FedSmith

4 days ago | fedsmith.com | Dallen Haws

As a federal employee, one of the most important financial decisions you will make is how to allocate your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) investments. With so many options and strategies available, it’s natural to wonder: What is the best TSP allocation? While I’d love to provide a one-size-fits-all answer, the truth is that the best allocation depends on your individual goals, risk tolerance, and retirement timeline.

2 weeks ago | fedsmith.com | Gleb Tsipursky

In 2025, a growing number of major employers are mandating full-time returns to the office. Amazon, JPMorgan Chase, Dell, and Goldman Sachs have all implemented five-day-a-week office mandates. Similarly, the federal government has followed suit; by early 2024, over 400,000 federal employees were required to be in the office at least two to three days per week, with some agencies enforcing full-time attendance.

2 weeks ago | fedsmith.com | Dallen Haws

FEGLI (Federal Employee Group Life Insurance) is one of the largest group term life insurance programs in the world, offering coverage to millions of federal employees. While FEGLI has numerous advantages, it is not always the most cost-effective option as you age. Understanding when to opt in and when to opt out can help you maximize your benefits while minimizing unnecessary costs.

3 weeks ago | fedsmith.com | Dallen Haws

Social Security benefits provide an important source of income for many Americans in retirement, and most federal employees are no exception. However, while most federal employees’ Social Security benefits are calculated in the same way as those for private-sector workers, there are some unique nuances to consider. This article will walk you through the essential steps to calculate your Social Security benefit and highlight specific factors that federal employees should keep in mind.

3 weeks ago | fedsmith.com | Ralph Smith

Encouraging inflation data and an enthusiasm for stocks in the tech sector helped fuel stock market returns in May which propelled last month’s TSP performance. The S&P 500 was up more than 6% in May while the C Fund, based on the S&P 500 index, was up 6.29% for the month. This was the best month for the C Fund since November 2023. In November 2023, the C Fund was up 9.12% (the S Fund was up 11.19% that month). 2025 has not been favorable for the C Fund as it declined in February, March, and April.