tspbk33

Table of Contents
The Thrift Savings Plan........................................................................1
TSP Advantages...............................................................................1
Your Personal TSP Information.................................................................1
Beneficiary Participant Account Number................................................................. 1
Web Password. ...................................................................................... 1
ThriftLine PIN...................................................................................... 2
Customized User ID.................................................................................. 2
Combining Your TSP Accounts..................................................................2
Tax Advantages of Your Beneficiary Participant Account ...........................................3
Investing in the TSP ...........................................................................3
The Lifecycle (L) Funds............................................................................... 3
The Individual Funds ................................................................................ 4
Fund Risks......................................................................................... 5
Choosing Your Own Investment Mix.................................................................... 5
Interfund Transfers ...........................................................................5
Administrative Expenses.......................................................................6
Comparison of the TSP Funds.............................................................................. 7
TSP Withdrawals..............................................................................8
Types of Withdrawals................................................................................. 8
Requesting Your Withdrawal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Receiving Your Withdrawal............................................................................ 8
Taxes on Your TSP Withdrawal......................................................................... 9
Annuities ....................................................................................9
Amount of Your Annuity.............................................................................. 9
Annuity Options ................................................................................... 10
Single Life and Joint Life Annuities..................................................................... 10
Level and Increasing Payment Annuities ................................................................ 11
Additional Annuity Features that Allow for Beneficiaries................................................... 11
Choosing Among the Annuity Options................................................................. 11
Requesting an Annuity.............................................................................. 11
How Your Annuity is Purchased....................................................................... 12
How Your Annuity is Taxed........................................................................... 12
A Comparison of TSP Monthly Payments and Life Annuities.............................................13
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)...................................................... 14
Death Benefits............................................................................... 14
Designating a Beneficiary ............................................................................ 14
Reviewing Your Beneficiaries . ........................................................................ 15
Payment of Death Benefits From Your Account. .......................................................... 15
TSP Information.............................................................................15
TSP Website (tsp.gov)................................................................................ 15
ThriftLine......................................................................................... 15
Account Security................................................................................... 15
Your Account Balance............................................................................... 15
Your Participant Statements.......................................................................... 15
Updating Your Information .......................................................................... 16
Court Orders and Legal Processes...................................................................... 16
TSP Administration................................................................................. 16
Glossary of Terms............................................................................17