September 2026 TSP returns were negative for nearly every fund. The G Fund was the only core fund to post a gain, while rising interest rates put pressure on both stocks and bonds. All 11 Lifecycle (L) Funds also lost ground.
What…
The 2027 federal retirement COLA is currently tracking at about 3.3%, with two of the three months of inflation data now available. Some forecasts are putting the final number closer to 3.5%, but the official COLA won't be known until September's data…
The Thrift Savings Plan's F Fund was built to do one specific job: offer investors a little more return than the ultra-safe G Fund, in exchange for taking on a little more risk. Whether it's actually delivering on that promise right now…
TSP performance in August gave federal employees a rare clean sweep: all five core TSP funds finished the month higher. The I Fund led the way, continuing what has been one of the more notable trends for TSP investors this year.
TSP…
For FERS employees, getting as much money as possible into the Thrift Savings Plan is an important part of retirement saving. But there's a timing issue that can catch people off guard: when you make those contributions can matter just as much…
Survivor benefits are often discussed in the context of retirement elections, but FERS employees have another layer of protection that can apply if they die while still working. In some cases, a surviving spouse may be entitled to both a lump-sum payment…
S Fund volatility was on full display in July. After a 4.34% surge in June, which saw it lead the core funds, the S Fund became the weakest performer one month later, reminding investors why small-cap stocks often experience larger swings than…
The Thrift Savings Plan has reached another remarkable milestone. As of July 2026, 224,420 federal employees and retirees had at least $1 million in their TSP accounts, the highest total ever recorded.
But the most interesting part of the number isn't the…
The TSP Guide for federal employees starts with a simple reality: the Thrift Savings Plan will be one of the largest retirement assets they ever accumulate. But the TSP has changed significantly in recent years, with updates to Roth features, withdrawal flexibility,…
Completing your retirement paperwork may only take a few hours, but the decisions behind it deserve much more time. A little preparation before you file can help you avoid mistakes that are difficult, and sometimes impossible, to correct later.
Here are five…