A thrift savings plan is similar to a 401(k) plan but is open only to federal employees and uniformed services personnel. Participants in a TSP can get an immediate tax break for their savings or invest in a Roth for freedom from taxes after retirement.
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), is a retirement savings plan similar to 401(k) plans offered to private sector employees. You can check with your personnel or benefits office if you're not sure which retirement system applies to you. The TSP is one part of your retirement benefit package.
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The TSP is better if your taxes are high today and you expect them to be much lower in retirement. It is better to use your deduction against the higher tax rate. The Roth IRA is better the further away you are from retirement.
TSP participants can choose to invest their money in five main funds: The G Fund. ... You won't lose money investing in this fund, but your rate of return is the lowest.
Leave it in the TSP and let it grow
Depending on when you begin retirement, you can simply leave the money in the TSP let it continue to grow. If you do not need to access it yet, it might be wise to let it be. Similar to other retirement accounts, you will need to begin minimum withdrawals at age 72.
Since the TSP is a retirement plan, there is no penalty for withdrawing your money during retirement. If you stop working for the federal government, you can start making retirement withdrawals when you turn 55. If you keep working for the federal government, you need to wait until you turn 59-1/2.
If you want to avoid paying taxes on the money in your TSP account for as long as possible, do not to take any withdrawals until the IRS requires you to do so. By law, you are required to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) beginning the year you turn 72.
While most states tax TSP distributions, these 12 don't: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, Wyoming, Illinois, Mississippi and Pennsylvania. Other states exempt TSP distributions below a certain threshold from taxation.
No investment is completely safe, but there are five (bank savings accounts, CDs, Treasury securities, money market accounts, and fixed annuities) that are considered to be among the safest investments you can own. Bank savings accounts and CDs are typically FDIC insured.
If your annual pre-retirement expenses are $50,000, for example, you'd want retirement income of $40,000 if you followed the 80 percent rule of thumb. If you and your spouse will collect $2,000 a month from Social Security, or $24,000 a year, you'd need about $16,000 a year from your savings.
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