Q. In the Federal Times October print issue your column “Finding the best Thrift Savings Plan strategy” raises some good funds allocation concerns for investors … but how the heck does the average federal employee go about calculating the ER and the SDR? Or simply where might someone look to find formulas to make such calculations?
Browsing: TSP contribution
Q. I questioned a Thrift Savings Plan representative regarding the matched and unmatched funds from their agency, and they told me due to the fact that I withdrew my funds upon departure, I was not entitled to those contributions they made on my behalf. I thought the TSP funds, whether contributed by me and/or the funds, as well as the interest would be given to me after the vested time frame. How would I go about receiving those funds if they indeed are due to me?
Q. If someone in FERS elected to retire on Jan. 5, 2019, and they changed the last TSP contribution to the anticipated employer match maximum, will the employer match to the max for the calendar year, or just to a 12th of that amount? Though the first retirement check would come late (March), there would be a tax deferred federal contribution in the TSP account of some size in the new calendar/tax year. With the open season falling in the mid-Nov to mid-Dec time frame, is there potential to get a kicker/bonus on that last federal paycheck?
Q. I would like to retire on May 31, 2018, and I would like to max out my TSP contribution for the year. My last working pay period (PP) would start on May 27, 2018. My last full working pay period would be from May 13 – 25 and the pay day for that PP wouldn’t be until June 1, 2018, the day after I will have retired. Will a TPS contribution be taken from my paycheck and put into my TSP account for the May 13 – 25 pay period on June 1, 2018 – and again for the…
Q. Is the TSP technically a 401(k)? I know all the same rules apply and, for example, when the contribution max or catch-up max goes up for 401(k)s, the TSP max also goes up, but I’ve never actually seen it referred to as a 401(k). If Congress changes the rules for 401(k)s as they are apparently considering, would the TSP rules also change, or would Congress have to address those separately?
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’ll be eligible to retire in September 2021 when i reach age 56 years and 2 months, and have 34 years of service. I’ve been investing money in my TSP since I started working for the federal government, and I switched all of my TSP funds into the L2020 as suggested when the life cycle funds began. I never really thought about it until this year, so I probably won’t retire when i’m eligible since I’ll only be 56. At least that’s what I’m thinking now because I’ll have two kids in college. I know that in 2020, they’re…
Q. I joined federal service in July 1985, at which time I was placed under FERS. Between July 1985 and January 1987, the official start-up date of FERS, I was not able to contribute to the TSP. Since January 1987 I have contributed the maximum 10 percent to TSP. As I get closer to retirement I’m curious if the government recognizes the lost opportunity of not being able to make TSP contributions between July 1985 and January 1987. Is there any way to make-up for lost TSP contributions and lost government matching?
Q. I have $600,000 in my TSP allocated as 41 percent in the C Fund, 6 percent in the S Fund, 22 percent in the I Fund, 23 percent in the G Fund and 7 percent in the F Fund. Is this an appropriate allocation for a 54-year-old retiring in two years? I need approximately $2,000-$3,000 a month for 25-30 years. If not, what allocation do you suggest?
Q. I have a question about repayment of a TSP loan. I want to either up my TSP contribution to 10 percent ($384 a pay) or up my loan payment by $384. What is the better financial decision? Either way, the same amount of money is going into my account, so other than the tax effects is there a preferred option? What about using the $384 to pay off consumer debt? I could pay off a credit card in about six months if I added the biweekly amount I would put into my TSP to my credit card, but obviously…