Amount in TSP? Age? Years in Government? GS Level?

[Anonymous]

It's interesting how 3 consecutive posters above are mid-30's (35-37) but have varying amounts in their TSP/401(k):

$110,000
$220,000
$330,000

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how 3 consecutive posters above are mid-30's (35-37) but have varying amounts in their TSP/401(k):

$110,000
$220,000
$330,000

This is why it matters when you start contributing; whether you max out or not; your match, if any; and how aggressive or conservative your fund choices are. Here you can see a 220k differential.

[Anonymous]

PP, also $45K salary vs. $120K salary make big difference.

[Anonymous]

A bit over 2-yrs service, 39, ~$80k.

[Anonymous]

$1.2m, 31yrs, GS15

[Anonymous]

$182k, 44, 6, 14

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:$182k, 44, 6, 14

Forgot to note $277k if include IRAs

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$350k
36
10
14

Which funds?

I'm not in one of those lifecycle funds. (I'm not sure they existed 10 years ago when I started, though not sure.) I have percentages directed to the various choices. Very little to I, I think I have it set at 8%, 5% to G, 55% to C and the remainder to S.

I started maxing out my contribution when I hit my 13 (7 years ago) and always contributed more than enough to get the match prior to that. I had a manager when I first started who told me that every time I got a step or promotion or COLA I should increase my TSP contribution until I reach the max since I wouldn't ever notice the "missing" money. So I did, and pretty quickly that got me up from contributing 7% to what is now roughly $700 a paycheck. My husband did the same.

[Anonymous]

$450k, 38. 17, GS-15

[Anonymous]

42, GS-15, 16 years in, 600 K.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:$350k
36
10
14

Which funds?

I'm not in one of those lifecycle funds. (I'm not sure they existed 10 years ago when I started, though not sure.) I have percentages directed to the various choices. Very little to I, I think I have it set at 8%, 5% to G, 55% to C and the remainder to S.

I started maxing out my contribution when I hit my 13 (7 years ago) and always contributed more than enough to get the match prior to that. I had a manager when I first started who told me that every time I got a step or promotion or COLA I should increase my TSP contribution until I reach the max since I wouldn't ever notice the "missing" money. So I did, and pretty quickly that got me up from contributing 7% to what is now roughly $700 a paycheck. My husband did the same.

Great advice from your manager when you first started. Someone also have that advice to me. I plan to do the same for new-hires.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:42, GS-15, 16 years in, 600 K.

Great. What are you invested in? My DH is very similar to you in all respects above. He's 100 percent in the C fund. How about you?

[Anonymous]

$265k, age 38, GS 15, 12 years of federal service

I've been maxing out the $18.5k contribution for several years now, plus the 5% match I'm surprised I'm not comparatively better. I started as a GS-11 and only did 5% at the beginning of my career, so that must be why I'm not farther ahead.

[Anonymous]

Wow - I feel really lame. I am 43 with 5 years in and have $300k in TSP (I rolled in an IRA). I started as a 14 and now a 15. I definitely regret the years before I maxed out my contributions but I was so poor and had so many student loans that it was hard to prioritize the power of compounding at that time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how 3 consecutive posters above are mid-30's (35-37) but have varying amounts in their TSP/401(k):

$110,000
$220,000
$330,000

This is why it matters when you start contributing; whether you max out or not; your match, if any; and how aggressive or conservative your fund choices are. Here you can see a 220k differential.

I am the $110K poster. I agree with you but my response did not include my 401k from my first 7 years out of college. The $350k number is very impressive, but my number would be a lot closer to $220k if I included my previous 401k, which I have not yet rolled over.