CSRS and FERS
Benefits Calculator
and
Retirement Income and Expense Analyzer
Version 10

CSRS and FERS
Benefits Calculator
and
Retirement Planner
Version 9

CSRS and FERS Benefits Calculator and Retirement Planner - Version 8 (2008)
 
Version 8 customers:  to download the latest, free update click here
This is only an update patch and will not work without first installing the complete program.

Update 8.40 (December 3, 2008) LAST UPDATE
    1. Added federal benefits OPM reference links in the Benefits Calculator and Retirement Planner help file.
           a. This will aid in looking for OPM information in all the Benefits Calculator input forms.
           b. For example:
                      (1)  Click on the '?' on the menu when in the High 3 Average form in the Benefits Calculator,
                      (2)  The help file section for High 3 Average will be displayed, then
                      (3)  Click on a Reference Link to get OPM help on High 3 average calculations.

Update 8.39 (September 22, 2008)
    1.  Replaced the v8.38 help display file (the '?' menu item). It runs faster and cleaner. The older version became very slow when trying to display the Benefits Calculator help file in the new version of the Adobe Acrobat Reader.
    2.  Replaced the CD backup and restore programs for professional client files. The v8.38 restore program did not work in Windows Vista.
    3.  Replaced the check for update program - senses and displays the appropriate (Trial, PLUS, and Pro) web pages. It runs faster.
            a. Run this by selecting YES in the "Check for Update" message that appears when the program first starts.
            b. The program will sense and report if a change is available.
    4.  Simplified the Trial ==> PLUS ==> Pro activation process.
    5.  All previous updates are included in this update.

Update 8.38 (June 4, 2008)
1. Made minor change to the Planned and Projected Retirement report page

Update 8.37 (May 14, 2008)
  1. Added Import Personal Data Files from previous Personal PLUS versions (2007, 2006, etc.) of the program,
   2. Added "Other Sources of Income in Retirement Summary," Report Page,
   3. Added "Other Sources of Expense in Retirement Summary," Report Page (now there are 55 report pages available in the program),
   4. Updated the Create Custom Report form to add #2 and #3,
   5. Updated the Print Non-Government Pages to include #2 and #3, and
   6. Based on the latest 10-Year Summary of TSP Individual Funds Annual Returns report posted on the TSP website (http://www.tsp.gov/rates/monthly-history.html) - added upper limits to TSP Annual Return Rates - PLUS and Professional:
           C =  7%
           F =  7%
           G =  6%
           I =  10%
           S =  9%

Update 8.35 (February 27, 2008)
1. Added Max Contribution calculator to the TSP ==> Contributions form
2. Made a cosmetic change to Federal Employee Benefits - Summary report page

Update 8.34 (February 26, 2008)
1. Personal PLUS customers can now:
        a. Define Custom Reports
        b. Print Custom Reports:
             (1) to a printer
             (2) to Adobe Acrobat (PDF) files (capability is built-in)
        c. File Adobe Acrobat (PDF) custom report scenarios for later comparison
        d. Send Adobe Acrobat (PDF) custom report files by email (e.g., work-to-
            home, home-to-work, etc.)
2. Updated CSRS/FERS Retirement COLA history to include 2008
3. Fixed minor bug on TSP Government Contributions form in Benefits Calculator

Update 8.32 (January 28, 2008)
  1. Enhanced the Client Files Form - Professional version
  2. Personal PLUS Trial pop-up of quick help is now displayed at half screen  size
  3. Adjusted the Benefits Calculator so that menu word wrap is avoided in Vista

Update 8.31 (January 9, 2008)
1. Modified the Client Files Form - Professional version
2. Modified the Summary Report page
3. Modified the Retirement Planner ==> Income-Government Sources form

Update 8.30 (January 2, 2008)
               1. Updated Annuities ==> 7. Benefits COLA History to include 2008
               2. Replaced F1 hotkey help system with the QUICK Help system.
                   Select QUICK Help on any form and get help on how to fill-in the form.

Update 8.25 (December 19, 2007)
1. Print Reports:
    a. Changed Long Report selection to Print Government Pages selection:
        (1) Contains all Benefits Calculator report pages, and
        (2) Contains Retirement Planner - Government only report pages:
             Income - Government Sources (annual and monthly)
             Expense - Government Sources (annual and monthly)
             Income and Expense - Government Sources (annual and monthly)
    b. Changed Short Report selection to Print Government Pages selection:
        (1) Contains all Retirement Planner Non-Government report pages:
             Income - Other Sources (annual and monthly)
             Expense - Other Sources (annual and monthly)
             Income and Expense - Other Sources (annual and monthly)
             Income and Expense - All Sources (annual and monthly)
    c. Added detailed error checking to reduce printing problems
2.  Retirement Planner:
     a. Added detailed error checking to reduce input errors
     b. Added a Fix Problem feature that assists in elimination of input errors
3. Benefits Calculator:
     a. Removed the Annual Inflation Factor from Annuities ==> 7. Benefits form

Update 8.21 November 4, 2007
        Corrected a minor bug in the Retirement Planner spreadsheet display

Update 8.20  (November 2, 2007)
        Expanded the Getting Started section of the Help File
               1. Added a Getting Help Section
               2. Added a Personal Data Form
               3. Added a Personal Data Entry Check List

8.00 (initial release)

-  Create Reports in PDF format  (Professional Edition)
Create a PDF format of your client's report (readable and printable by Adobe's free Acrobat software - a standard on today's computers).  You can store the updated reports in your computer for future reference.  Now, you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars for software to create an Adobe Acrobat file

-  Send Email Feature  (Professional Edition)
Send an updated report to your client in seconds.  Provide a responsive, updated PDF Federal Employee Benefits Analysis report as an email attachment ready to send to your client immediately.  Just add a note, enter your client's email address and press the "send email" button. Your client will have his/her updated report in seconds to view or print.

-  Computer Crash Protection  (Professional Edition)
Avoid the costly situation of losing all your client files in the event of computer hardware malfunctions.    The Client File Backup on a CD and Client File Restore from a CD is now available in Version 8. Simply place a blank CD in your computer's drive, press the "Backup Client Files" button, and all your client files are safely stored on a CD. If your computer should crash, place the CD in your repaired or new computer's drive and press the Restore Client Files button. You may use this same feature to transfer all your client files from one computer to another.

CSRS and FERS Benefits Calculator - 2002

December 9, 2002 Version 3.2
Modified LTC FPO Monthly/Annual/Accumulated Premium calculations based on Long Term Care Partners information
September 15, 2002 - Version 3.1
Corrected error in Updated Variable Interest Rate Tables
September 7, 2002 Version 3
Added a new Federal Government Long Term Care (LTC) insurance calculator,
Added a new Private Sector LTC insurance calculator,
Added several new LTC Reports that compare the benefits and costs of Government LTC insurance with Private Sector LTC insurance,
Upgraded the Report Previewer with an expanded, on-screen display much easier to view report pages on screen before they are printed,
Updated the Client Fact Finder for the Professional version,
Updated TSP Elective Deferral Limit Tables,
Updated Variable Interest Rate Tables, and
Added Deposit Calculations for FERS / Transfer retirement systems.
January 23, 2002 Version 2
The previous year Contribution Amount and Percent Contributed (vice current year) were displayed on the following TSP reports (all calculations are correct and were not changed, but the reports were changed to replace the previous year data displayed with the current year data):
TSP Summary
TSP Details
TSP Savings
Corrected a subscript out of range error on the Analysis Summary report page. This error would occur if more the 59 years was entered on the FEGLI form, in the Display Years box.
December 20, 2001 Version 1
Simplified the Activation / Deactivation procedure,
Revised the Professional Fact Finder Sheet, and
Removed the built-in order form.