Your Turn with Mike Causey

Leaving Uncle Sam, especially after a lengthy career at a good salary, can be very rewarding and sometimes a bit tricky, too. If you can’t stand your boss, have nothing in common with your coworkers or hate your commute or your job, it’s a no-brainer — leave ASAP. But if you are like most people, the best time to retire is worth checking out, especially when you figure you might be retired for decades — maybe longer longer than you worked. After deciding which year you are going to retire the next question is when are the best dates: Dec. 31 and Jan. 1-3 are most popular, but why? On this episode of Your Turn we’ll be talking with popular benefits expert Tammy Flanagan about the best dates to retire, and why they are the best. She’ll take a look at the pros and cons of CSRS versus FERS, and how to make the most of your plan.

Washington, D.C. area financial planner Arthur Stein joins host Mike Causey on this week's Your Turn discuss how volatility in the U.S. stock market is affecting federal workers' TSP accounts, and whether feds should head for the ‘safety’ of the Treasury securities fund, or stay the course.

The future of the civil service

This week on Your Turn,  host Mike Causey will be joined by Federal News Radio reporter Nicole Ogrysko who brings us up to speed on what has to happen for Congress to approve a 1.9 percent January pay raise for most white collar feds in 2019. Executive Editor Jason Miller also joins to show to discuss Trump administration plans to "re-skill" and "up-skill" what it sees as an aging, tech-challenged workforce and what it might mean for you, your job and your boss.

This week on Your Turn, host Mike Causey talks with Federal Managers Association President Renee Johnson and FMA Government and Public Affairs Director Greg Stanford about where we are, what needs to happen to secure the pay raise. Johnson, of the Naval Air Systems Command’s Fleet Readiness Center-East in Cherry Point, North Carolina, has been a fed for 25 years.  Stanford covers Capitol Hill. Later in the show, Mike and his guests discuss what's needed to block proposals eliminating future cost of living raises for FERS retirees while charging FERS workers 6 percent more for their reduced benefits.

The Trump administration wants to cut costs in the giant Federal Employees Retirement System by totally eliminating future COLAs for FERS retirees. If it becomes law the 2019 COLA — assuming there is one — would be the last. Workers under the FERS plan would be required to increase their contributions to the FERS program by one percentage point a year for six years. That would mean a 6 percent cut in take-home pay, if it happens. The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association or NARFE is part of a coalition of federal-postal unions and management groups dedicated to protecting benefits, including the retirement plan, from cuts. So what are the odds they can do it again this year? And what about the odds of a 1.9 percent January federal pay raise? Jessica Klement and John Hatton with NARFE's legislative advocacy department, answer those questions on this week's  Your Turn radio show. Your Turn airs at 10 AM ET in the Washington D.C. area.

Stein is today's guest on this episode of the Your Turn radio show. He talks about bull and bear markets, and what people should and should not be doing when investing for the long haul. He discusses when playing it “safe” can actually be dangerous to your long-term financial health. Your Turn airs at 10 a.m. EDT on 1500 AM in the Washington D.C. area.

Thanks to steady investing, a growing number of feds and federal couples now have 401(k) balances exceeding $1 million. The vast majority did it the hard way. They started investing from day one, maxed out their contributions and rode out the market in good and bad times. So do you have an estate plan? Tom O'Rourke, a Washington area estate and tax attorney and principal at Miles & Stockbridge, answered questions on this week's Your Turn with Mike Causey.

Federal News Radio reporters Nicole Ogrysko and Jory Heckman join host Mike Causey on this week's Your Turn to discuss the recent court ruling against the Trump administration’s crackdown against federal unions, and why there is a mini-exodus of scientists from the federal government. August 29, 2018

This week on Your Turn, Federal News Radio reporter Nicole Ogrysko discusses the past, present and future of the federal civil service, and Federal News Radio Senior Digital Editor Michael O'Connell explains how podcasts could help you get ahead in your federal career. August 22, 2018

 Financial planner Arthur Stein, who has  many clients who are Thrift Savings Plan investors, even several TSP millionaires. He offers his insight on how to get the most out of your TSP.

Federal News Radio reporters Nicole Ogrysko and Jory Heckman join host Mike Causey on this week's Your Turn to discuss what’s happening and not happening with pay, shutdowns and appropriations on Capitol Hill.

Thanks to the Federal Employees Retirement System, the Civil Service Retirement System and Social Security retirement programs many people will have guaranteed lifetime payments worth $1 million to $2 million. And that is in addition to their investments in the Thrift Savings Plan. Tom O’Rourke, a Washington area attorney whose practice is limited to estates, trusts, tax and federal pension matters, said most active and retired feds are worth more than they think, “especially if you are entitled to receive a lifetime annuity at retirement.” On this episode, O’Rourke talks about what feds and their survivors should be doing to maximize their cash benefits. These include things such as wills, powers-of-attorney (two kinds), trusts and the like to protect you and yours. He also discusses the steps you need to take to minimize tax liabilities, and what you need to include as part of your estate plan. You can listen to the show streaming on www.federalnewsradio.com or on 1500 AM in the D.C. area. Your Turn airs live at 10 a.m. EDT Wednesdays on 1500 AM in the Washinton D.C. metro area and streaming nationwide at federalnewsradio.com. Remember all our Your Turn shows are archived on our homepage so you can listen later, listen again or recommend them to a  friend or coworker. See, you really are worth more than you thought.

Earlier this year President Donald Trump proposed a zero pay raise for January 2019. In its place would be a yet-to-come system that would give agencies more flexibility and cash to reward outstanding workers with outstanding raise.

FERS & CSRS: What's next?