It is human nature to panic when you see your stock investments losing money. The result is always the same: small investors dump their stock funds as the market goes down and they usually dump the most money when the market is at its lowest point. To preserve your retirement funds, take a deep breath, step back and look at the bigger picture. It may keep you from making a big mistake.
On October 9, 2007, the stock market hit new highs. On October 9, 2008, the markets hit a multi-year low. Current retirees, those planning on retiring soon and even those hoping to retire in the next five years and concerned. Here is how the TSP funds have fared in the past year–and some hope for the future.
The author offers some suggestions to Federal union officials in developing productive relationships with Agency officials. Having served as a representative of both employees and management in his career, the author discusses barriers he has seen created by attitudes that appear widespread in the Federal union community.
A federal court concludes that a decision resulting in the 342 suspension of an employee in the Social Security Administration was arbitrary because it was based solely on a “time served” suspension without logical deliberation on the length of the suspension.
Some readers say they are contemplating leaving federal service before they retire. It could be for a better job, boredom, the boss from Hell or a myriad of other reasons. What happens to your benefits when you leave?
You may know that the “average” rate increase for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Plan is going up 8%. That may not be relevant to your plan. Here is more information on how much of a change there may be in your health benefits costs next year.
The Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has run out of patience with a frequent litigant. In a case involving the Social Security Administration, the court revoked this plaintiff’s privilege of filing without paying filing fees and dismissed his 44 pending cases.
The bailout bill “ended up attached to a measure that extends benefits to people suffering from depression and is named after a lawmaker who died in a crash.” Most people do not know what is in the bill. Congress may prefer it that way.
An employee at the Department of Education said she could not afford a legal filing fee of $250. She avoided the filing fee based on her representation of not having any substantial assets. The judge was unhappy when, according to the court, she underestimated her assets by more than $562,000. Case dismissed.
Your TSP funds have probably taken a dramatic hit. Put the situation in perspective before hitting the panic button and making decisions you may regret later.
