Q: I’m trying to understand the effects of the RMD (at age 70) on a TSP withdrawal scheme if one is using the equal monthly payments method to draw on one’s TSP savings. Suppose one has about 150,000 in a TSP and starting at age 63 in retirement, they choose to withdraw 2 percent per year, almost guaranteeing growth of the fund to continue each year. Once the RMD kicks in, doesn’t that effectively switch the withdrawals over to a “Life-Expectancy” type of withdrawal (unless one elects to increase their withdrawals to exceed the RMD)?
A: Yes, once the RMD kicks in, you must withdraw at least as much as the life expectancy method would produce each year.
