Savings priorities
- Review contribution levels and the agency match available to you.
- Increase savings thoughtfully when income permits.
- Check TSP beneficiary designations after major life changes.
TSP & retirement-income planning
We Fight for and Defend Your Future
Give your retirement dreams a written income plan.
Choose your age range to see the TSP decisions worth reviewing now. The goal is not to push a rollover or annuity; it is to understand how saving, investing, liquidity and future income choices may support the retirement you choose.
Choose your retirement stageLearn about your options, review companies and consumer brochures, then complete the needs analysis when you are ready.
Give retirement savings a purpose before choosing a product.
Your TSP can remain invested in the plan, provide withdrawals, purchase a TSP life annuity or complete an eligible rollover. The right combination depends on income needs, access to cash, taxes, beneficiaries and how much flexibility you want to keep.
Keep control in view: buying the MetLife annuity through the TSP is irreversible. If you choose the TSP life-annuity option, the TSP purchases your annuity from MetLife, its selected annuity provider. You permanently give up control of the money used to buy it in exchange for guaranteed monthly lifetime payments. You give up access to that money for emergencies and the ability to decide how it is invested. Once purchased, you cannot cancel the annuity, switch its features, or replace the joint annuitant—even if your needs change. Payments to survivors depend on the options you select.
Sources: TSP withdrawal-options guidance · 5 CFR 1650.14(k) · MetLife: TSP annuity provider
A FERP-recommended annuity purchased with eligible TSP rollover funds has its own contract terms; withdrawal rights, charges and any later annuitization must be reviewed.
Other recommended retirement-income paths may preserve more access. Some fixed indexed annuities offer contractual premium bonuses; for example, Heartland National Life’s Secure Retirement brochure lists 5%–25% across its eligible bonus options and issue ages. The 5% Boost bonus applies at issue ages 76–80; the 25% Max bonus applies through issue age 70. Florida availability and current terms must be confirmed for the selected contract. The bonus is intended to enhance contract value. A bonus is not cash in hand or a guaranteed annual gain. Review vesting, recapture, surrender charges, withdrawal limits, fees, market value adjustments and survivor value before transferring money.
Read the Heartland Secure Retirement sales brochure (PDF)
Review company information and consumer brochures first. Then choose the materials you would like to discuss in your needs analysis. Carrier materials describe the product; availability and contract terms must be confirmed for your situation.
Your retirement timeline
What deserves attention at your age?
Age is only a starting point. Your retirement system, years of service, savings, income needs, risk tolerance and planned retirement date also matter.
Ages 40–45 · Build the foundation
Time can still be one of your strongest planning tools.
Build consistent saving habits and make sure the way your TSP is invested still reflects your time horizon and goals.
Tax & investment questions
- Understand Traditional and Roth TSP tax treatment.
- Review whether your investment mix matches your time horizon.
- Know how target-date L Funds change their mix over time.
Reasonable next steps
- Keep the current strategy if it still fits.
- Make gradual contribution or allocation changes rather than reacting to headlines.
- Write down the retirement dreams the TSP is intended to support.
Ages 46–50 · Measure the gap
Turn account balances into a clearer retirement picture.
Compare projected retirement income with expected expenses, then identify the gaps that deserve attention.
Savings priorities
- Estimate the income your current savings may support.
- Review whether higher contributions are practical.
- Coordinate TSP projections with pension and Social Security estimates.
Projection questions
- Compare current balances with your desired retirement date.
- Test how different savings rates and market assumptions affect the projection.
- Identify the gap between expected income and expected spending.
Reasonable next steps
- Leave the TSP unchanged if the strategy remains suitable.
- Adjust contributions or investment risk to address a documented gap.
- Use a written projection before considering any retirement-income product.
Ages 51–55 · Prepare for major decisions
Retirement timing begins to affect every other choice.
Map likely income needs, access to savings and survivor protection before selecting a distribution strategy.
Distribution priorities
- Review the effect of different retirement dates.
- Separate near-term liquidity from long-term income needs.
- Learn the difference between keeping money in TSP, withdrawals and eligible rollovers.
Liquidity & tax questions
- Estimate how much money must remain accessible.
- Discuss taxable distributions and rollover rules with qualified professionals.
- Review beneficiaries and potential survivor access.
Reasonable next steps
- Keep all assets in TSP when its features fit the plan.
- Plan future installments or partial withdrawals.
- Consider moving only the portion intended for a clearly defined income goal.
Ages 56–60 · Coordinate the pieces
Build the retirement paycheck before leaving service.
Put pension, Social Security and TSP on one page, then test how much income is predictable, how much may vary and how much must remain accessible.
Income priorities
- Compare installments, partial withdrawals, a TSP life annuity and rollover paths.
- Identify money that must remain accessible.
- Decide which expenses need predictable income.
Comparison questions
- Compare fees, guarantees, withdrawal limits and survivor value in writing.
- Review surrender periods and market value adjustments for outside annuities.
- Separate bonus or income-base figures from actual cash value.
Reasonable next steps
- Keep some or all savings in TSP.
- Use flexible TSP withdrawals for part of the income plan.
- Evaluate an outside annuity only for a defined need and suitable amount.
Ages 61–65 · Make coordinated decisions
Turn retirement savings into a durable income strategy.
Distribution and rollover decisions deserve a written comparison of income, control, liquidity, costs and survivor outcomes.
Decision priorities
- Choose how much income should be predictable and how much should remain flexible.
- Compare TSP and outside options without moving everything by default.
- Plan for taxes and future required distributions with qualified professionals.
Survivor & liquidity priorities
- Confirm beneficiary designations before distributions begin.
- Compare access to principal under each income option.
- Understand what a spouse or other beneficiary may receive.
Reasonable next steps
- Combine TSP installments with pension or Social Security income.
- Compare the TSP life annuity with outside annuity contracts.
- Use a partial strategy when keeping some assets in TSP preserves valuable flexibility.
TSP rollover & annuity options
Start with your needs—not a product name.
Read the Florida consumer brochure below as part of your comparison. Additional carrier materials, current rates, appointment status and product availability are confirmed before an individual recommendation or application.
Florida consumer brochure · revised June 2026
National Security — Secure Choice Advantage
A multi-year guaranteed fixed annuity (MYGA) for money intended for a fixed period. The supplied Florida brochure describes guarantee periods of 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7 years, issue ages 0–85 and a premium range of $25,000–$1,000,000. No current interest rate is quoted here.
- Fixed-period growth: A guaranteed interest rate for the selected period, with no upfront charges. Beneficiaries receive the full contract value at death, according to the brochure.
- Limited charge-free access: After the first contract anniversary, annual withdrawals up to 10% of contract value or the applicable required minimum distribution, whichever is greater, are available without surrender charges under the contract's rules. Prior withdrawals in the same contract year count toward that allowance.
- Costs of early access: Withdrawals beyond the allowance may incur surrender charges and a market value adjustment. The brochure's surrender schedules begin at 9% in the first year; the applicable schedule depends on the selected guarantee period.
Compare before moving TSP money: This deferred annuity is different from purchasing the TSP's life annuity. A rollover is not required or automatically suitable. Review access to savings, charges, taxes and alternatives, including keeping money in TSP. An annuity inside an IRA does not provide additional tax deferral beyond the IRA itself.
Source: supplied Florida consumer brochure, N1-100 (06/26), Form N1-100FL. The issued contract and riders control. Guarantees depend on the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability. Not a bank deposit; not FDIC/NCUA insured or insured by any federal government agency; may lose value. A brochure listing does not confirm a current rate, active appointment or individual suitability.
Consumer brochure
Revol One Financial — BonusRev
A fixed indexed annuity with fixed and index-linked interest-crediting choices and premium-bonus options. Review bonus vesting, withdrawals and charges alongside your financial goals.
Issued by Revol One Insurance Company. Product terms and Florida availability apply. Guarantees depend on the issuing insurer's claims-paying ability.
F&G
Consumer brochures for indexed annuity income and accumulation options.
View company & consumer materialsAmerican Life & Security
Consumer information for American Classic, American Fusion, American Select and MaxGrowth.
View company & consumer materialsAmerican Century Life
Company brochure and deferred or immediate annuity product summaries.
View company & consumer materialsAfter reviewing the options
Request a complimentary TSP retirement-income review.
Bring your TSP statement, retirement estimate and any rollover or annuity proposal you are considering. The discussion is educational and does not require a purchase or transfer.
1Learn
Read current, carrier-approved consumer information.
2Analyze
Send your needs analysis and appointment preferences to Harvey.
3Meet & compare
Discuss your needs and review an illustration and full contract terms.
4Apply with Harvey
If you choose to proceed, Harvey uses the carrier's secure agent process with you.
TSP distributions remain participant-controlled. To request a withdrawal or distribution, the participant signs in to the official TSP My Account process. This website does not access a TSP account, move funds or complete a transaction for the participant. Official TSP forms and resources ↗