How much should I have in my TSP at 40? – Government Deal Funding (2024)

FAQs

How much should I have in my TSP at age 40? ›

To receive the maximum Agency or Service Matching Contributions, you must contribute 5% of your basic pay each pay period.

Average TSP account balances for Uniformed Service Members crested over $40,000 by the end of 2021, while balances for new 'Blended Retirement System' (BRS) participants reached close to $10,000 in just four years since the BRS became operational.

There are 3.6 million Federal Employees Retirement System participants, with an average account balance at the end of 2020 of $164,000.

Generally speaking, however, many experts suggest that to be on track for retirement you should have around three times your annual income in savings in your 40s. So if you earn $50,000 a year, you should have around $150,000 saved for the future by the time you're 40.

Fidelity says by age 40, aim to have a multiple of three times your salary saved up. That means if you're earning $75,000, your retirement account balance should be around $225,000 when you turn 40. If your employer offers both a traditional and Roth 401(k), you might want to divide your savings between the two.

Employees should invest at least 5% in the TSP; that is the percentage needed to obtain the maximum available matching funds. Beyond that, Employees need to balance long-term investment needs against other needs.

Apart from employee contributions, TSP participants also receive agency/service matching contributions up to a specific limit to boost their retirement savings. You should contribute a minimum of 5% of your basic pay each pay period; this is the percentage needed to obtain the full agency matching contribution.

3 to 4 times your income by age 45.

The absolute dollar amount you need for retirement can vary a lot depending on where you live, health needs, and other variables.

How do I double my TSP? ›

The rule of 72 is a great way to estimate how long it will take for your TSP to double. This rule says that if you divide 72 by your average investment return then you'll get how many years it takes to double. For example, if on average you earn 10%/year then your money will take 7.2 years to double (72/10= 7.2).

Depending on when you begin retirement, you can simply leave the money in the TSP let it continue to grow. If you do not need to access it yet, it might be wise to let it be. Similar to other retirement accounts, you will need to begin minimum withdrawals at age 72. This is called a Required Minimum Distribution (RMD).

While they may not have as many funds to choose from, TSP participants do have one big advantage over most 401(k) investors: lower fees. The total expense ratio, which covers both investment and administrative fees, is 0.066% for individual TSP funds.

The first 3% is matched dollar-for-dollar by your agency or service; the next 2% is matched at 50 cents on the dollar. This means that when you contribute 5% of your basic pay, your agency or service contributes an amount equal to 4% of your basic pay to your TSP account.

By the time you reach age 40, prevailing wisdom says you should have a net worth equal to about twice your annual salary. Hopefully, you climbed the salary ladder a bit in your 30s, too. If you're making $80,000 annually, for example, your goal should be to have a net worth of $160,000 at age 40.

According to a study by Fidelity, people in their 40s should aim to have at least three times their annual salary saved by this point. So if yours is $50,000, then you should strive to have $150,000 saved. If possible, it's even better to aim for five times your annual salary saved by age 40.

The simple answer is yes. You can retire on 10 million dollars. However, there are a few things to consider before making this decision. First, you need to make sure that you have enough saved up to cover your expenses.

Age: 40 to 50 -- 80% in equities and 20% in fixed income. Of the equity portion, 40% invested in large cap. growth funds, 25% small cap. growth funds, 25% in large cap.

Can I retire at 50 with 500k? ›

Yes, you can! The average monthly Social Security Income in 2021 is $1,543 per person. In the tables below, we'll use an annuity with a lifetime income rider coupled with SSI to give you a better idea of the income you could receive from $500,000 in savings.

TSP contributions and investing should be top of mind when you begin your federal career. An employee who earns 50,000 per year and contributes 2,500 dollars with a 2,500-dollar match from the government can reach the TSP millionaire dollar mark in 25-30 years by investing aggressively.

It depends, but most people should contribute to their TSP at least up to the matching funds limit (3% of your salary). Beyond this, the TSP is better if your taxes are high today and you expect them to be much lower in retirement. It is better to use your deduction against the higher tax rate.

In addition to making regular TSP contributions, you may also make TSP Catch-up contributions, if you are age 50 or older (or will be turning age 50 in 2023). The 2023 IRS annual limit for Catch-up contributions is $7,500. This amount is in addition to the regular TSP limit of $22,500.

The C Fund is up 7.49% so far in 2023. The Fund with the best return so far this year is the I Fund which is up 8.63%. Some investors will note that the I Fund is near the bottom in popularity among TSP investors.

Your catch-up contributions will be in addition to the 2023 TSP regular contribution limit, which means employees can contribute up to $30,000 in 2023. To maximize the catch-up contribution amount of $7,500 for 2023, employees will need to contribute an additional $288 per pay period ($7,500/26 = $288.46).

Consider investing in the G Fund if you would like to have all or a portion of your TSP account completely protected from loss.

You can probably retire in financial comfort at age 45 if you have $3 million in savings. Although it's much younger than most people retire, that much money can likely generate adequate income for as long as you live.

Fidelity says that by age 40, you should aim to have three times your salary socked away for retirement, and by age 50, you should aim to have six times your salary. So if we meet those figures down the middle, it means that by age 45, you should ideally have 4.5 times your salary set aside for retirement.

What is the average 401k balance for a 45 year old? ›

Your TSP account is a portable retirement benefit. This means that when you withdraw your account, you can have the TSP transfer part or all of your single pay- ment or certain monthly payments to a traditional IRA or an eligible employer plan (for example, the 401(k) plan of a new employer).

Unlike investment accounts, TSP withdrawals don't get the advantage of being taxed at the lower long-term capital gains rates. TSP withdrawals are always taxed at your ordinary income tax rate. However, whenever you take money out of the Roth TSP then that money comes out completely tax free.

The way RMDs are calculated, they are more often than not smaller than the amount that is withdrawn annually by someone taking installment payments. RMDs are calculated by dividing the TSP balance on December 31 of the preceding year by a factor derived from the age the participant turns in the year of the RMD.

Lump-sum withdrawal

When you are ready to withdraw your money from your TSP account, you can do it all at once (commonly referred to as a lump-sum payment) or over a period of time. Or you can purchase an annuity that will make payments to you for life.

The fifth core fund, the G Fund, invests in very low-risk, low-yield government bonds and guarantees principal protection to investors.

Overall, TSP millionaires now make up just shy of 1% of all TSP accounts.

Matching TSP Contributions Chart

The total maximum agency contribution is 5%. Participants can contribute as high of a percentage of their salary as they wish, as long as they don't exceed total contribution limits, including the catch-up limits allowed for those age 50 and above.

If you've completed two years of service before you opt in, you're immediately vested in your entire account. Portability. Once fully vested, your TSP account is portable.

The average 30-year-old with retirement savings has $45,000 saved. Of those saving for retirement in their 30's, 30% contribute at least 10% of their pay towards retirement. How much does the average 40-year-old have saved? The average 40-year-old with a retirement account set up has $63,000 saved for retirement.

How much does the average 40 year old have saved for retirement? ›

The above chart shows that U.S. residents 35 and under have an average of $30,170 in retirement savings; those 35 to 44 have an average $131,950; those 45 to 54 have an average $254,720; those 55 to 64 have an average $408,420; those 65 to 74 have an average $426,070; and those over 70 have an average $357,920.

Your catch-up contributions will be in addition to the 2023 TSP regular contribution limit, which means employees can contribute up to $30,000 in 2023. To maximize the catch-up contribution amount of $7,500 for 2023, employees will need to contribute an additional $288 per pay period ($7,500/26 = $288.46).

TSP Performance Up in March and Year-to-Date in 2023

The C Fund is up 7.49% so far in 2023. The Fund with the best return so far this year is the I Fund which is up 8.63%. Some investors will note that the I Fund is near the bottom in popularity among TSP investors. 3.6% of participant allocation goes into the I Fund.

America's ranks of so-called 401(k) millionaires are diminishing following last year's stock market rout. The number of 401(k) accounts with at least $1 million in retirement savings fell 32% last year, to 299,000, from 442,000 in 2021, according to new data from Fidelity Investments.

That's how financial advisors typically view wealth. The average American, on the other hand, sees $774,000 as a sufficient net worth to be financially comfortable and a net worth of $2.2 million to be wealthy, according to Schwab.

With some planning, you can retire at 60 with $500k. Remember, however, that your lifestyle will significantly affect how long your savings will last. If you're content to live modestly and don't plan on significant life changes (like travel or starting a business), you can make your $500k last much longer.

1,821,745 Households in the United States Have Investment Portfolios Worth $3,000,000 or More.

By the time you reach age 40, prevailing wisdom says you should have a net worth equal to about twice your annual salary. Hopefully, you climbed the salary ladder a bit in your 30s, too. If you're making $80,000 annually, for example, your goal should be to have a net worth of $160,000 at age 40.