FERS – TSP Insights

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author May 19, 2026

Federal Retirement Backlog Begins to Ease

The federal retirement backlog moved in the right direction again in April, offering some relief after the surge of applications that hit earlier this year. Even so, thousands of claims remain in the pipeline and processing times still vary dramatically depending on…

News by TSP Insight Author May 12, 2026

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April TSP Performance: Stock Funds Rebound to Post Double-Digit Gains

After a rough March that left most TSP funds in negative territory, April delivered a welcome turnaround in TSP performance. Every fund in the Thrift Savings Plan finished the month in positive territory, with the three stock funds posting impressive returns sure…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author April 28, 2026

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Unused Sick Leave and Your FERS Pension: How the Credit Works

There is a benefit sitting in your leave balance that most federal employees never fully account for when planning their retirement. Every hour of unused sick leave you carry into retirement has the potential to increase your monthly pension, sometimes by more…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author April 21, 2026

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OPM Makes Progress: Retirement Backlog Shrinks for the First Time in Months

After months of steady growth, the federal retirement backlog finally moved in the right direction in March. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) received 14,759 new retirement claims, including 8,830 digital and 5,929 paper submissions. That is a sharp drop from February’s…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author April 14, 2026

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Sequence of Returns Risk: What Federal Employees Need to Know Before Retiring

Most federal employees focus on how much they’ve saved for retirement. Far fewer consider how market performance unfolds after they begin withdrawals, and that distinction can have a lasting impact. Sequence of returns risk is the danger that poor market performance early…

TSP Basics by TSP Insight Author April 7, 2026

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March TSP Performance: Markets Pull Back as Global Uncertainty Rises

March proved challenging for Thrift Savings Plan participants. After a strong start to the year—especially in international equities—markets shifted as rising global tensions pushed investors toward a more cautious posture. Although a late-month rally on March 31 helped limit the damage, most…

TSP Basics by TSP Insight Author March 31, 2026

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TSP Surpasses $1 Trillion: What the Latest Federal Retirement Data Shows

The Thrift Savings Plan has reached a significant milestone. According to the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board’s January 2026 Participant Activity Report, total TSP assets climbed to $1.073 trillion as of December 2025. This reflects decades of steady contributions from millions of…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author March 24, 2026

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Federal Retirees, 2027 COLA Update

Whether you’re one of the growing numbers federal retirees or getting close, the annual Cost-of-Living Adjustment is worth keeping an eye on. The COLA helps your annuity keep pace with inflation, and while the official 2027 figure won't be announced until mid-October,…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author March 17, 2026

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Why Generic Retirement Advice Often Misses the Mark for Federal Employees

Retirement planning advice is everywhere. Save 10 to 15 times your salary. Budget $300,000 or more for healthcare. Maximize your retirement contributions every year. For private-sector workers, that guidance is reasonable. For federal employees under FERS or CSRS, it can send you…

Investment Strategies by TSP Insight Author March 10, 2026

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Safeguarding Your TSP Savings Amid Market Swings

Navigating your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) during periods of market volatility involves weighing the potential for growth against the need for protection. Two main approaches stand out: seizing opportunities by investing more in equities when prices fall, and shifting toward stability to…

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