Q. I am retiring Aug. 30 and would like to pay my home off at this time. I have $107,000 in my account and the payoff for my home would be roughly $49,000. I plan to let the remaining balance stay there until 62 and receive monthly payments. My retirement is listed under FERS and, at 62, I will get Social Security (I have worked in the private sector for more than 30 years and expect my retirement pay to be nothing less than $1,000 a month, for a total income of at least $2,600 a month. Does this seem like a…
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Q. I am 26 years old and I contribute 15 percent into my Thrift Savings Plan account. I have been reading suggestions on personal finance websites that I should consider placing a portion of my contribution into the Roth TSP to anticipate the possibility that I will be in a higher tax bracket around retirement. I was wondering what your opinion on this issue is and if it would be a good idea to place a portion of my TSP contributions in the Roth TSP. A. I’m indifferent without any evidence that it will further your interests. It’s impossible to…
Q. When does a nonfederal retirement fund (401(k), IRA, Substantially Equal Periodic Payment, etc.) qualify to be rolled over to the Thrift Savings Plan? Is there a time limit that such funds need to remain before transferring to a TSP account? A. Basically, the funds need to come from a tax-deferred retirement account and consist of only yet-to-be-taxed money.
Q. My wife is retired under FERS with a Thrift Savings Plan account and I, too, will retire at some point under FERS with a TSP account. Both of us have individual IRAs. Can each of us consolidate the IRAs into our own TSP accounts? A. Yes, as long as they don’t contain money that is eligible to be withdrawn without being taxed (tax basis).
Q. I will be retiring under FERS at age 56 (born 1959) with 31 years of service with the Postal Service. If I withdraw my total Thrift Savings Plan account ($500,000) the day I retire, will I be charged an early withdrawal penalty and/or other penalty fees I’m not aware of? A. No.
Q. Thank you for your answer on my question of investing my 100 percent G Fund into an L Fund. You recommended choosing an L that corresponds to my life expectancy. I expect to retire in about a year, will have about $500,000 outside of the fund after I transfer my 401(k) into the fund. My FERS will be about $1,000 a month, and I will defer drawing Social Security until after 67, maybe wait until 70 (I am 64). The issue is life expectancy. Our family tends to live into its 90s. I am thinking that the L2020 may…
Q. I am 31 years old and have five years of federal service. I am a GS-12, Step 3. I contribute 7 percent to the Thrift Savings Plan but have not done anything with the allocation: 100 percent to the G Fund. I have tried to determine the best allocation on my own, but there is too much information out there. I know that I need to do something now. I was thinking about 40 percent C Fund, 30 percent S Fund, 15 percent I Fund, 10 percent F Fund and 5 percent G Fund. Would this be a good start to set…
Q. I am 62 years of age and have been in civil service for 12 years. Can I withdraw a portion of my Thrift Savings Plan funds prior to retiring and leave the rest in? If so, I realize I will have to pay tax on the amount withdrawn (but not sure how much), but will I have to pay a penalty? Also, can you direct me on where to go to do a withdrawal? I am currently in Okinawa working for the Marines. A. You may take one age-based, in-service withdrawal, which will not be subject to an early withdrawal…
Q. As a temporary employee, am I able to contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan? A. You may be, but only if you meet certain criteria. Check with your agency personnel or benefit office.
Q. If I retire early at 50 years of age with 30 years of service under FERS, I understand I’d have to wait until my minimum retirement age to receive the special retirement supplement. What reductions would I have in my retirement annuity? Would I be able to receive monthly Thrift Savings Plan annuity at age 50? A. Mike: You may use your TSP money to buy an immediate annuity and receive monthly income payments at any age, once you are separated from service. Reg: If your agency offers you a Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, there wouldn’t be any age-based…