Fed Employees- Asset allocation given pension

[Anonymous]

I am wondering how federal employees here approach changes to their asset allocation as they near retirement.

I am currently 15 years from retirement with the Fed. FWIW, I already made it through the agency RIF and there will not be another one.

My projected pension will be 38.5% of my high 3. That represents 32% of our projected yearly expenditures in retirement, pre-tax and pre-SS. SS (with a 30% haircut) + pension will cover 70% of our pre-tax expenses.

Right now I am 75% C, 10% S and 15% I in my TSP. We are similarly invested through H’s 401K and our Roth IRAs. Our brokerage is a more conservative 70/30 split.

Given the pension will cover a significant chunk of our income, I know many Feds to remain more aggressive as they approach retirement. But how aggressive is that? And when do you start reallocating? What is your goal at retirement in terms of allocation?

[Anonymous]

We are 100% in stocks. Unlike you, our pension and SS cover 100% of our expenses.

[Anonymous]

Target 70/30 stocks to G fund as a retired fed. Manage the 70% outside of TSP keep the 30% in TSP G fund.

[Anonymous]

just go 100% stocks.

[Anonymous]

Since you plan to rely on TSP for part of your expenses you need to decide how risky you want to be with it.

Personally we are probably closer to 50/50 in spending between TSP and pension/SS so our allocation is closer to 60/40. If you didn’t need any TSP for spending then 100% would be reasonable (but so would a lesser amount if it made you sleep better/pay less attention to the stock market).

Could maybe try playing around with the TPAW planner online— it gives you ranges of spending and then tells you what asset allocation to use for them.

[Anonymous]

Do you want to hold on to your gains before the coming crash (tariff impacts, inflation, jobs)? Put it in G asap.

I am 70% in G and waiting for the crash, so I can buy C and I at a discount. I’m 48.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you want to hold on to your gains before the coming crash (tariff impacts, inflation, jobs)? Put it in G asap.

I am 70% in G and waiting for the crash, so I can buy C and I at a discount. I’m 48.

This is very hard to time. When the market was down in 2022 did you time this correctly and get back in at the right time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Do you want to hold on to your gains before the coming crash (tariff impacts, inflation, jobs)? Put it in G asap.

I am 70% in G and waiting for the crash, so I can buy C and I at a discount. I’m 48.

Why not put all in G? Not so certain about the crash huh?

[Anonymous]

In retirement, I plan to go 80C/20G or 85/15.

[Anonymous]

Retired and left everything as it was when I was employed. 80% C, 10% each S and I.

[Anonymous]

I hope the government will eliminate pension plans and replace them with 401ks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I hope the government will eliminate pension plans and replace them with 401ks.

why?

also, this convo is literally about the governments equivalent of a 401k.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I hope the government will eliminate pension plans and replace them with 401ks.

why?

also, this convo is literally about the governments equivalent of a 401k.

TSP is a 401(k) but better with such low fees. It’s one of the best perks we have.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Retired and left everything as it was when I was employed. 80% C, 10% each S and I.

How much are you pulling each month?

[Anonymous]

$4000