Navigating FEHB Open Season Amid a Government Shutdown Will the government shutdown impact Open Season? These are some potential challenges for federal employees. As the partial government shutdown drags on, federal employees and retirees may be wondering what implications it will have for the upcoming FEHB Open Season. Will the shutdown create any problems for your health insurance benefits? FEHB Open Season This year’s Open Season runs from November 10–December 8, 2025. During this tim...
How TSP Performance in 2025 Compares to the Dot.Com Bubble TSP performance for all funds in October was positive. Is the current market similar to the dot.com stock bubble? Great TSP Performance in 2025: I Fund Stands Out The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is providing investors with great returns in 2025. The I Fund is leading all other TSP Funds for returns in 2025 with a return of 28.01%. The strong returns are the result of favorable stock markets (both domestic and international), g...
Don’t Panic—Plan: A Federal Employee Guide to Surviving A Shutdown, RIF and Layoffs Worried about a shutdown or RIF? These are practical steps for federal employees to help safeguard your finances, benefits, and your career. What Actions to Take During Shutdown and Possible Employment Loss This is a rough time for federal employees—especially those now classified as “non-essential” and who may not be reporting to work and facing a potential loss of employment. Experiencing stress and strain i...
Tax Today, Freedom Tomorrow: Understanding the TSP’s New In-Plan Roth Conversion Proposal In-plan Roth TSP conversions are one step closer to reality after a new proposed rule was issued by the FRTIB. The Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) has issued a significant proposal that would enhance the flexibility of federal employees and retirees in managing their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) accounts. The proposal, published in the Federal Register, would enable investo...
Layoffs Underway as Shutdown Drags On The Trump administration has begun the process of laying off federal employees amid the ongoing government shutdown. The Trump administration has been threatening that layoffs of federal employees would take place if a government shutdown ensued and continued for more than a few days. Apparently they were serious. White House Office of Management (OMB) and Budget Director Russell Vought posted on X today, “The RIFs have begun.” Just before the g...
What Retired Federal Employees Need to Know About Government Shutdowns Government shutdowns can be disruptive, but the good news is that federal retirees will encounter minimal impacts. A partial government shutdown can raise concerns for federal employees and retirees alike. Fortunately, guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) offers clarity and reassurance for those already retired or planning to retire soon. Annuity Payments Perhaps the most important thing for ret...