From Inflation to Benefits: What the CPI Reveals About the 2026 COLA Federal retirees could see a 2.8% COLA boost in 2026—September’s CPI will decide the final increase in benefits. Closing in on 2026 COLA The inflation figures for August are now in. In October, the 2026 cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will be finalized and announced. The August Consumer Price Index (CPI) report will impact the amount of the 2026 COLA for federal retirees and those receiving Social Security benefits. Tod...
2026 Federal Pay Raise: 1% for GS, 3.8% for Law Enforcement Officers (LEOs). LEOs win big in 2026 pay plan: 3.8% raise vs. just 1% for other others under GS as locality pay frozen. Overview of Alternative Pay Plan On August 28, 2025, the President formally invoked his authority under the Federal Employees Pay Comparability Act (FEPCA) to announce an alternative pay plan for calendar year 2026. Under this plan: Starting January 1, 2026, federal employees under the General S...
TSP Dog? Which TSP Fund Has Highest Returns in 2025 and Why? Everyone’s watching the usual TSP stars, but the real action is with the underdog. Meet the I Fund: the quiet TSP dog making noise I Fund TSP Dog Among Investors The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) funds are having a good year. While the number of investors in the I Fund is relatively small, this fund has, by far, had the best year of any other TSP Fund. The I Fund is up 22.14% in 2025 as of this writing. The TSP Fund in second place is t...
The Limited Opportunities to Increase Your FEGLI Coverage. While very few employees waive their FEGLI Basic coverage, a lot more don’t sign up for one or more of the optional forms of coverage during the 31-day period following their initial appointment. If you are one of those who waived coverage, there are circumstances under which you can enroll at a later date. Open Season–When there are changes in the program’s provisions, the Office of Personnel Management holds an open season. That’s w...
How to avoid Medicare Part B late enrollment penalties Planning to retire soon? Here’s what to know about timing your Medicare enrollment to steer clear of costly penalties. Federal annuitants enrolling in Medicare Part B face many healthcare expenses: FEHB and Part B premiums, potential Part B and Part D Income Related Monthly Adjustment Amounts (IRMAA), and out-of-pocket costs when using healthcare services. One expense you’ll want to avoid is the Part B late-enrollment penalty. I’ll ...
TSP Assets Now Over $1 Trillion—C Fund Share Price Tops $100 The TSP hit a big milestone in June reaching more than $1 trillion in assets. One TSP Fund is now priced at over $100 per share for the first time. TSP Assets Now Exceed A Trillion Dollars The latest report from the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) reveals that the total assets in the federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) now exceed $1 trillion. The reported total assets in the TSP as of June 20, 2025 are $1,006 trilli...