Flipping the Switch on Blended Retirement, Your Benefits During a Shutdown and More

After years of planning, officials at the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings plan are finally ready to provide an employer contribution to members of the military.The blended retirement system is scheduled to go live Jan. 1. The program, which automatically enrolls all new service members and offers a one-year opt-in period for current military personnel, provides an employer match of between 1 percent and 5 percent to the Thrift Savings Plan in exchange for a less generous annuity calculation if they stay the full 20 years required to earn pension benefits.