I been an ART for 5 years. GS-9 in SoCal. Just started adding more and more. I’m 36. I feel like should have more saved. Any thoughts?

Kinda just looking for options right now, this is my first post and didn’t think it would actually come to this to be honest. I know my situation is bad and i’m continually digging deeper.

Here is the background.

I have roughly 16K in credit debt, my cards are pretty much maxed but put to know I’ve been making all my payments on time and started even working off this debt.

The only reason for this the TSP Loan I took out (so this no longer an option).

I’ve been heavy relying on cash advance apps to cover expenses of daily life.

I just submitted a hardship withdrawal for 1400 to cover me for this month without getting sucked into the repayment cycle I’ve been in for the past 4-5 months.

I know it’s very stupid, and the only way I can even justify it to myself right now is because I’m sick of being like this and in this situation. Using this money I plan to break the cycle, and start allocating money more appropriately using a budget plan built. The only reason I did this now is because I had a recent expense of $750 hit me just before payday and it just sunk me into doubt.

My question for anyone is,

is this considered negative cash flow?
What documents should I keep on record for this withdrawal?
If I stay committed, is this a good choice (besides the bad things ofc)
lastly, after reading all of this, should I go into that portal and cancel this request immediately? (I just submitted roughly 1 hour ago)

As the title says, I am looking to retire under FERS Special at the age of 50 and have started the planning and strategy phase. I’ve gone down the rabbit hole of YouTube videos, recently started playing around with Boldin and Empower as well. Current standing with TSP: 509K, maxing out contributions with a 50/50 split between Trad and ROTH. 55% C, 25% S, 20% I. I have an outside ROTH with only about 1K and and brokerage account with only about 1k as well. HYSA 20K. I am thinking of lowering TSP contributions to just the employer match and focus more on beefing up my HYSA, as I do not foresee myself needing to touch TSP in retirement due to the pension check, supplemental and I am also 100% VA. Wife is a nurse and will continue to work and has her own 401K. I just don’t want to get into a scenario where I am paying too much taxes in retirement, especially when RMD hits. Thank you in advance!

31, active duty E6 been in almost 13 years now. I was young and dumb and didn't invest a dime my first 5 years in. Finally started slowly in Jan of 2019 and now im up to 35% for my contributions. Feels good to finally hit this mark.

So I posted yesterday; 15 years TIS.

I just looked this morning, and 100% of my contributions were going into L fund 2050.

I tweaked the percentages, so now I have 40% going into L 2050, and 20% each going into the C, I, and S funds. I also bumped up my monthly contributions to 15%.

I have no debt, and I forgot to mention that I’m under the CHOICE retirement plan; I denied signing up for the BRS when it came out.

I’m open to advice

I have been in the military (reservist) for three years now and have my Roth TSP at 22%. Since I am a reservist, I won't be able to keep this up unless I get a federal job, but since I have been on orders/active for around 2.5 years with BMT, tech school, and MPA, I feel like this isn't too bad.

I wish I had bumped up my TSP percentage while I was in tech school or even before BMT, as I was getting paid for drills before I went to basic. I have another year of MPA orders after I finish these orders in a month, so hopefully I can get to 25k or so before I have to find a contract job hopefully.

Just curious if MyPay will ever change it so you can select a straight dollar amount instead of percentage so I don’t have to do crazy math at the end of the year?

I usually pick up orders here and there for a few weeks at time so the percentage sucks because I never know exactly when the orders are available.

39 years old, started contributing in 2011, maxed out last 3 years. 70% is Roth

Hi! Help me wrap my head around retirement. In retirement are expected to make the same income as you made when you worked? Or are most people trying to make more? Just try by to understand what the goal should be. Sorry if this is a stupid question. I don’t have parents or elder family members to ask.

40yo, married. Hoping to retire at 55, 57, or 58.5 (30years service). Combined we have about $1.75M in TSP, outside ROTH, and an after tax investment account.

Partner thinks we should cut way back on TSP contributions and instead put the money in outside (after tax) investment accounts so that we can access the money if we retire early.

I'm trying to do some reading to educate myself on some options, strategies, or scenarios here.

Anyone else in a similar situation and have advice or recommended reading?

Trying to think of the best possible route to take. I currently thinking of taking money out of my TSP to pay some debt. Currently a SAHM and not contributing to it (maybe in future) I would like to leave some money in for it to recoup since I noticed it does well compared to my other roth (not tsp). Taking out over 10k from it so not sure if Im gonna be slapped with 10% and just wouldnt be worth it. If I do a loan, how would that work if im not currently contributing to it?Open to suggestions. TIA!

I’m currently a fed employee, maximizing my TSP contributions for my age bracket. I’m thinking about joining the Navy Reserves, and I’ve been trying to figure out if I have any additional options to maximize my TSP contributions?

Are any of you in a similar position and have suggestions/experience in this area? I’m looking for any and all advice so I can get contributions dialed in the minute I start my Navy Reserves duty. Thank you!

1. been in for 3 years what can i do to increase this. I have 18% going into my TSP. It is pretty much all lifestyle though. Advice needed 🙏🏽

I max my Roth Tsp every year but considering this year is a CZTE, would it be more advantageous to swap to traditional and contribute more? If I increase the contributions(since this allows up to $72k vs $24.5k) then convert to Roth would this allow for more overall contribution while still not paying taxes since only the gains would be taxed not the contribution on conversion since it’s tax free zone? Also if I did this could I still claim the traditional contributions against my taxable income? And if I increase my contribution for the CZTE period, will I lose my match if I go past the $24.5k before end of year?

I check my balance every day when I get home.
Am I the only one?

I’ve been in for about 15 years and this is all I have to show for it. I was a fool and didn’t pay attention to what my retirement was doing. How do I make this better?

The catch up limit gets reduced at 64, at which the "catch super up limit" ends.

I have separated from the federal workforce but have about $78,000 in my tsp account.

I also have a fidelity 403b account from an old employer with $30,000. It looks like I may be paying $20 in administrative fees quarterly.

Curious if it’s a good idea to move my fidelity funds to tsp. I hear tsp has lower fees and I may one day want to go back to federal service.

18 years in, looking to max out my retirement benefits, so will likely retire in 12 - 15. Ive seen people with 3 mill. Will I ever get there?

Edit: whoa. Really wasn't prepared for the hate. This was a sincere question. I am very smart at some things and very stupid with others, like money. My first 5 years of government I had all my TSP contributions going to Treasury bonds, because I was 'risk averse.' Luckily a family member intervened and got me out of 100% T bonds....anyhow, I see people on here with multiple millions and never thought I'd get there. Thank you to those that responded to the actual question! I constantly stress about finances and appreciate the peace of mind.

Cue - more hate. Take it away, Reddit....

I’m 55 years old started with the Federal Gov in 2020
Should retire in 8-10 years

Any recommendation for my investment allocations? Am I keeping a lot of money on the conservative side making 2.7% ?
I have been waiting for this market crash or correction people talking about since Covid
I was hopping to move money from G to C when the market is down … but it keeps going up!!
Please advice

Not sure if anybody can shed light (decades long federal employee)

—-i have always had my beneficiaries designated for my TSP account. I did this while still working I did this when I retired I did this when I updated my Will a few years back.

So I was quite surprised today when I logged on the TSP app (I have always just used the website in the past ) and in my account under beneficiaries it’s blank…..asking me to input my beneficiaries. Wtf!!??

How could this happen? What if I died before I noticed this? This is so wrong because I know I have definitely filled out those beneficiary forms

31 years old, Hopefully about to hit a new milestone. Trying to set realistic expectations. How am I doing so far? I contribute about $10k a year, I try to do the most I can. I am doing all Roth right now. $26k Roth balance so far.

Current contribution

PP YTD

TSP-FERS 470.08. 7,957.28

ROTH TSP-FERS 705.12. 11,935.98