Q. I am really confused about the purchase of private annuities and when that is a good idea. I am a FERS employee who just turned 59½. I plan on working for another eight to 10 years, as I only have 12 years of service. My Thrift Savings Plan fund is around $92,000. Last year, my financial adviser, whom I met when his firm conducted a retirement seminar at the Atlanta Federal Center, suggested that I sell most of the securities in my private brokerage account and buy a fixed index deferred annuity from Midland National to avoid losses in…
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Q. I was contributing to the Thrift Savings Plan since 2002, when the program started, until 2009. I don’t contribute now on a monthly basis because I am not a government employee yet. I still put in money from time to time, like rolling over a 401(k) from a previous job. I have close to six figures in my plan. I plan on working for another 20 years, hopefully in the government sector soon. I currently have all my money in the G Fund. I have always been nervous to put money into those other funds. Can you provide me tips on…
Q. I want to withdraw some money from my Thrift Savings Plan. I need transportation, home repairs and needs for my child. I have a husband who is unreliable, not responsible and does not work, and our marriage is on the rocks. Is there any way I can withdraw money from my TSP without his consent? A. The rules depend upon your employment status, retirement system and the amount and type of withdrawal you take. If you are still an active federal employee, spouse’s rights affect your in-service withdrawal. If you are a married FERS participant or a member of the uniformed…
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 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).
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…