Kiplinger.com Community - powered by vBulletin Kiplinger.com
Starting Out Investing Your Money Spending Wisley Your Retirement
Kiplinger.com Channels




Go Back   Kiplinger.com Community > RETIREMENT
User Name
Password
Register FAQ Members List Calendar Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
Old 10-29-2008, 04:11 PM   #1
jbkelly
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2
Government TSP or IRA

I'm a government employee and I'm finishing college soon and I haven't hit 30. Should I pull my money from my retirement Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) and move it into something like a IRA or maybe a mutual. I don't have kids but plan to marry in a year or two. Does anyone use the TSP program or FERS? I did some calculations and after 10 years I would only have 13k and I currently have 8k in this plan. I'm new to investing, bought Goldman Sachs about 4 years ago, held it for two years then dumped it, lucky

Any thoughts or direction would be great. Hope this question isn't breaking any rules.

Thanks
jbkelly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-29-2008, 04:47 PM   #2
pricespector
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New York
Posts: 1,351
The TSP can grow just as fast as any mutual fund can. In fact, the TSP is made up of a series of Index Mutual Funds. I'm not sure where you are allocated, but for someone your age that is seeking growth, the C, S, & I Funds can be selected to put you well within the market.

Also, I'm not sure if you are planning on separation from Federal employment or not, but you will not be able to move your TSP to an IRA until you do so. If you are, the IRA is a better option because it can provide more investment choices and some liquidity; you can use some ($5000 single/$10000 married) of your IRA for a first home purchase (after it has been open for 5 years), college expenses, and/or convert it to a Roth IRA. Having it in IRA does not in any way make it grow faster though.

Hope this helps.
pricespector is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2008, 08:02 AM   #3
jbkelly
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Posts: 2
Thank you.
jbkelly is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2008, 12:27 PM   #4
clydewolf
Registered User
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,586
Just to clarify some information regarding IRAs:

Each IRA owner can take $10,000 from their IRA for acquisition costs of a first time home purchase. A married couple would then have $20,000. This money wold be exempt from the early distribution penalty, income taxes would need to be paid. There is no age requirement for the IRA.
clydewolf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2008, 01:36 PM   #5
pricespector
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: New York
Posts: 1,351
Ah yes, as usual Clydewolf is correct. Thanks!
pricespector is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

vB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is Off
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Government Foreclosure adaliaadalia Home and Real Estate 4 07-31-2009 02:37 AM
How to reform Social Security and Eliminate Personal Income Tax cashfs TAXES 15 12-03-2007 03:35 PM
government college student loan consolidation sky7even Student Loans 0 11-28-2006 10:43 PM
Moving IRA funds to Government Retirement Program StephenJ RETIREMENT 2 07-03-2005 06:37 PM
How to reform Social Security and eliminate Personal Income Tax cashfs TAXES 0 04-14-2005 10:00 PM

SPONSORED LINKS
 
 
Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.0.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2009, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.