TSP: Staying the Course Longterm Usually Beats Trying to Time the Market
The investment market has been going crazy since the beginning of April when President Donald J. Trump began his tariff …More
TSP
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Financial Things You Should be Monitoring Throughout the Year but Likely Don’t
The Employee Benefits Research Institute estimates that participants in Flexible Spending Accounts forfeited roughly $4.5 billion in 2023 and $5.1 …More
Opinion | Commentary
Panicans? TSP Investing and Market Jitters
As of March 2025, there are approximately 147,000 Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) millionaires. These are investors who made significant contributions to …More
Secure 2.0: Catch Up Contributions Will Have to be Made to a Roth, for Some
We recently discussed the fact that, beginning in 2026, the Thrift Savings Plan will allow in-plan Roth conversions. This will …More
Separating? Stay the Course with Your TSP and Start Looking
“You have fifteen minutes to collect your belongings and vacate the premises”. I have seen in the news that USAID …More
In-Plan Roth Conversions Coming to TSP
What new improvements will the Thrift Savings Plan have in store for participants next year? Beginning in January, TSP participants …More
TSPs and Taxes on Our Minds
In 1966 the Easybeats said that they have Friday on their mind. David Bowie covered the song in 1973. While …More
Make Sure Your Financial Planner Understands Federal Benefits
As federal employees, we have some benefits that most other workers do not. If we are working with a financial …More
Opinion | Commentary
Social Security, Entitlement vs Earned Benefit
We’re beginning to hear the word “entitlement” bandied about as if it’s a bad thing. You have to admit that …More
Opinion | Commentary
TSP Fire Sale Buying Opportunities
I am a 38-year investor in the Thrift Savings Plan (“TSP”). As a federal retiree, I still take my TSP investing …More
Rolling Over Your TSP When You Leave
Will you end up leaving federal service in the next year? Some of you might want to leave in order …More
Leaving a Federal Job with a TSP Loan
About a year ago, I noted that there had been a 25% increase in the number of Thrift Savings Plan …More
Is There More to the TSP Than Just the Basic L Funds? Yes
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a useful retirement savings vehicle for federal employees and military personnel. Most participants are …More
Opinion | Commentary
Is Social Security a Ponzi Scheme? No but Changes are Needed
Elon Musk recently called Social Security a “Ponzi Scheme”. I wonder how the 27% of retired Americans who rely solely …More
TSP Considerations for Leaving Federal Service
Do you think you’ll be leaving federal service during 2025 (voluntarily or involuntarily)? If you can afford to do so, …More
Opinion | Commentary
Could Low TSP Fees, or Employer Matching Become a Budget Target?
Groundhog Day takes place every year on February 2nd. This past Groundhog Day, I thought of the eponymous 1993 movie …More
An Emergency Fund Can Help You Avoid Raiding Your TSP/IRA, and Steep Fees
Have you heard that there are going to be “large scale RIFs” coming in the next few years? If you’ve …More
Your TSP and Separating from the Federal Government
Will the current offer of “deferred resignation” have anything to do with the Thrift Savings Plan? The short answer is …More
Yes, There’s a Taxpayer Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments to the Constitution of the United States are called The Bill of Rights. It was necessary …More
Here Come the 1099s – Tax Forms When You Retire
If you haven’t already received your W-2s for 2024, you should be getting them soon. The same is true for …More
Survey Says: One Third Feel They Have Enough Saved for Retirement
Many of us base our plans on the “fact” that we will work until we reach a certain age – …More
2025 Tax Season is Here: TSP, IRA Considerations for Contributions and RMDs
One of the rules around Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) is that one must have earned income to contribute to an …More
Federal Retirees Have the Advantage When it Comes to Longevity Risk
When we invest in the Thrift Savings Plan or other investment vehicles, we realize that we must accept some level …More
What happens to your TSP if you go through a divorce?
2024 Update: What happens to your Thrift Savings Plan if you go through a divorce? “A man in love is …More
Forewarned is forearmed; Plan now for next year’s taxes
It’s not too early to start thinking about your 2025 federal income taxes; especially if you are planning on retiring …More
FERS and Social Security are Big, but You’ll Want a Fat TSP
It’s not uncommon for a federal employee to feel that they can’t afford to contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan, …More
Fraudulent Investment Red Flags
After I wrote a recent article on Ponzi schemes, I began to think about other types of investment fraud. That …More
There’s a Better ‘G Fund’ in the TSP Mutual Fund Window
Since its inception in June 2022, the money market settlement fund in the TSP’s mutual fund window (MFW) has outperformed …More
TSP Considerations Before and After Separation
For employees only – that describes Thrift Savings Plan contributions. You are not allowed to contribute to the TSP once …More
Just 15 Percent Make Catch-up Contributions
A recent survey conducted by Vanguard showed that only 15% of 401(k) participants aged 50 and older made catch-up contributions …More
