06/03/2026
You left federal service. Your TSP stayed behind.
Here's what to do — and what to definitely not do.
Hampton Roads has thousands of professionals who made this transition. Most of them had no idea what to do with their TSP when they left.
4 decisions every departing federal employee needs to make:
1. Leave it in the TSP
The G Fund is the only investment in the world with a government-backed principal guarantee and a real return. If your new employer plan has weak fund options, staying put may be the right move.
2. Roll it to an IRA
More investment options. Better coordination with your estate plan. Tax-free if done as a direct transfer — not a distribution. (Never take the distribution.)
3. Roll it to a Solo 401(k) or new employer plan
Consolidates your accounts and simplifies RMD planning down the road. Check whether your new plan accepts incoming rollovers.
4. Convert to Roth
If you're in a lower-income year post-transition, a Roth conversion can be powerful. You pay tax now. Future growth is tax-free. Timing this correctly matters.
The wrong move can create a five-figure tax bill in the year you were already managing a transition.
The right move is different for every person.
If you've made this transition, what do you wish you'd known about your TSP first?
Send this to someone who just left federal service.