Will federal employees get a raise of 3% or 3.5% in 2008 (or some other figure)? No one knows but one of these two is likely. Here is how to quickly calculate what the raise will mean to the actual dollars in your paycheck for next year.
TSP participants are learning and changing their investing habits. In part, that may be because of market volatility and, in part, because the lifecycle fund option has been successful for many TSP participants.
Readers often ask why the FedSmith site does (or does not) publish some news items, reader comments or why we filter some terms from the daily newsletter. Here is an explanation.
The stock market has been volatile in 2007. Billions of dollars have been traded in the TSP during the year as some investors have decided to buy and sell different funds as the market ebbed and flowed. What lessons can this volatile market provide for investors?
The Merit Systems Protection Board says in its most recent newsletter that agencies often prefer to hire new employees by waiting for the applicants to come to them. The result is that Uncle Sam’s civilian army brings in older and more experienced workers–even if that is not what the agency really needs.
There was plenty of bad news in the past month and the fluctuations in the stock market frequently reflected the uncertainty. But, despite the storm clouds, TSP investors did very well for the month of September–as well as for the recent quarter and for the last year as well. You can sleep better tonight–your TSP investments are still moving higher.
TSP investors often bail out of stock funds when the stock market becomes volatile–often to their financial detriment. The market was volatile in August. Did investors react differently this time? And what are the trading costs for the funds when the market is volatile? Here is a quick summary.
Earmarks are a way that those in Congress can control federal money to help win elections. The Department of Veterans Affairs may have the expertise but, as another earmark enters the budget, it clearly does not have the power to make controversial decisions when the interests of powerful Congressional constituents are threatened.
The stock market has been volatile. The leading stock market average has been up or down triple digits on a daily basis for the past month. The final result? Most TSP investors will be satisfied with the results if not the process.
Any active or retired federal employee who took military leave for reserve activities may get extra money.
