Your TSP built the savings. Now decide how it pays you.
Get a free side-by-side report comparing your real options: leaving money in the TSP, the TSP's own annuity, and rolling into a fixed indexed annuity. Built from your balance and age. No cost, no obligation.
- Principal protected from market downturns in a fixed indexed annuity, backed by the issuing insurer
- Income you can't outlive, with options to keep a cash balance for your heirs
- A straight answer on trade-offs: fees, surrender periods, and when staying in the TSP is the better call
Your four real options, side by side
The TSP is one of the lowest-cost plans in the country, and for some people it's the right place to stay. It wasn't built to turn savings into a guaranteed paycheck with a balance left for your family. Here's how the choices compare.
| Leave it in the TSP | TSP installments | TSP life annuity | Roll to a fixed indexed annuity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Protected from market losses | Only in the G Fund | Depends on funds chosen | Yes, once purchased | Yes, 0% floor on index years |
| Income you can't outlive | No | No, can run out | Yes | Yes, with an income rider |
| Access to your money | Full | Full | None after purchase | Penalty-free withdrawal allowance each year; surrender charges above it |
| Balance left to heirs | Yes | Yes | Only with cash-refund or certain-period option | Yes, remaining account value |
| Costs | Very low | Very low | Built into payout rate | No annual fee on base contract; rider fees apply |
| Growth potential | Market-based, up and down | Market-based, up and down | None, payments are set | Index-linked gains, never goes down with the market |
Your report fills in this table with actual quotes for your age and balance. Want to do your homework first? Read our TSP Rollover Guide and get the free checklist.
How it works
Tell us your balance and age
One short form. No Social Security number, no account logins.
We compare carriers for you
We quote across 40+ insurers and lay the results next to what your TSP does today.
Walk through it in 15 minutes
A licensed specialist explains the report. You decide, with no pressure and no obligation.
Talk to a licensed specialist, not a call center
Helping retirees since 1985. Pick a time that suits you and we'll go through your TSP options on a 15-minute Zoom call. No obligation.
Questions federal employees ask us
Will I owe taxes if I move my TSP?
Not on a direct (trustee-to-trustee) rollover. Traditional TSP money moves to a traditional IRA annuity, and Roth TSP money to a Roth IRA, without triggering tax. We coordinate the paperwork with the TSP so the check never passes through your hands.
Can I roll over while I'm still working?
Yes, once you reach age 59½ the TSP allows age-based in-service withdrawals. Before that, you generally need to separate from federal service first.
I left service at 55. Should I be careful about rolling over?
Yes. If you separated in or after the year you turned 55 (50 for public safety), you can take TSP withdrawals without the 10% early penalty. Money moved to an IRA loses that exception until 59½. If you need income before then, your report shows how to keep part of your balance in the TSP.
Can I lose money in a fixed indexed annuity?
Your credited value does not go down when the index falls: the worst index year credits 0%. Your value can be reduced by surrender charges if you withdraw more than the free amount early, and by the annual fee on an optional income rider.
Is a premium bonus free money?
Not entirely. Bonus products often have longer surrender periods or lower caps, and some bonuses vest over time or apply only to the income value. Your report shows bonus and no-bonus versions side by side so you can compare them honestly.
Why not just keep everything in the TSP?
For some people that's the right answer, and we'll say so. The TSP is low-cost and simple. What it doesn't offer is market-loss protection combined with guaranteed lifetime income while you keep access to a cash balance.
See your numbers before you decide anything
Your TSP may be the largest asset you own. A free comparison costs you nothing and puts every option on one page.
Annuities are insurance products, not bank deposits. They are not FDIC insured and are not guaranteed by any bank or government agency. Guarantees, including protection of principal and lifetime income, are backed solely by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.
Fixed indexed annuities are not investments in the stock market or any index. Index-linked interest is subject to caps, participation rates or spreads, and can be zero in some years. Early withdrawals above the free-withdrawal amount may be subject to surrender charges and a market value adjustment. Withdrawals are taxable as ordinary income and, if taken before age 59½, may be subject to a 10% federal tax penalty. Premium bonuses may be subject to vesting or recapture, and bonus products may have longer surrender periods or lower caps than products without a bonus. Optional income riders carry an annual fee.
FixedIRAs.com is not affiliated with the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board or any government agency. Information is educational and not tax or legal advice; consult a tax professional about your situation.
Annuity products are offered through licensed insurance agents. Licensed in California (License #0G44532), Tennessee and Idaho. NPN 12720343. Phone: (832) 685-8570.