Advice on Basic TSP vs. Roth TSP

[evilanne]

I assume you're in the tax game for the long haul (30+ years to retirement o.O), but if you change your mind and decide to retire early, you can quit the tax game too....
http://gocurrycracker.com/never-pay-taxes-again/
http://www.madfientist.com/traditional-ira-vs-roth-ira/

Second link is interesting. If you do plan on retiring early and interested in doing conversions as described in article, it is important to start an outside Roth sooner rather than later due to the "5 year rule", especially if you plan to retire prior to 55 (more restrictive withdrawal rules) or 59.5 (when you can withdraw from IRAs without any penalty) and you may need additional funds from your TSP. Since government employees have TSP defined pension benefit it is unlikely that you will be able to do conversions without paying any taxes.

I know you have the option to transfer the Roth portion of your TSP withdrawals/payments to an outside Roth account but I'm not sure if 5 year rule has any tax impact if someone starts taking withdrawals from TSP but has contributed to Roth TSP for less than 5 years (Roth option started in 2012) Does anyone have any experience with this?

[hmarkway]

I assume you're in the tax game for the long haul (30+ years to retirement o.O), but if you change your mind and decide to retire early, you can quit the tax game too....
http://gocurrycracker.com/never-pay-taxes-again/
http://www.madfientist.com/traditional-ira-vs-roth-ira/

Second link is interesting. If you do plan on retiring early and interested in doing conversions as described in article, it is important to start an outside Roth sooner rather than later due to the "5 year rule", especially if you plan to retire prior to 55 (more restrictive withdrawal rules) or 59.5 (when you can withdraw from IRAs without any penalty) and you may need additional funds from your TSP. Since government employees have TSP defined pension benefit it is unlikely that you will be able to do conversions without paying any taxes.

I know you have the option to transfer the Roth portion of your TSP withdrawals/payments to an outside Roth account but I'm not sure if 5 year rule has any tax impact if someone starts taking withdrawals from TSP but has contributed to Roth TSP for less than 5 years (Roth option started in 2012) Does anyone have any experience with this?

I believe that wisepierre was in the FIRE (financial independence, retire early) camp, so he's possibly figured it out. I've just started to work towards financial independence and I haven't quite worked out the retire early aspect and my TSP's role in that aspect. I'll ask around and see if I can get a former fed who has tried a ROTH ladder.

[hmarkway]

If you do plan on retiring early and interested in doing conversions as described in article, it is important to start an outside Roth sooner rather than later due to the "5 year rule", especially if you plan to retire prior to 55 (more restrictive withdrawal rules) or 59.5 (when you can withdraw from IRAs without any penalty) and you may need additional funds from your TSP. Since government employees have TSP defined pension benefit it is unlikely that you will be able to do conversions without paying any taxes.

I know you have the option to transfer the Roth portion of your TSP withdrawals/payments to an outside Roth account but I'm not sure if 5 year rule has any tax impact if someone starts taking withdrawals from TSP but has contributed to Roth TSP for less than 5 years (Roth option started in 2012) Does anyone have any experience with this?

Here's a link about doing the Roth conversion ladder out of a TSP (actually rolling it over to an IRA and then completing the ladder): http://the-military-guide.com/early-wit ... -military/

[hmarkway]

Another good read: The Great Roth Controversy

[rayodom]

That is an interesting read. Thanks.