Monthly Archives: October, 2013

Q. I retired in 2011 and must start required minimum distributions soon. I understand taxation if the Thrift Savings Plan sends me fixed dollar payments or if TSP pays out based on life expectancy. But what if I have TSP buy an annuity with part of my TSP and I leave the balance in the TSP? How are taxes figured? A. Your annuity income will be taxable as ordinary income and you will be required to take RMD from the remaining TSP balance, which will also be taxed as ordinary income.

Think you can accurately predict the future? It seems that many Thrift Savings Plan investors do. TSP-related message boards and online forums are filled with posts from participants who are obsessed with trying to position their accounts to either take advantage of, or defend against, this or that anticipated turn of events. In some cases, this is smart; in others, it’s not. In the case of rising interest rates, for example, the current environment makes higher future rates all but certain. This unusually high probability, along with the availability of an attractive substitute for bonds in this environment, make substituting…

Q. I will turn 70½ next year and understand I need to take withdrawals from my retirement accounts. Can I add all of my accounts together — IRA and Thrift Savings Plan — compute the required minimum distribution, and then withdraw from one account which is not doing as well as the others, as I can if I have only IRAs? I want to withdraw my entire minimum from one IRA. Or must I take a minimum withdrawal from my TSP separately from my IRAs? A. You must compute the required minimum distribution for each account separately, but you may…

Q. I am planning to retire at 65½ years of age. Can I withdraw monthly a certain amount between 65½ and 69½ and change to the life expectancy option at 70? A. This is not allowed, but if you reduce your fixed monthly withdrawal to an amount that does not meet your required minimum distribution for the year, the Thrift Savings Plan will issue a payment to make up the difference and ensure that your RMD for the year is met.

Q. I’m separated from federal service due to disability. I’m waiting on a federal disability decision. In 2011, I took money out of my Thrift Savings Plan while still employed due to a decline in pay stemming from my disability, and I knew I would be going out under disability. In 2012, I again took a withdrawal because I did not have any income, was waiting on a decision, and was told that the next withdrawal would deplete the account. Unfortunately, I had to take the last withdrawal this week due to lack of income and no decision on the…

Q. I am almost 58 years old and retired from military/federal service after my 55th birthday. I would like to withdraw my Thrift Savings Plan now, in a lump sum. How much will I have to pay in penalties and taxes? A. You’ll be subject to 20 percent backup federal withholding, no early withdrawal penalty, and your tax liability will be determined when you file your tax return for the year of the withdrawal. The money you withdraw will be taxed as ordinary income, and the rate will depend upon your particulars.

Q. I am fairly new to investing in the Thrift Savings Plan, having been active in it for about three years. I am 31, with about $3,800 and contribute about 13 percent of my pay into the L2040. When I started, I had 60 percent G Fund/40 percent C Fund. Am I going the right direction when I moved into the L Fund? A. Probably.

Q. I am a FERS retiree. I was told before retirement to put all my Thrift Savings Plan into the G Fund before and during retirement. Is this sound advice? I was thinking of putting a small percentage also into the C Fund.  What are your thoughts on this matter? A. It’s a bad idea if the G Fund’s expected rate of return is not sufficient to support your financial goals. Otherwise, it would be lowest-risk way to get where you want to go.

Q. I’m 53 years old and plan to retire in 10 years. My current Thrift Savings Plan balance is $131,000, and I’m 100 percent allocated into the L2040 fund. I’m very aggressive in my investing. Should I allocate my TSP 60 percent C Fund, 20 percent S Fund and 20 percent I Fund instead of the L 2040 fund, which allocates in all of the funds to include the G and F funds? A. You’re the investment manager, so you’ll need to use your process for determining the correct allocation of your TSP funds. If I were responsible for the…

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