An Overview of FERS & Different Types of Retirement Types of service used for determining eligibility to retire under FERS Employee and agency contributions to FERS Military service and temporary time The FERS annuity computation Minimum age and service requirements Early retirement Deferred retirement and “postponed” retirement Understanding the Annuity Computation Amount of an annuity Length of service and unused sick leave H...

All the elements of the U.S. healthcare system are under siege by hackers. A recent article in Modern Healthcare reported that “[o]ver the past five years, there’s been a 256% increase in large breaches reported to [the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services] involving hacking and a 264% increase in ransomware.” Federal health agencies face the same risks – and private-sector attacks ripple through the agencies, a...

While the Personal Identity Verification (PIV) and Common Access Card (CAC) represent a high assurance, technically interoperable, and a highly regulated method of authentication, they suffer from factors such as ease of use, ability to work with mobile devices and across devices. Office of Management and Budget (OMB) memorandum M-19-17, Enabling Mission Delivery Through Improved Identity, Credential, and Access Management, opened the door for...

You are invited to attend Acquisition Training for the Real World’s Summer Camp event, July 15 - 19, 2024! This week-long series of two hour, virtual training sessions features engaging thought leaders who know the challenges that acquisition professionals face and can provide real-world solutions. Participants can earn up to 10 CLPs over the week! Classes offered this session include: Quest for Clarity: Asking the Right Procurement Ques...

An Overview of Life Insurance for Federal Employees Group Life, including the Federal Employee Group Life Insurance Plan (FEGLI), and individual like policies from private companies, with information about term life insurance versus permanent or whole life insurance. Understanding FEGLI Benefits In depth education about FEGLI Basic, and Options A, B, and C- including considerations all feds should make about FEGLI benefits when approaching ret...

The continuous evolution of technology presents us with a dynamic landscape filled with both promise and challenges. As the internet gained widespread adoption, it revolutionized various aspects of our lives, introducing innovations such as online shopping and real-time news updates, alongside issues like spam, phishing, and malware. Traditionally, government entities have been cautious in adopting new technologies, often due to regulatory con...

An Overview of CSRS & Different Types of Retirement Types of service used for determining eligibility to retire under CSRS Employee and agency contributions to CSRS Military service and temporary time The CSRS annuity computation Minimum age and service requirements Early retirement and deferred retirement Understanding the Annuity Computation Amount of an annuity Length of service and unused sick leave High-3 average salary Effective date...

States’ voter registration systems and voter access have undergone a host of changes over the past five years, thanks in large part to the Covid-19 pandemic. Many states expanded vote-by-mail options, stepped up automatic voter registration programs, or both. Cities took action, as well – Los Angeles, for instance, has overhauled its voting system infrastructure, using open source, the cloud, and cybersecurity partnerships to updat...

An Overview of the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Contributions and how they work, including limits and getting the biggest match Ways to maximize tax savings The main differences between Roth and Traditional TSP accounts Understanding the Different Funds An overview of the five main TSP funds (G, F, C, S, & I) and the Lifecycle (or “L” Funds), plus tips for developing an effective investment strategy that matches your time horizon,...

An Overview of the 4 Types of Social Security Benefits Retirement, disability, survivor, Medicare Eligiblity requirements for each type, How the amounts are calculated How they apply to the financial plans of federal employees, both FERS and CSRS employees Understanding the Common Pitfalls The Windfall Elimination Program for CSRS Earnings Test Special Retirement Supplement for FERS Government Pension Offsets (GPO) How the benefits are taxed I...