Retirement Planning – TSP Insights

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author February 3, 2026

Access Your TSP Early – Without Penalties

Retirement doesn't always align with age 59½ for federal employees, leaving many wondering how to tap into their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) funds sooner without hefty penalties. The good news is, you can often avoid the standard 10% early withdrawal penalty if…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author January 27, 2026

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The Best Dates to Retire in 2026

The right timing can greatly impact your federal retirement by helping you maximize your annuity start date, annual leave lump-sum payout, sick leave credit, and overall cash flow during the transition to retirement. Poor timing, on the other hand, could mean forfeiting…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author December 23, 2025

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Federal Retirement Backlog Soars

As the fallout from the Deferred Resignation Program and the uncertainty surrounding the federal workforce continue to play out, OPM received 23,393 federal retirement claims in November. Though the deadline for the DRP was September 30, employees who would become retirement eligible…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author December 16, 2025

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More Federal Retirees are Choosing the TSP Life Annuity

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) Life Annuity is a retirement income option available to federal employees participating in the TSP. Increased longevity and fear of outliving their retirement savings have prompted more retirees to explore this option to convert their TSP savings…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author October 14, 2025

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The Rule Of 55

If circumstances require you to take an in-service withdrawal from your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) before you hit 59½, you’re subject to an IRS 10% penalty. This is in addition to the regular income taxes you’ll owe on the tax-deferred portion of…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author August 19, 2025

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TSP Withdrawal Options in Retirement

Before taking money out of your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) in retirement, it's important to know your options so you can choose what works best for you. The SECURE Act 2.0 and TSP Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) You don't have to take…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author July 1, 2025

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4 Fundamental Elements Of A Strategic Federal Retirement Plan

For federal workers, a strategic retirement plan has one primary objective: ensuring financial security in your golden years. To achieve this goal, the process involves analyzing the four fundamental elements of retirement: income, healthcare, taxes and estate planning. 1. Income Planning Income…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author June 24, 2025

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Understanding Required Minimum Distributions

Contributions to your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) or other tax-advantaged retirement accounts are made with pre-tax dollars, meaning they haven’t been taxed by the federal government. Eventually, the IRS requires you to withdraw funds from these accounts to collect its share. These…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author May 27, 2025

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Reviewing Retirement Options

The federal workforce continues to experience mass upheaval as the current administration carries out its plan to reduce costs and increase efficiency. As lawsuits challenging mass layoffs filter through the courts and proposals to reduce federal benefits advance, federal employees face an…

Retirement Planning by TSP Insight Author May 20, 2025

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Smart TSP Withdrawal Strategies

Deciding how to withdraw funds from your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a critical step in retirement planning that can shape your financial future. For those with both traditional and Roth TSP accounts, the order of withdrawals influences not only how long…