Q. I’m an engineer that so far has three years with the government, I’ve chatted with my colleagues at work about the TSP and how one can really reap the benefits of the program with some good analysis and risk factoring. I have 10 percent of my bi-weekly check go toward the TSP and split my allocations 50 percent G fund and 50 percent C fund. I would like to be more active in seeing my funds grow and was wondering what the best way to do that is? So far, I’ve just been letting the TSP sit and haven’t…
Browsing: L Fund
Q. I’ve read articles that are beginning to convince me that the TSP L funds are too conservative when the L fund “year” is based on the nearest year of retirement. It has been suggested that one should choose an L fund based on estimated longevity. Essentially, select an L fund by adding 20 or 30 years to your planned year of retirement, depending on your health, family history, etc. I am presently in L2020 and plan to retire in late 2018. Maybe I should be in L2040 or L2050. What are your thoughts on this? A. I know that…
Q. I just started a federal career at age 31. I rolled over about $21,000 dollars into the S fund from prior retirement. Would it be better to use the L funds for growth which carry less risk, or seek the highest amount of returns in the S fund. I am huge risk-taker when it comes to investing, just trying to make informed decision before accepting all the risk of the S fund with no diversification. A. Let’s see … I know that you’re 31, have about $21,000 in the S Fund, are a huge risk-taker and know little or…
Q. My daughter is 20 and just entered the military, hopefully to make a career of it. She is contributing 10 percent to her traditional TSP and $25 per month to her Roth TSP. Her traditional TSP is fully invested in the G Fund (this was automatic and she didn’t know enough to change anything). Wouldn’t it be better for her to put the maximum amount she can afford into the Roth TSP before putting anything into the traditional? She will probably be making quite a bit more money when she retires than what she makes now. If not, what…
Q. I heard someone mention the 2020 fund and that they also invest normally. All I can figure is that she invests in the L2020 fund. Is that possible, and how does that work? I did not think you could have a regular investment like the G and C fund, for example, and still have and L fund. A. You may allocate all or a portion of your account to one or more of the L Funds, just like any of the basic TSP funds.
Q. I’m a 40-year old mailman with 17 years service. I plan on leaving the post office when I hit 52 (30 years service). I understand I need to leave my TSP alone until 55 without penalty. My house will be paid off before I’m 51. I plan to work part-time with less stress after 52. I have $91,000 in traditional TSP now ($15,000 in L2030), the rest in G fund. I just switched from 10 percent to 15 percent payroll withdrawal. Should I change my contribution to 100 percent going into L fund, or remain with my current 70/30…
Q. You recommend that if we do not feel comfortable managing our TSP, we should invest in the L Fund that most closely corresponds to our life expectancy. However, the L Funds are named for the year we expect to start withdrawing money, not the year we expect to expire. I expect that I will not be withdrawing much money the year I expire, and certainly none afterwards. So why do you word your advice that way?
Q. I started working for the government about 2-1/2 years ago. I am 56 and plan to retire in 10 years. I am contributing 15 percent of my pay to the TSP G fund. I want to earn more than this fund is paying. What are your recommendations on which fund I should contributing to? A. If you don’t know what else to do, then about the best thing I can suggest is that you use the L Fund that most closely corresponds to your life expectancy. You won’t know how much spending this will safely support, but at least…
Q. I’m 53 with 30 years of government service. I’m invested at 15 percent to TSP. Looking at my account, I feel I am not going to have enough money in my TSP to retire comfortably. I have 6-1/2 years until I can retire without penalty to TSP. What can I do to maximize my investment? A. I suggest that you contribute as much as you can and direct all of your current and future investments to the L Fund that most closely corresponds to your life expectancy. If you’d like more certainty in predicting and producing the outcome of…
Q. I work for the Defense Department. I have $75 biweekly going into the G Fund. I am in my early 30s and want to build my money. I don’t see it moving much in the G Fund, and I have been investing for four years. I can afford to invest $100 biweekly but don’t know what fund to put my money in for it to grow. My annual income is $38,780. A. Given your circumstances, I suggest that you invest all of your Thrift Savings Plan money in the L 2050 Fund for the foreseeable future.