Q. I plan on retiring in December 2017. I have $450,000 in TSP. I would like to take out half to purchase a home. Does this make sense? The interest saved by no loan payments would be more than the amount of tax paid.
Author Mike Miles
Mike Miles
Mike Miles is a Certified Financial Planner licensee and principal adviser for Variplan LLC, an independent fiduciary in Vienna, Virginia. Email your financial questions to fedexperts@federaltimes.com and view his blog at money.federaltimes.com.
Q. I am planning to retire at the end of the year. Can I still transfer the money in my Voluntary Contribution Plan (apart from the interest) into an existing Roth IRA? I heard that Congress was considering disallowing that move.
Q. I am 56 years old, and a widow. I’m working my fourth year as a U.S. Postal Service regular carrier. I worked five years as a rural carrier associate before that, one full year as a sub on my primary sub route, where the regular was not there. As I understand it, I have to work five years in order to be vested in my TSP contributions. True?
Q. I recently read there is a tax advantage if a beneficiary rolls TSP death benefits into an inherited IRA. Can you provide more information on that?
Q. If I left federal employment and leave my TSP intact, can I roll over any other retirement contributions into it from a private employers 401(k)?
Q. Since there is no law allowing for the sale of a CSRS annuity, it follows that such an annuity has zero cash value in calculating one’s assets. Correct?
Q. I plan on retiring at the end of 2019. At that time I will have over 30 years of service and be over my minimum retirement age (MRA) at 58 years old. My question is, if I meet the MRA and years of service requirement, can I withdraw from TSP prior to turning 59 1/2 without penalty?
Q. I have recently retired ,and my TSP is allocated in the F, C, G and I funds. Should I now move all of them to the L Fund at once or in increments? What percentage should I be withdrawing if life expectancy is 20 years?
Q. My ex-husband is a civilian for the Defense Department in San Diego. In our divorce, I was given half of his current TSP. The papers have been processed, and the divorce is finalized and finished. I have no idea how to go about getting my share of his TSP. My lawyer is not very good and hardly helps me. She told me to contact his employer … .with what? I have no idea what I am doing. I’ve spoken to him, and he just kept telling me he filled out some papers to get it sent to me. (This…
Q. I retired under discontinued service retirement in 2015, however, I was under the minimum retirement age of 55. I have applied for disability retirement, which I’m still waiting for the Office of Personnel Management to approve. How long should I expect he process to take? Can I do anything to help speed up the process? I have been declared disabled by two physicians and provided all requested documentation to OPM. Separately, can I start making withdrawals from the TSP? Can I make multiple withdrawals as funds are needed? Can I take the option for equal monthly installments and then periodically…