Flickr user Ben Weiner
The Index: 2017 Edition
Your annual guide to retirement planning, organized by topic.
It is has been my honor and pleasure since 2006 to write this weekly column. From the beginning, I hoped that these columns would be archived so that they would form a cumulative resource to help federal employees plan for retirement at every stage of their careers.
Below is my annual index to previous columns, which I hope will serve as such a resource. I’ve updated it by adding last year’s columns and deleting some older ones that have become obsolete or irrelevant.
I hope you’ll check back from time to time and use the index when you need information to help you prepare for your retirement from federal service.
Topics
2. Post-Retirement and Phased Retirement
3. New Employees and Midcareer Employees
6. Congressional Proposals and Action
9. Service Credit Issues: Civilian
10. Service Credit Issues: Military
12. Law Enforcement and Special Groups
13. Eligibility and Computation of CSRS and FERS
14. Other CSRS and FERS Issues
15. CSRS vs. FERS
16. CSRS Offset
20. Health Insurance
21. Medicare
22. Life Insurance
24. Social Security
26. Taxes
Last Minute Retirement Tips Dec. 22, 2016
Tips and Tricks for a Smoother Retirement March 17, 2016
Retirement Modernization, Take Five Dec. 17, 2015
Get Counseling July 30, 2015
Take Charge of Your Retirement May 8, 2014
Is Paperless Processing the Answer? March 20, 2014
A New Retiree’s To-Do List Feb. 1, 2013
Are You Ready to Apply? Nov. 1, 2012
Benefits Roundup June 8, 2012
Reductions and Withholdings Jan. 13, 2012
Great Expectations Dec. 16, 2011
Diminishing Returns Aug. 19, 2011
Post-Retirement and Phased Retirement
As Costs Go Up, Benefits Don't Keep Pace Oct. 13, 2016
Is Phased Retirement For You? July 21, 2016
Retirement With Training Wheels July 14, 2016
Rushing Retirement Could Cost You Jan. 7, 2016
Don't Forget to 'Turn On' Your Benefits Nov. 5, 2015
Beware of Hucksters Sept. 17, 2015
Beware of Scams Dec. 18, 2014
Trick or Treat Oct. 30, 2014
Retired and Rehired Sept. 4, 2014
5 Things You Can Change After You Retire Sept. 25, 2014
Phased Retirement: Case Studies Aug. 28, 2014
A Phased Retirement Q&A Aug. 21, 2014
Are You Afraid of Outliving Your Money? July 17, 2014
When to Seek Financial Help July 10, 2014
The Incredible Shrinking COLA Nov. 1, 2013
Let The Confusion Begin! June 7, 2013
Phased Retirement: The Bottom Line June 14, 2013
Who’s Getting What? Oct. 5, 2012
Pay Raises and COLAs Aug. 3, 2012
Retired – and Working July 20, 2012
Processing Problems Feb. 10, 2012
Coming Back Sept. 30, 2011
Words of Wisdom May 15, 2008
Delayed Gratification April 4, 2008
Back to Work, Again March 30, 2007
Back to Work March 23, 2007
New Employees and Midcareer Employees
A Retirement Guide for Every Stage of your Career Aug. 11, 2016
Why Your Retirement Spending Estimates Are Probably Wrong Oct. 8, 2015
Who Can You Trust? Oct. 1, 2015
Pay Attention: Nobody Else is Going To Fund Your Future Sept. 3, 2015
Leaving Government Now and Taking Retirement Later March 26, 2015
The 5 Percent Solution to Retirement Security April 3, 2014
Retirement Quiz: The Basics March 13, 2014
To Stay or Not To Stay in Government Jan. 31, 2014
Financial Focus in a Time of Uncertainty Oct. 11, 2013
Retirement 101: Start Planning Now Sept. 20, 2013
Midcareer Checklist July 12, 2013
Get Started Sept. 7, 2012
Eight Tips for Setting Your Retirement Goals Sept. 14, 2012
Buyout Considerations July 12, 2012
Happy Financial Literacy Month April 13, 2012
Targeting Early Retirement Oct. 21, 2011
Go or No Go Sept. 16, 2011
Early Outs July 29, 2011
Midterm Quiz June 17, 2011
The List June 4, 2010
The Top Five April 16, 2010
Financial Literacy for Feds April 9, 2010
Where to Start Oct. 23, 2009
Communication Mistakes Aug. 28, 2009
From Day One July 24, 2009
The Early Way Out May 26, 2006
Midcareer Considerations May 1, 2009
Leaving Early May 19, 2006
Really, You Can Retire! March 17, 2006
You Can Afford To Retire! March 3, 2006
Best Dates to Retire: Taking Your Leave Sept. 29, 2016
Best Dates to Retire 2017 Sept. 22, 2016
More Best Dates to Retire: Middle of the Month June 19, 2014
Best Date to Retire Tips March 9, 2012
Tricks and Treats in Retirement Oct. 27, 2016
8 Myths About Federal Retirement Oct. 20, 2016
Ballparking Your Retirement Benefit June 16, 2016
Are You Financially Ready To Retire? A True-False Quiz June 9, 2016
A Fresh Look at How Much Money You Need to Retire March 3, 2016
Quiz: How Ready Are You to Retire? Aug. 20, 2015
Let's Get Real About Costs Aug. 6, 2015
How to Know When It's Time to Go May 21, 2015
One Big Advantage of Retiring June 5, 2014
You May Be Better Off Than You Think April 24, 2014
Don’t Go, Please Stay Feb. 6, 2014
Is the Grass Really Greener? Feb. 14, 2014
To Stay or Not To Stay in Government Jan. 31, 2014
What is Your Full Retirement Age? Nov. 14, 2013
7 Signs You’re Not Ready to Retire Oct. 18, 2013
Baby Boomers and Retirement Aug. 23, 2013
You Can Afford To Retire! (2013 Edition) July 26, 2013
Let The Confusion Begin! June 7, 2013
Phased Retirement: The Bottom Line June 14, 2013
How Much Money Do You Need to Retire? June 28, 2013
Pre-Retirement To-Do List April 26, 2013
Retirement Resources March 1, 2013
Cliff Divers, Worker Bees and Retirees in Training March 8, 2013
Smooth Sailing Aug. 12, 2011
Waiting Game May 27, 2011
Ready…or Not? May 20, 2011
The Next Adventure Aug. 20, 2010
Taking the Plunge Aug. 7, 2009
When to Go: FERS Edition April 24, 2009
Putting It Off April 17, 2009
Federal vs. Private May 9, 2008
A Little Lower Oct. 12, 2007
Going Private Oct. 5, 2007
Public or Private? Sept. 14, 2007
Retiring Women June 15, 2007
Should I Stay, or Should I Go? Feb. 23, 2007
Congressional Proposals and Action
Fighting To Protect Your Benefits Sept. 1, 2016
Fear of Losing Benefits Aug. 4, 2016
How About Some Good News? April 23, 2015
How to Prepare for a Retirement Storm April 16, 2015
Don't Mess With the G Fund April 9, 2015
Here’s Some Good News About Your Retirement Benefit Aug. 14, 2014
Spared From Pension Hikes Dec. 13, 2013
Pay Raises and COLAs Aug. 3, 2012
Changes for the Better July 27, 2012
TSP, Pensions and More May 4, 2012
Cutting Benefits: Readers Bite Back April 1, 2011
Are Cuts Coming? March 25, 2011
Uncertain Times Sept. 22, 2011
Uncertain Times May 28, 2010
What Congress Gets July 8, 2011
From Law to Policy July 31, 2009
Using the Magic Words to Get What You Want Sept. 8, 2016
A Retirement Guide for Every Stage of Your Career Aug. 11, 2016
Why It Pays To Keep Your Own Records June 30, 2016
How To Make Sure You Get What You Deserve June 2, 2016
Are Your Retirement Dreams Realistic? March 31, 2016
Winning the Three-Legged Race to Financial Security March 24, 2016
The List: A Retirement Resources Guide Jan. 21, 2016
Who Can You Trust? Oct. 1, 2015
How to Estimate Your Retirement July 16, 2015
8 Reasons Why Your Retirement Estimate May be Inaccurate July 23, 2015
10 Things you Need To Do Before Leaving Government June 11, 2015
A Retirement Readiness Checklist May 28, 2015
A Critical Part of Planning, By Any Estimation March 12, 2015
The Importance of Accurate Information March 19, 2015
We Need to Talk About Your Retirement Nov. 20, 2014
Ready, Set, Go Sept. 18, 2014
How to Pick a Financial Adviser Sept. 11, 2014
Retirement Readiness: How Do You Stack Up? May 22, 2014
Test Your Retirement Readiness May 15, 2014
Take Charge of Your Retirement May 8, 2014
Back to Basics Sept. 28, 2012
Free Estimates Aug. 31, 2012
Five Retirement Tips April 27, 2012
The Sites You Need March 23, 2012
Not Quite Right Sept. 9, 2011
Predicting the Future Sept. 2, 2011
Overwhelmed Aug. 26, 2011
Retirement Checkup April 29, 2011
Be Prepared Jan. 21, 2011
Getting Help Sept. 24, 2010
Get an Estimate July 17, 2009
It Pays to Know Jan. 23, 2009
What You Need to Know Oct. 10, 2008
Who's Responsible? Sept. 12, 2008
Time of Transition June 27, 2008
To-Do List June 13, 2008
Countdown to Retirement March 14, 2008
Help! Feb. 8, 2008
Educate Yourself Feb. 1, 2008
Last-Minute Tips Dec. 14, 2007
The Retirement Process June 22, 2007
Retirement Checklist June 8, 2007
Getting Ready Jan. 5, 2007
Smoothing the Transition June 23, 2006
Need Money? Save Your Sick Leave July 6, 2012
Sick Leave Credit: The Calculations April 2, 2010
Sick Leave Credit: The Details March 26, 2010
Sick Leave Credit for All March 19, 2010
Leave: Take It or Lump It March 27, 2009
Taking Your Lumps Jan. 19, 2007
Service Credit Issues: Civilian
Buying a Bigger Retirement Benefit April 14, 2016
Are You Getting the Credit You Deserve? April 7, 2016
The Mystery of the Vanishing Service Credit Aug. 2, 2013
What You Need to Know During a Furlough Feb. 22, 2013
Redeposits for the Rehired Feb. 25, 2011
Civilian Payback Feb. 18, 2011
Where Credit is Due Jan. 28, 2011
Refunds and Redeposits Jan. 14, 2011
At Your Service Aug. 13, 2010
Question Time Feb. 12, 2010
Deposit Woes Jan. 29, 2010
Deposit Dilemma Jan. 22, 2010
Deposit Download Jan. 15, 2010
Maxing Out July 18, 2008
Deposits and Credits June 20, 2008
Keep Your Records Feb. 28, 2008
Catch-62 Sept. 21, 2007
A Whole Different Kind of Service June 1, 2007
Crediting Volunteer Service May 25, 2007
Computing Your Service May 18, 2007
Service Credit Issues: Military
11.11.11 Edition Nov. 11, 2011
Credit for Military Service Feb. 11, 2011
From Military to Civilian July 30, 2010
Question Time Feb. 12, 2010
Deposit Woes Jan. 29, 2010
Deposit Dilemma Jan. 22, 2010
Deposit Download Jan. 15, 2010
Military Payback: More Questions June 12, 2009
Payback Time May 29, 2009
Catch-62 Revisited Sept. 5, 2008
Deposits and Credits June 20, 2008
Catch-62 Sept. 21, 2007
Computing Your Service May 18, 2007
Service Interruption March 16, 2007
Mixing Civilian and Military Retirement June 30, 2006
Military Service Payback Feb. 24, 2006
9 Questions (and Answers) for Federal Couples April 2, 2015
Providing for Each Other Oct. 23, 2014
The Most Important Retirement Decision Oct. 16, 2014
What Happens to Your Life Savings? March 27, 2014
Preparing in Advance March 29, 2013
Give the Gift of Cash Feb. 15, 2013
Goin’ to the Chapel June 1, 2012
Safety Net July 22, 2011
Summer Assignment July 15, 2011
For Richer or Poorer, Final Words March 18, 2011
For Richer or Poorer, Part Two March 11, 2011
For Richer, For Poorer March 4, 2011
Thinking the Unthinkable June 11, 2010
The Inevitable Aug. 14, 2009
When You Go June 5, 2009
Spousal Provision March 13, 2009
Survivor Benefits Q&A April 25, 2008
Supporting Your Survivors April 18, 2008
Survivor: Federal Edition Jan. 12, 2007
Federal Couples July 7, 2006
Who's Your Beneficiary? May 12, 2006
Spousal Benefits March 10, 2006
Law Enforcement and Special Groups
Targeting Early Retirement Oct. 21, 2011
Officers' Options July 1, 2011
Special Considerations May 8, 2009
Feeling Special: Q&A Aug. 17, 2007
Feeling Special Aug. 10, 2007
Eligibility and Computation of CSRS and FERS
What is the FERS Supplement Worth? Oct. 6, 2016
Comparing Your Income Before and After Retirement June 23, 2016
Ballparking Your Retirement Benefit June 16, 2016
The Difference Between a Supplement and Social Security May 14, 2015
More on the FERS Supplement Jan. 25, 2013
A Little Extra Under FERS Jan. 18, 2013
How Much Do You Deserve? May 25, 2012
New Calculations Nov. 6, 2009
Eligibility: Facts and Myths July 6, 2007
Deferred vs. Postponed June 29, 2007
Retirement Estimate: The Details May 11, 2007
Basic Retirement Computations May 4, 2007
Estimating Your Benefits April 27, 2007
Supplementary Information Feb. 2, 2007
Supplementing FERS Jan. 26, 2007
Breaking Up Is Hard To Do March 10, 2016
How Divorce or a Job Could Derail Your Financial Plan Oct. 29, 2015
What Happens When You Say I Do? March 5, 2015
5 Myths About Federal Retirement Aug. 7, 2014
Found Money April 17, 2014
A Different Path for Women Jan. 17, 2014
How Does Your Retirement Stack Up Against a Former President’s? Aug. 30, 2013
Benefits and Same-Sex Marriage July 5, 2013
10 Things You Probably Don’t Know About Federal Retirement July 19, 2013
Women’s Issues Oct. 12, 2012
Summertime Q & A Aug. 17, 2012
Rates and Returns May 18, 2012
Divorce Decrees April 6, 2012
Pop Quiz Sept. 10, 2010
Before Your Time July 23, 2010
Spring Cleaning May 21, 2010
Financially Independent Women May 14, 2010
Question Time May 7, 2010
The 2009 Quiz Dec. 18, 2009
Pop Quiz Sept. 11, 2009
Endless Summer, Endless Questions June 26, 2009
No Fooling April 3, 2009
What You Don't Know Feb. 27, 2009
Questions and Answers Feb. 20, 2009
Myth Busting May 30, 2008
D-I-V-O-R-C-E Aug. 24, 2007
Short-Term Benefits Feb. 16, 2007
Single Concerns July 21, 2006
Not Exactly Getting Rich May 7, 2015
Is FERS Better? Readers Weigh In Jan. 29, 2015
Unlocking the Secrets of FERS Jan. 22, 2015
CSRS vs FERS, Again Dec. 14, 2012
From CSRS to FERS March 15, 2012
Freefalling FERS March 6, 2009
FERS Flexibilities Sept. 26, 2008
CSRS vs. FERS: 2008 Edition Sept. 19, 2008
Sometimes, Your Benefit Really Is Too Small May 26, 2016
A Rude Annuity Shock July 2, 2015
Neither CSRS nor FERS Feb. 5, 2015
Complicating Factors Oct. 7, 2011
Understanding CSRS Offset Sept. 3, 2010
Best of Both Worlds April 14, 2006
Disability Decisions Nov. 19, 2010
Disability Decisions March 20, 2009
Facing Disability Feb. 22, 2008
Your Own Retirement Savings Plan Aug. 9, 2013
A Golden Opportunity Oct. 15, 2010
Voluntary Contributions Revisited May 22, 2009
Voluntary Benefits May 5, 2006
Last Chance for Open Season Changes Dec. 8, 2016
Open Season Q & A Dec. 1, 2016
Making Your Open Season Choices Nov. 17, 2016
Solving the Open Season Puzzle Dec. 3, 2015
A Little More Cash During Open Season Nov. 6, 2014
Let the Open Season Panic Begin! Aug. 16, 2013
Thinking About Insurance, Part Two March 22, 2013
Thinking About Insurance Early March 15, 2013
Ten Tips for Open Season Nov. 18, 2011
Dental Check-Up Nov. 7, 2008
Another Chance for Health Plan Changes Feb. 18, 2016
Getting the Best Health Plan Deal: An Experiment Dec. 10, 2015
Solving the Open Season Puzzle Dec. 3, 2015
Recoup Some Savings During Open Season Nov. 27, 2015
What You Need to Know About Health and Life Insurance Nov. 19, 2015
Open Season Trick or Treat Oct. 22, 2015
The High Cost of Health Insurance Aug. 13, 2015
Who's Paying for Your Health Insurance? Feb. 12, 2015
What Really Happens When You Change Health Plans Jan. 15, 2015
Last Chance to Save Some Bucks on Health Insurance Dec. 4, 2014
Health Insurance Questions and Answers March 6, 2014
Getting Something For (Next To) Nothing Dec. 6, 2013
Five Steps to Picking a New Health Plan Nov. 22, 2013
5 Reasons to Consider Changing Your Health Plan Oct. 25, 2013
Five Open Season Tips Nov. 30, 2012
Taking the Plunge Dec. 2, 2011
(Almost) Free Health Insurance Oct. 8, 2010
Health Reform and Your Children Sept. 17, 2010
Open Forum Nov. 20, 2009
High Option Nov. 13, 2009
The Five-Year Test March 20, 2008
Ensuring a Healthy Retirement June 16, 2006
Paying a Medicare Penalty Jan. 5, 2017
Money-Saving Medicare Tips Nov. 10, 2016
Making Sense of the Medicare Mess Nov. 3, 2016
What Really Happens When You Change Health Plans Jan. 15, 2015
Health Insurance Questions and Answers March 6, 2014
The Big Health Insurance Question Feb. 28, 2014
65 and Still Working May 31, 2013
FEHB and Medicare Oct. 25, 2012
Medicare Choices Dec. 9, 2011
7 Questions to Answer Before Buying Life Insurance Aug. 25, 2016
How Much Life Insurance Do You Really Need? Aug. 18, 2016
Getting the Best Deal on Life Insurance May 19, 2016
The Other Open Season This Year May 12, 2016
A Rare Open Season for Life Insurance Jan. 28, 2016
What You Need to Know About Health and Life Insurance Nov. 19, 2015
Need Money? Rethink Life Insurance June 22, 2012
Life Insurance Options Feb. 3, 2012
Life Insurance Basics Jan. 27, 2012
Life Insurance Lessons Oct. 1, 2010
Checks and Balances Aug. 6, 2010
Your Money and Your Life July 16, 2010
Life Insurance Options, Part Two Sept. 22, 2006
Life Insurance Options, Part One Sept. 15, 2006
What Should You Do About Rate Hikes? July 28, 2016
What If...? May 5, 2016
Why You Should Care About the Long Term April 28, 2016
Be Ready for the Long Term Sept. 24, 2015
Long-Term Thinking June 15, 2012
Long-Term Open Season Oct. 28, 2011
Decision Time June 10, 2011
Fast Facts on Long Term Care April 15, 2011
The Poverty Line March 12, 2010
Beyond Benefits March 5, 2010
Long-Term Crunch Feb. 5, 2010
Buying Long-Term Care Insurance Oct. 16, 2009
Long-Term Care Considerations Oct. 9, 2009
Long-Term Change May 15, 2009
Long-Term Planning July 25, 2008
The Long Haul: Part Three Aug. 11, 2006
The Long Haul: Part Two Aug. 4, 2006
The Long Haul: Part One July 28, 2006
Making Your Best Bet On Social Security Dec. 15, 2016
Social Security Confusion Sept. 15, 2016
Social Security: To Delay or Not To Delay April 21, 2016
New Rules of the Social Security Game Feb. 25, 2016
Changing Stakes on Claiming Social Security Feb. 4, 2016
The Difference Between a Supplement and Social Security May 14, 2015
When is a Windfall Not a Windfall? April 30, 2015
Social Security: What’s In It for You? Sept. 13, 2013
Timing Is Everything Dec. 7, 2012
Are You Counting on Social Security? March 30, 2012
The Magic Number Aug. 27, 2010
Social Security 301 Oct. 2, 2009
Social Security's Top 10 Aug. 21, 2009
Understanding Social Security April 10, 2009
Social Issues May 2, 2008
Getting Social March 7, 2008
Gone With the Windfall Sept. 1, 2006
Offsetting Penalty June 9, 2006
A Fresh Look at How Much Money You Need to Retire March 3, 2016
TSP Tax Tips Feb. 11, 2016
You Have TSP Questions; We Have Answers Nov. 12, 2015
Looking for Expert Advice? TSP Has It. Oct. 15, 2015
Risk and Retirement: Managing Your TSP Investment Sept. 10, 2015
Don't Rush to Withdraw Your Retirement Savings July 9, 2015
How Your Retirement Nest Egg Stacks Up June 18, 2015
The TSP Quiz June 25, 2015
You’ve Invested for Retirement. Now What? Feb. 19, 2015
Three (or More) Helpings of the TSP Feb. 26, 2015
Beware of Scams Dec. 18, 2014
The TSP by the Numbers Dec. 11, 2014
Making the Most of Your Money After You Retire Oct. 9, 2014
Become a TSP Wizard Oct. 2, 2014
How to Pick a Financial Adviser Sept. 11, 2014
Are You Afraid of Outliving Your Money? July 17, 2014
When to Seek Financial Help July 10, 2014
Managing Your Retirement Money June 26, 2014
The 4 Keys to Boosting Your Savings May 1, 2014
The 5 Percent Solution to Retirement Security April 3, 2014
Advice from a TSP Millionaire April 10, 2014
What Happens to Your Life Savings? March 27, 2014
The TSP’s New Millionaires Feb. 21, 2014
A Case of Savings Envy Jan. 24, 2014
How Much TSP Can You Take? Dec. 20, 2013
Furloughs and Your Retirement Oct. 4, 2013
A New Tool from the TSP Sept. 6, 2013
Leave It or Roll It? Sept. 26, 2013
What To Do With Your TSP June 21, 2013
Beneficiary Beware May 24, 2013
Understanding Your TSP Options April 5, 2013
Required Payouts April 12, 2013
Talking TSP Aug. 24, 2012
Need Money? Look to the TSP June 29, 2012
The Roth Option April 20, 2012
Roth and Taxes March 2, 2012
Cashing Out From the TSP Feb. 24, 2012
Another Look at Annuities June 24, 2011
Grow Your Savings April 22, 2011
Setting the TSP Record Straight July 9, 2010
How to Become a TSP Millionaire July 2, 2010
TSP Payday June 25, 2010
Upgrading the TSP June 18, 2010
Avoiding Annuities February 26, 2010
Income for Life Feb. 19, 2010
Deep Breath Oct. 17, 2008
Take Charge of Your TSP Oct. 3, 2008
TSP and Taxes May 23, 2008
The TSP's Future -- and Yours July 13, 2007
Honey Pot April 20, 2007
TSP Withdrawal Quiz April 13, 2007
Life Expectancy vs. Life Annuity April 6, 2007
Withdrawal Options March 24, 2006
You're Going To Have To Make Some Tax Decisions July 7, 2016
TSP Tax Tips Feb. 11, 2016
What You Need to Know About Taxes June 4, 2015
Taxes: Past, Present and Future May 29, 2014
A Tax To-Do List Feb. 8, 2013
Nine Tax Planning Tips for Retirement Sept. 21, 2012
Tax Changes: Part Two Aug. 25, 2006
Tax Changes: Part One Aug. 18, 2006
Photo: Flickr user Ben Weiner