave year have either left or put …More

Last week I promised you that I’d begin cataloging some of the things that could get in the way of …More

Last week I filled you in on financial mistakes you could make while planning for retirement. I want to conclude …More

Last week I spelled out the rules governing when your annuity begins and some considerations for picking a date. In …More

Have you made up your mind that you want to retire soon—the end of the year is a very popular …More

It’s getting to that time of year again. The time when employees who are eligible to retire start thinking seriously …More

In recent articles about end-of-year retirement I covered general considerations but some of you have since asked for further information …More

The 2021 Open Season for the Federal Employees Health Benefits program will begin next Monday (November 9) and continue through …More

Last week I wrote about the decisions you have to make when picking a date to retire at the end …More

Years ago retiring federal employees were allowed to elect to have their retirement contributions paid to them in a lump …More

In the private sector it’s called COBRA. In the federal government it’s called Temporary Continuation of Coverage. In both cases …More