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How Long Does a TSP Withdrawal Take? The 2026 Timeline From Request to Deposit
How long does a TSP withdrawal take? The TSP processes it overnight; nearly every delay happens before that. A TSP withdrawal entered in My Account […]
Is Back Pay Taxed at a Higher Rate? 2026 Rules, Withholding, and a Worked Example
Is back pay taxed at a higher rate? No, but withholding on a lump sum often makes it look that way. Is back pay taxed […]
Why Is My 401k Balance Zero? 8 Real Reasons and Where the Money Went
Why is my 401k balance zero? Usually the money was moved, not lost, and the plan’s records show exactly where it went. Why is my […]
Can You Trade Options in an IRA? What Trading Is Allowed in 2026
You can trade options in an IRA, but only strategies that are fully paid for with cash or shares already in the account. Yes, you […]
GS-13 Retirement Pay After 20 Years: 2026 FERS Pension Tables for GS-11 to GS-15
GS-13 retirement pay after 20 years is 20% of your high-3 under FERS, rising to 22% only if you stay until age 62. GS-13 retirement […]
Pooled Employer Plan (PEP): How It Works, What Employers Still Own, and 2026 Rules
A pooled employer plan lets unrelated businesses share one 401(k) that a registered provider runs, but each employer still owns the decision to hire and […]
Federal Retirement Changes 2026: What Took Effect, What Was Dropped, and What Is Still Proposed
Federal retirement changes in 2026 were real but narrower than the headlines: the pension formula did not change, while COLAs, the TSP, and health premiums […]
ERISA 401(k) Rules: What the Law Requires of Your Plan and What It Does Not Cover
ERISA turns your 401(k) from an employer promise into a regulated trust with enforceable rights. ERISA, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, is […]
401k Third Party Administrator: What a TPA Does vs. a Recordkeeper (2026 Guide)
A 401k third party administrator keeps the plan compliant, while the recordkeeper keeps track of the money. A 401(k) third party administrator (TPA) is the […]
SF 3107: How the FERS Application for Immediate Retirement Works in 2026
The SF 3107 application is the form that turns a FERS career into a monthly annuity, and many of its delays trace to a missing […]