Q. I am a young federal employee with three years of service with the Department of Agriculture. I have contributed 10 percent (5 percent matched) into my traditional Thrift Savings Plan. As I understand, I would lose the 5 percent government-matched money if I move all of my contributions to Roth TSP. Would it be best to open an additional Roth TSP to my traditional TSP, or structure it differently? A. You will not lose your matching contributions if you shift your contributions to the Roth TSP.
Q. I live in Alabama. I’m 32 and have worked about six years in the federal system. I am vested, and just left to work with a contractor. I have $7,400 in my Thrift Savings Plan account and want to do a full withdrawal. If I do the withdrawal, do I get that number since I’m vested, or only what I’ve contributed? Also, when or if I withdraw it, I know I will have 20 percent withheld. Will it hurt my tax return next year? If so, how do I avoid that? A. You may withdraw your vested balance. That’s…
Q. I am in my early 20s and have just left a federal job. I am trying to decide what to do with my Thrift Savings Plan money. I’m leaning toward rolling it over to an IRA but do not understand where to start. Where do you get the forms to do this? Is it a good idea? (Cashing it out would have been my next option.) A. The best thing you could do with it is to leave it in the TSP and manage it there for as long as possible. In fact, if you have IRA, 401(k) or…
Q. Can you still transfer your Thrift Savings Plan balance between funds after you have retired and started receiving monthly payments based on life expectancy or a specific dollar amount? A. Yes.
Q. The Internal Revenue Service deferral limitation for 401(k) accounts is based upon a dollar limitation, which is the same for government and service members who contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan. For federal employees wanting to maximize their TSP contributions, this is a simple process on Form TSP-1: You merely take the current IRS limit ($17,000) and divide it by the number of pay periods (26) and you get the amount you should withhold in each pay period ($653.84). If you receive a step increase, or get promoted, or anything else that changes your pay, there are no effects…
Q. I served six years in the military and was honorably discharged in 2005. I can’t remember if I had a Thrift Savings Plan or not. Who can I contact? I’m receiving disability benefits through the Veterans Affairs Department. Would they know? A. Start by contacting the TSP (www.tsp.gov).
The most fundamental task in retirement planning is the management of risk. It is critical to identify sources of unacceptable, or catastrophic, risk and to neutralize these risks by either eliminating them or insuring against them, if possible. One potentially catastrophic risk often overlooked by federal employees is liability for damages stemming from their performance on the job. Any federal employee can be the target of a lawsuit filed by a private party for alleged violations of their legal rights. Most at risk are managers and employees who have frequent dealings with the public, such as those at the Department…
Q. I am 66. I was told that I can stop contributing to my Thrift Savings Plan, which I already knew, but still get the 1 percent from the feds. Can the fund be closed entirely without being penalized? The account has very little in it, and my retirement is next year. A. No, your TSP account will continue until you have retired and withdrawn all of its contents.
Q. I’m 52 and a recently retired FERS law enforcement officer. I plan to leave my Thrift Savings Plan alone for at least two more years ($500k+ balance) and then do a 72T Substantially Equal Periodic Payment withdrawal. However, I may need approximately $30K to $40K, probably in 2014, before I do the 72T SEPP withdrawal. Would it be better to do the one-time partial TSP withdrawal, or withdraw from my Roth IRA contributions (tax-free)? I have approximately $140K in the Roth. A. This is really a question for your tax preparer after a look at some pro forma returns…
Q. As a federal law enforcement officer with 25 years of service, can I retire at the age of 47 and withdraw monthly payments from my Thrift Savings Plan balance based on life expectancy without paying a 10 percent penalty? If so, can I change this at 60 years of age to a specific dollar amount monthly payment without a penalty? A. Yes, as long as they continue, without interruption or error, until you reach age 59½. After that, you may change the payments without penalty. The rules for avoiding the penalty are complex and strict, so you should consult…