Q. Is it OK to transfer an established 72(t) program from one institution to another? A. As long as you don’t disturb the series of payments, I believe you can. But you should consult your tax preparer before you do it, to be sure.
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Q. We have applied for an age-based withdrawal from our Thrift Savings Plan account (husband works for the Postal Service) in the amount of $16,000. However, we found out that the tax was simply too high. We have already received the check, but we are now considering canceling it. Is this allowed? A. You can ask the TSP to be sure, but I don’t think it can be canceled. You have constructively received the payment. You may be able to roll the money over to an IRA to further defer the tax, however. There is a window of 60 days…
Q. I currently have all of my Thrift Savings Plan investments in the S Fund, and I see that it is now losing money. Should I move my money today or this week, or wait and try to recap what I lost (Loss is recent, I think over this past weekend)? A. The person responsible for managing your investment strategy will have to make this call. I can’t tell you how to work the controls if I don’t know where you’re going, what you’re driving or how much gas you have in the tank. I can tell you that a…
Q. I will be 55 this month and plan to retire in November with 33 years of service under CSRS. Do I have to wait until I am 59½ to withdraw from my Thrift Savings Plan? A. Not if you wait until you’re retired to request the withdrawal.
Q. Will the Thrift Savings Plan allow for in-plan Roth rollovers? If so, how will they work and who will benefit from these rollovers? A. No.
Q. I have seen various information online that the Voluntary Contributions Program conversion to Roth IRA was still available in 2013. Does anyone know whether this is still the case in 2014? A. As far as I know, it is still allowed. You should check with your tax preparer before you proceed, however.
Q. My first required minimum distribution at age 70½ was made in August, when I took the total RMD required for both my IRA and Thrift Savings Plan accounts from one IRA fund. However, I have just received my notice from TSP stating I must make a withdrawal by April 1 from the TSP account to avoid dire circumstances. I am not clear on whether what I have already done meets my obligations for the first withdrawal, based on two of your answers concerning this matter. Q: “Also, I thought if I have other IRAs, I could take the RMD…
Q. I just retired from government service under CSRS and have left my Thrift Savings Plan alone. My financial adviser, whom I consider a friend, is telling me I need to roll my TSP over into a tax-deferred variable annuity that guarantees a 5 percent return on investment each year even when the market does poorly. He says because of this “guarantee,” I can choose a very aggressive growth portfolio, while not having to worry about the results. He claims my TSP is not protected against losses. I knew that already, of course. It’s with a highly rated company. Fees…
Q. I retired under FERS two years ago, and I haven’t needed to touch my Thrift Savings Plan account so far. I am receiving Office of Personnel Management, Social Security and military retirements. I am 68½ years old. I just received a 100 percent Veterans Affairs Department disability award, which will change my taxable military retirement to a nontaxable VA retirement. I don’t think this will have any effect on my long-term life expectancy. I have determined that I do not want to elect an annuity on withdrawing from my TSP. I am considering immediately starting a monthly TSP withdrawal…
Q. I have been using a Vanguard Roth IRA Target Fund for my retirement account. Now that I work for the federal government, I have a Thrift Savings Plan standard account and contribute the additional 5 percent to take full advantage of employee matching. I’m 37 and plan on working until at least 67. I believe my best bet is to just keep maxing out my Vanguard Roth IRA, taking full advantage of my employee matching and putting away anything extra I can into my Vanguard Roth IRA. Do you think that is my best bet, or should I stop…