Thrift Savings Plan – Can I Buy Gold With My TSP?
Thrift Savings Plan is a retirement savings account available exclusively to federal employees. Employees can utilize it as a way of saving pretax dollars for investment opportunities available under this plan and potentially receiving employer matching contributions.
Once you leave the federal workforce or reach age 59 1/2, your TSP funds can be transferred into a self-directed IRA for greater freedom to invest in assets like physical gold.
TSP is a 401(k)-style retirement plan
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a retirement account designed to enable federal employees and members of the military to save tax-deferred money for retirement. With low administrative fees, customizable investment options, and various choice offerings; some agencies even provide matching contributions into TSP.
TSP expenses are covered through three main sources, such as agency match contributions, excess agency contributions forfeited from leaving service, and loan participation fees. Since these costs aren’t covered by investment earnings alone, it’s important to be mindful when making any changes to your TSP investments.
One way to avoid fees associated with TSP assets is to move them into a self-directed Gold IRA managed by Regal Assets, Lear Capital, Rosland Capital, JM Bullion or APMEX as they offer secure storage, insurance and security of physical gold bullion coins and bars. Before making your decision to transfer TSP assets into such an account it would be wise to consult an investing pro for advice before moving them over.
It’s a tax-deferred account
The Thrift Savings Plan, or TSP, allows Federal employees to make pre-tax contributions toward retirement without immediate tax consequences. Any withdrawals from a TSP account are generally subject to both Federal and local income taxes when withdrawing funds for withdrawal.
TSP account owners have the freedom to select how much to contribute, up to an IRS limit. This amount includes both traditional (pre-tax) and Roth contributions as well as agency matching contributions; uniformed service members may make additional “catch-up” contributions if eligible.
TSP investors can select from various investments, including core funds such as G, F, C and S that provide various rates of return. Investors can even opt for Lifecycle funds which automatically shift investment allocations away from more aggressive assets as retirement approaches – so working with an investment professional to maximize TSP investments may be worthwhile.
It’s a taxable account
Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) offers several investment options. From short-term U.S. Treasury securities to index funds that invest in domestic and international stocks, TSP offers an array of funds. In addition, there is also a lifecycle fund, which automatically adjusts investment allocation according to when your retirement date occurs.
The Thrift Savings Plan has several drawbacks when compared with traditional IRAs or other retirement accounts, such as annuities. Notably, physical precious metals cannot be invested directly through the TSP; however, there may still be ways of getting exposure through paper stocks or ETFs holding shares from companies involved in mining industries.
Transferring TSP funds into a taxable account comes with fees. Before making the decision to move them over, consult a financial or tax expert as they can explain both its pros and cons as well as ensure you comply with regulations.
It’s a self-directed account
Sponsored by the federal government, the TSP offers tax-deferred retirement savings with multiple investment options. Participants currently can select between five funds: Government Securities Investment Fund (G), Fixed Income Index Investment Fund (F), Common Stock Index Investment Fund (C), Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment Fund (S) and International Stock Index Investment Fund (I). Target date funds and L Funds also allow investors to professionally adjust their allocation of individual funds depending on expected life expectancies.
Once you retire or leave the workforce, your TSP assets can be converted to a self-directed IRA for greater flexibility and investment options, such as precious metals.
Transfer your TSP funds into a self-directed IRA using a trust company that supports trustee-to-trustee transfers. Be wary of selecting an account custodian that charges excessive or hidden fees – an honest custodian should provide full transparency about any fees they charge for managing accounts.
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