Financial Planning
TSP Calculator
FY2026Project your TSP balance with live fund allocation, BRS matching, and compounding growth beyond separation.
Your projected balance at
Age 74
$4,773,175
46 years of compounding
At separation (age 42)
$267,114
Monthly income (4% rule)
$15,911/mo
Blended return
9.43%
Your annual contribution
$4,932.00/yr
Balance growth over time
Service Information
Timeline
Separation is when you stop contributing. You can leave the balance untouched until withdrawal — every extra year of compounding matters.
Leave the TSP in place after separation. It grows tax-deferred (Traditional) or tax-free (Roth) until you withdraw.
Contribution Settings
Max BRS match (5%) reached. Every extra % is yours alone.
Roth = pay tax now, grow & withdraw tax-free. Traditional = tax-deferred.
Monthly contribution
$411.00
Annual
$4,932.00
Monthly gov't match
$205.50
Annual gov't match
$2,466.00
Fund Allocation
Adjust each fund's % — we auto-normalize to 100. Blended return updates live based on fund performance since inception.
Override to model pessimistic (4%) or optimistic (12%) scenarios. Click a Lifecycle preset to reset.
What's in the balance
1.7% of total
0.8% of total
97.5% of total
Power of compounding
Leaving your balance alone for 32 years after separation nearly 17.9x's it.
Retirement income potential
The "4% rule" suggests withdrawing 4% of your balance per year for ~30 years without running out. Pre-tax balances are taxable on withdrawal (Traditional); Roth is tax-free.
Understanding the TSP Funds
Each fund tracks a different market index. Higher expected returns come with higher short-term volatility.
G Fund
Gov't Securities
U.S. Treasury specially issued securities. Principal is guaranteed — the only TSP fund that cannot lose money.
F Fund
Fixed Income
Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Diversified U.S. bond market — Treasuries, corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities.
C Fund
Common Stock
S&P 500 Index — the 500 largest U.S. companies. Highest long-term returns among core funds.
S Fund
Small Cap Stock
Dow Jones U.S. Completion TSM Index — small and mid-cap U.S. stocks not in the S&P 500.
I Fund
International Stock
MSCI ACWI ex-USA ex-China ex-Hong Kong — developed and emerging markets outside the U.S.
Source: tsp.gov. Returns are annualized since-inception through 2025. Expense ratios are 2025 figures. Past performance does not guarantee future returns — these numbers are a planning baseline, not a forecast.
About this entitlement
What you need to know — straight from the regulation
What the TSP is
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is the defined-contribution retirement plan for Federal employees and members of the uniformed services. It is authorized under 5 U.S.C. Chapter 84 (FERS/TSP), administered by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, and treated as a qualified retirement plan under the Internal Revenue Code.
Members may contribute pre-tax (Traditional) or after-tax (Roth) dollars through payroll deduction up to the annual IRS elective-deferral limit. Catch-up contributions are available beginning in the year the participant turns 50.
5 U.S.C. Chapter 84 · IRC § 401(k) · tsp.gov
BRS matching for uniformed members
Members covered by the Blended Retirement System (BRS) receive DoD-paid contributions to their TSP in addition to their own deferrals. Per the DoD BRS program, the government contributes 1% of basic pay automatically and matches an additional portion of the member's contributions, for a combined maximum agency contribution.
Detailed BRS match rates and vesting rules are published on the DoD BRS program site (linked below) and in DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Chapter 53. Members covered by the Legacy (High-3) retirement system do not receive the BRS match.
DoD Blended Retirement System program · DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Chapter 53
Fund choices
TSP offers five core investment funds (G Government Securities, F Fixed Income, C Common Stock Index, S Small-Cap Stock Index, I International Stock Index) plus Lifecycle (L) Funds that automatically rebalance to a target retirement year. Fund descriptions, historical returns, and expense ratios are published by the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board on tsp.gov.
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board · tsp.gov "Funds" page
Tax treatment at contribution and withdrawal
Traditional TSP contributions reduce current taxable wages; the balance grows tax-deferred and is fully taxable as ordinary income when withdrawn. Roth TSP contributions are made with after-tax dollars; qualified withdrawals (generally age 59½ and at least 5 years since the first Roth contribution) are tax-free. Early withdrawals may be subject to the 10% additional tax under IRC § 72(t), with limited exceptions for public-safety officers and members separated in or after the year they turn 55.
IRC §§ 72, 401(k), 402(g) · TSP Tax Information booklet
Source & references
- Primary source
- Thrift Savings Plan (tsp.gov) — fund returns and expense ratios; IRS elective-deferral limits; Blended Retirement System program materials — view official publication
- Regulatory reference
- DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Chapter 53 · IRC §§ 72, 401(k), 402(g) · 5 U.S.C. Chapter 84
- Effective date
- January 1, 2026
- DoD Blended Retirement System overview
- https://militarypay.defense.gov/BlendedRetirement/
Military Toolkit is not affiliated with the Department of Defense, DFAS, DTMO, the Department of Veterans Affairs, or any government agency. Rates and rules on this page are pulled directly from the publications cited above. Always verify with your finance office, TMO, or the official rate page before making financial or planning decisions.
TSP is the long game. Link your paychecks in BudgetPilot to watch contribution rate, matching, and net worth move together in one place.
FAQ
TSP — frequently asked questions
- What is the 2026 TSP contribution limit?
- The IRS elective deferral limit for TSP in 2026 is $23,000 for members under age 50, plus a $7,500 catch-up contribution for members age 50+. Combined limits across Roth and Traditional TSP. The annual addition limit (member + matching) is $69,000 in 2026.
- Does the government match TSP contributions for military members?
- Yes — only for members under the Blended Retirement System (BRS, members entering service on or after January 1, 2018, plus eligible opt-ins). Match: 1% automatic agency contribution after 60 days of service, plus matching up to an additional 4% (1% dollar-for-dollar on the first 3% you contribute, then 0.5% per 1% on the next 2%). Members under the legacy retirement system receive no match.
- Roth TSP vs Traditional TSP — which is better for military?
- Roth contributions are taxed now and grow tax-free; Traditional reduces current taxable income and is taxed at withdrawal. For most lower-rank service members in lower current tax brackets — especially those serving in a Combat Zone Tax Exclusion area where current pay is already untaxed — Roth typically wins because contributions go in tax-free AND grow tax-free.
- When can I withdraw from TSP without penalty?
- Generally at age 59½, or via SEPP (substantially equal periodic payments). Members who separate or retire in or after the year they turn 50 (or 25+ years of service) can take qualifying withdrawals without the 10% IRS early-withdrawal penalty under the Rule of 55 / Public Safety Officer rules.
- What are the five core TSP funds plus L Funds?
- G (Government Securities, no risk), F (Fixed Income Index, US bonds), C (Common Stock, S&P 500), S (Small Cap Stock, US small/mid caps), I (International Stock, MSCI EAFE). The L (Lifecycle) funds are auto-balancing target-date portfolios that shift from C/S/I toward G/F as you approach retirement.
Keep going
Plan the rest of your finances
REF: IRS 2026 elective deferral limit: $24,500 · Age 50+ catch-up: $8,000, effective January 1, 2026
DoD FMR Vol. 7A, Ch. 53 (TSP); IRC § 401(k); 5 U.S.C. Ch. 84 (FERS/TSP); tsp.gov
Results are estimates. Always verify with your finance office.
View Official Rate Table