Last week we asked GovLoop Budgeteers to share their budgeting challenges in preparation for the release of the American Association for Budget and Program Analysis’ (AABPA) first Survey of Federal Budget Professionals. Many government employees dread the coming budget cuts. But federal budget professionals look forward to the challenge of crafting smaller budgets that stillRead… Read more »
Vital, Government’s shared services department under the Ministry of Finance has reaped savings of over US $1 million (78%) in travel insurance premiums for the whole of Government. Vital is Singapore’s largest back-of-house shared services centre for the government’s public sector provides centralised travel insurance programme for its public officers… By: Rakesh Sangani, Editor-at-Large, SSONRead… Read more »
Here at the CFPB Tech Team, we just launched a pretty cool initiative that lets the public weigh in on our draft designs for a new mortgage disclosure form. What’s a mortgage disclosure form, you ask? Read on! (And participate! And spread the word…) This is a major chance to participate in shaping an importantRead… Read more »
I will be brief in my plea for help on my current working project. I am making an argument in a paper that although consolidation of programs and streamlining processes might lead to fiscal efficiencies, these state and local policy efforts may also be promoting hidden fragilities and greater risks that might result in futureRead… Read more »
Goal: Make sense of your benefits package and pick the programs right for you. How To Cover Your Benefits Bases: 1. Pick a health/vision/dental insurance plan that suits your working style (i.e. HMO for staying put/PPO for travelling Govvies). 2. Contribute 5% to your retirement account or enough to get the full employer match, whicheverRead… Read more »
Goal: Protect your identity at home and on the road. How To Protect Your Identity: 1. Photocopy the front and back of every card in your wallet. Keep these copies someplace safe at home. 2. When travelling, remove everything except your driver’s license, regular credit or debit card and one backup for emergencies. 3. RemoveRead… Read more »
Goal: Find a smart strategy for retirement and college savings. 4 Steps to Saving Responsibly: 1. Save 3-6 months of debt payments and other critical expenses. 2. Accelerate payments of high-interest debt so that the total debt you owe is decreasing every month, even if only slightly (meaning you are paying more than the financeRead… Read more »
When it comes to sales and marketing initiatives the name of the game is to stand out. Typically the goal is to be unique and different from the crowd of competitors. But with finance the opposite is true. It does not pay to do things like carve your own path if you expect to getRead… Read more »
Bipartisan legislation signed by President Obama last Tuesday will significantly change the way the government monitors and reports on its own performance. One of the most important reforms contained in the new law is a requirement that targeted tax breaks — or “tax expenditures” — finally be analyzed based on their success in contributing towardRead… Read more »
Last week I had the opportunity to attend the AABPA Symposium which was held at the Capital Hilton Hotel in Washington, D.C. The theme of the symposium was “From the Budget Act to the Recovery Act: A Balancing Act.” Now, I’ve grown up in a family of financial gurus. Not only do my family membersRead… Read more »