On today's episode, it's hard to believe the calendar year more than half over. It's a good time to review your financial life. For people in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Plans, open season isn't far off. Financial advisor Abe Grungold spoke with Federal News Network's Tom Temin about a few of the housekeeping tips to keep in mind at this mid-year point. Plus, difficult budget negotiations. Funding levels for the Office of Personnel Management. Federal pay debates. There's a lot to worry about these days. For one take, Tom spoke with National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association vice president John Hatton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today's episode of Fed Life, Drew Friedman and Tom Temin talk about two issues affecting federal employees, locality pay and developments in the Thrift Savings Plan and its web site. The Office of Personnel Management announced plans to establish four new locality pay areas. Its proposed rule also included plenty of other pay recommendations from the Federal Salary Council. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we'll hear about one way, not often used, for retirees, especially on the older end of the age spectrum, to keep some guaranteed income. I spoke with certified financial planner Art Stein about the pros and cons of fixed income annuities, not to be confused with your federal pension. Plus, Federal Executive Boards, known as FEB's, do lots of things to keep the federal machinery working in the big federal cities outside of Washington. Federal News Network's Drew Friedman got an update from the director of FEB's at the Office of Personnel Management, Anita Spinner. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For today's episode, we'll hear about one group of federal employees who earn a third less than their colleagues at the same GS level. And about half of what their state and local government counterparts earn. There's a legislative effort to fix all of that. But first, from financial advisor Abe Grungold, why you should give careful thought about retiring, even if the job does seem like a grind. Plus, a bill with bipartisan backing would give substantial raises to federal firefighters. Their union says they make close to minimum wage for this dangerous work For more on the Federal Fire Fighter Pay Equity Act, I spoke with the government affairs representative of the International Association of Firefighters, Greg Russell. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode of Fed Life, the end of the COVID-19 public health emergency brought some changes for enrollees in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program. And that’s not all. Expect more long-term changes for FEHB participants too. To break it all down, Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman and Tom Temin are joined in studio by Kevin Moss, editor of Consumers’ Checkbook Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's been one year since the Thrift Savings Plan underwent a major technology update. The changes offered TSP participants more virtual options, better cybersecurity and an entirely new My Account website. But the changes initially brought confusion and frustration for participants. They got mired in technical glitches, trouble navigating the new layout, and, hours-long hold times when trying to get help from TSP's customer service center. Many of the early issues have subsided, but the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board is still tweaking the new My Account website based on participants' feedback. Federal News Network's Drew Friedman heard more about the latest round of changes, and what's still to come for TSP, from the board's Director of External Affairs Kim Weaver. Plus, at the Veterans Affairs Department the word is out. Headquarters employees will have to spend at least half of the days in a pay period, five of ten days in the office. I got the details from Federal News Network's Jory Heckman. Also, from our own Jared Serbu, I got details of a Defense Department proposal to greatly expand a special pay rate for cybersecurity and IT people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Starting June 27, government and private sector employees will be able to request reasonable accommodations for pregnancy, childbirth and related conditions. That's thanks to a new law, the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. All employers have new requirements, but federal employees may face a unique approach to how agencies implement the law. Our Drew Friedman got details from Sharyn Tejani, associate legal counsel in the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission's Office of Legal Counsel. And Denesha James, attorney advisor in EEOC’s Office of Federal Operations. Plus, by law, the government must invest its pension funds in Treasury bonds. Safe but low-return. It's not really a problem for federal employees. Your annuity is guaranteed. But it does create a long-term unfunded liability for the government. For how this affects just the Postal Service, which is part of the system, I spoke with a research specialist in the USPS office of inspector general, Joy Sanzone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we focus on two possibilities, both unlikely, but that would have big effect on federal employees. One, of course, is the prospect of a debt default. We'll talk about that with financial planner Art Stein. But first, a bill from Republican Senator Rick Scott of Florida would make federal executive branch employees, at-will. You could be fired for any reason short of a prohibited personnel practice. I got one interpretation of what this bill could mean, from the National Active and Retired Federal Employees association's John Hatton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Federal News Network reporter Drew Friedman fills in again for Tom this week. Most federal employees see retirement as a three-legged stool, you have the FERS annuity, the Thrift Savings Plan and Social Security. But could a fourth leg make for an even sturdier retirement? Savings Bonds are yet another tool federal employees can use, to boost their personal savings. I spoke with retired federal manager and financial counselor Abe Grungold, who started with a little history. Plus... Preventing harassment in the federal workplace starts at the very top, with agency leadership. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission says that idea, along with a host of other promising practices, can help agencies strengthen their anti-harassment policies. The new recommendations from EEOC are an update to a 2016 study, and they now include changes from the pandemic. I got more from EEOC's attorney advisor, Marqui Willoughby. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In this week's episode, Federal News Network reporter Drew Friedman fills in for Tom Temin. If you've been teleworking for the past few years, you may be asking yourself, is that about to change? And if you are wondering that, you're not alone. A recent memo from the White House is creating more questions than answers for federal employees. Federal News Network surveyed close to 5,000 feds on what they think, and one takeaway is clear: federal employees want telework to continue, where it makes sense. Tom and Drew dug into the survey's results, and what OMB's latest guidance actually says. Plus, the Supreme Court right now is considering a case that could boost federal whistleblowers bringing forth wrongdoing by contractors under the False Claims Act. The case underscores the importance of intent, and its relevance in these types of cases. For details and why it's a landmark case, Federal Drive Host Tom Temin spoke to noted D.C. whistleblower attorney Stephen Kohn. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's an old story, but an enduring one. Thousands of retired federal employees from the Civil Service Retirement System days feel they are being unfairly denied benefits. That's because of the Social Security provisions known as the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). A recent survey conducted by Virginia Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger's office showed just how frustrated people are. She plans to use the survey results to push legislation that would get rid of the WEP and GPO. For details, Federal News Network's Eric White spoke to Spanberger. Plus, The number of so-called TSP millionaires, mostly long-serving feds who have a million dollars or more in their Thrift Savings Account, waxes and wanes. But retired federal manager and financial counselor Abe Grungold thinks a lot more people ought to reach that million dollar level. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We start with a review of the Thrift Savings Plan's first quarter results. Investments can change seemingly as fast as the weather. Something plan holders have learned, or re-learned, pretty dramatically over the last couple of years. But things are looking up generally, as I discussed earlier with certified financial planner Art Stein. Plus, Congress in 2020 repealed something known as the Survivor Benefit Plan - Dependency and Indemnity Compensation offset. Better known as the widows tax, it disappeared after a three-year phase-out ending earlier his year. That move opened a once-in-a-generation opportunity for veterans. I discussed this with Mike Meese, president of the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome to the show. The past few days have seen positive developments on several matters affecting federal employees, including health benefits for Postal Service people and gathering support for restoration of Social Security benefits to older federal retirees. I got the rundown from the vice president for policy and programs at the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, John Hatton. Plus, Welcome back to Fed Life here on Federal News Network. The latest rankings of best places to work in the Federal Government. They're compiled each year by the Partnership for Public Service. One problem is that employee satisfaction and engagement scores continue to drop. For commentary on this year's rankings, Federal News Network's Drew Friedman spoke with the Partnership's president, Max Stier. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regularly issues results of studies on workplace trends related to discrimination claims and other matters. One recent report concerned the federal workforce. Specifically, use of alternate dispute resolution. Federal News Network's Drew Friedman and I discussed the highlights and what it could mean if you ever face what you suspect is unlawful discrimination. Bank stocks might look like dicey propositions these days. There's nothing to focus investors' minds like the possibility of a run on the banks. It's not 2008 though, and we probably won't see the failure of hundreds of banks like we did back then. I discussed this with certified financial planner Art Stein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week we look at what had been promising about the economy as it relates to your retirement. And then the financial whirlwind still swirling around that's sort of flattened near-term expectations. We start with one organization that has a good pulse on the federal workforce and what its concerns are, The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, known as NARFE. We covered a lot of territory when I spoke with NARFE's vice president for policy, John Hatten. Plus, After a scary year of across-the-board losses, the Thrift Savings Plan funds … like 401k plans generally, were showing strong gains in the first quarter of 2023. Then came a string of bank collapses and some near misses. I reviewed your TSP year to date with certified financial planner Art Stein. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The IRS has had a Senate-confirmed commissioner for a few weeks now. Danny Werfel has a lot to do. He'll need every employee in the agency to get anything significant done. One crucial group sometimes doesn't get the respect it should, namely the ranks of IRS middle managers. For what that very group hopes for from the new commissioner, I spoke with the president of the IRS-based Federal Managers Association, Chad Hooper. Plus, It doesn't happen all that often and may seem highly unlikely now. But federal agency reductions in force are not unheard of. In such a situation, you've got rights, as we hear from Tully Rinckey managing partner, attorney Michael Fallings. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In today's episode, we spoke with Kevin Moss, editor of health plans for Consumers' Checkbook about changes in Medicare Part D, and how they might affect federal employees' health plans. Plus, an excerpt from and interview I had with Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Mary.) on the federal pay hike proposals now before Congress. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You may have heard that the Government Accountability Office is looking into the project leading to the new web site for the Thrift Savings Plan. We won't know what GAO comes up with until next year. In the meantime the contractor Accenture was called in before the TSB board at its last meeting to discuss continuing issues with the site. I got an update from the TSP external affairs director, Kim Weaver Plus, We often concentrate on what's tough about federal employment. But Abe Grungold, the retired federal manager and financial consultant who joins us regularly, had a few ideas for what management can do to highlight what's good about federal employment, and encourage people to stay in public service. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A new month, and always a good time to review your savings and investment strategy. The markets continue to swoon. So it's also a good time to remind yourself that long term, if you stick to a solid strategy, that million dollar TSP account will add up for you, too. Financial advisor Art Stein gave me some perspective on the 35-year-old program. Plus, Certified financial advisor Art Stein. You can find the interview at Federal News Network dot com. We'll take a short break, and when we return, recent doings in the world of federal employee unions.. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On today's episode, our coverage of a union rally last week near the Capitol to support a bill to give federal employees an 8.7% raise next year. Also, Back in 2016, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law the Administrative Leave Act. It was supposed to cap how long federal employees can stay on paid administrative leave. Backers at the time said that administrative paid leave was costing taxpayers too many millions of dollars a year. Now, more than six years later, agencies are still missing final regulations to make changes to federal leave policy.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Today we've got news for federal retirees, so listen up. Lawmakers are trying to change a couple things about the annual cost-of-living adjustments—or COLAs. They've reintroduced bills to get it done. One would give FERS retirees a full COLA. And the other would change how the COLA is calculated in the first place. They’ve both been introduced before, and would have big implications for federal retirees. Federal News Network’s Drew Friedman joined me to sort it out. Don't miss her daily reporting on federal pay and benefits issues. Also, the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, known as NARFE, has a good handle on the pulse of the federal workforce, and what it's concerned with at the moment. Earlier, I spoke with NARFE's staff vice president for policy and programs, John Hatten, who gave a brief introduction to the organization itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With the stock market continuing to fluctuate wildly, many feds still wonder what is a wise retirement investment strategy. Federal employees and retirees continue to deal with the web site of the Thrift Savings Plan and it difficult or missing functionality. For some insight, Federal News Network's Tom Temin spoke with a successfully retired federal manager, now an investment consultant, Abe Grungold. Plus, the Merit Systems Protection Board spent years compiling data on sexual harassment inside federal agencies. It found that 21% of women and 9% of men have experienced sexual harassment. The report was ready to go in 2018, but without quorum, the law prohibited the board from publishing it, until now. MSPB says not much has changed anyhow. Federal News Network's Drew Friedman discussed this with MSPB Chairwoman Cathy Harris. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By nearly all measures, 2022 was a terrible year for the average investor. Inflation and a host of badly-received public policies sent both stock and bond markets in bear territory. All of the Thrift Savings Plan funds, with the exception of the basically flat G-Fund, declined. For a review and some things t o think about for the year ahead, Federal News Network's Tom Temin spoke with certified financial advisor Art Stein. Plus, TSP and debt ceiling updates from Federal News Network reporter Drew Friedman. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices