10/06/2026
First Duty Station Edition: the TSP
New base, new job, and a new LES full of lines you've never seen before. Somewhere in there is the Thrift Savings Plan, and it's easy to skim right past it.
The TSP is the retirement savings plan for service members. If you're under the Blended Retirement System, you're automatically enrolled, and the government matches part of what you put in. That match is part of your pay, and a lot of people leave some of it on the table without realizing it.
Then there's where your money goes once it's in. The TSP has its own alphabet soup: the G, F, C, S, and I Funds, plus the Lifecycle (L) Funds, which blend them based on when you plan to retire. Most new members are placed in an L Fund by default, but that doesn't mean it's the right fit for your goal.
If you think that maybe you, reach out to our office and set up an appointment.
First Command Financial Services, Inc. and its related entities are not affiliated with, authorized to sell or represent on behalf of or otherwise endorsed by any federal employee benefits programs referenced, by the U.S. government, or the U.S. Armed Forces. TSP funds have very low administrative and investment expenses and, low expenses can have a positive effect on the rate of return of your investment.
