TSPTom wrote
As for the 55 thing, I concur. As long as you take an annuity with "substantially equal payments"you can take money out of TSP penalty free before 59 1/2.
I think you guys are talking about two different things. Dodger, I believe the rule you are refering to states that you can take your balance without penalty if you RETIRE at or after the year you turn 55. If you retire before the year you turn 55 you can do a couple of things (Tom may be refering to both of them at once). You can buy an annuity from TSP but with this option you forfeit your account balance for a lifetime of payments. Virtually every financial advisor would advise against this. OR, as has been mentioned by a few others, you can take sunstantially equal payments according to the IRS life expectancy tables. (Tom, this may have been what you were refering to). The downside here is that you would be limited to about 3% of your account balance annually initially (actually, this might be a plus since you would have some penalty free income and your account would still be growing). Keep in mind also that if you terminate this method for any reason you can not return to it ever.
That was mouthful. Hope this helps.
Dave
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