Q. I have approximately 12 years before I retire. I have 5 percent of existing money located in the G Fund. Should I be placing this in a different fund that may give me a higher return versus this fund? Should I be carrying money in any of the L Funds? Right now, I use the G, C, S & I. A. I can’t possibly tell you what you should do based on these facts. No one can. If you don’t know what to do, I suggest that you invest your money in the L Fund that most closely matches your…

Q. I will retire in December. I have $300,000.00 in the G fund as of now. I want to have  a monthly payment of $1,500 until my money runs out around 20 years or longer. What is a good strategy to put all my money in the 5 accounts that the TSP offers? A. You’re looking for a 6 percent initial withdrawal rate. If you want to ensure that your money lasts at least 20 years, you’ll either need to hire a good investment manager, or use the money to buy an immediate fixed annuity. You should also consider the…

Q. I currently make 5 percent contributions to my TSP per pay period. Is it possible for me to make a lump sum contribution at the end of the year equivalent to 10 percent to bring me up to the allowable 15 percent annual contribution? I would not exceed the maximum allowable annual contribution amount. A. There are only two ways you may contribute to your TSP account: 1. Through payroll deferral and 2. By transferring money in from an eligible retirement plan account. You may be able to increase your payroll deferral rate near the end of the year…

Q. I am 66 years old under CSRS, and plan to retire in 2018 with a total of 42 years of federal service. I currently am contributing to TSP and also have a private Roth IRA. A few years ago, I took money out of TSP when the tax rate was down and allowed one to do this. Thus, taxes were paid on the amount over two years. I am looking at taking out a much larger chunk and putting it into the private Roth IRA. Is this allowed without paying taxes on the much larger chunk? A. Maybe. Ask…

Q. I have been a federal employee since April 2008. I am only 31 years old and I am looking into purchasing my first home. I can request a residential loan of about $5,000 from my TSP account. I was wondering if I can use this money as part of my down payment? Thanks. A. This is a question your lender will have to answer. Borrowing your down payment is usually a no-no, but there may be an exception for money you borrow from yourself.