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What Should I Invest My Roth IRA In? A 2026 Allocation Guide
A Roth IRA is an account, not an investment, so what you invest your Roth IRA in are the funds you choose: low-cost index funds […]
Average 401(k) Rate of Return by Age: What Is Realistic?
The average 401(k) return used for planning is about 5% to 8% per year net of fees, and where you land depends on your stock […]
TSP Withdrawal Rules: Your Options After Federal Retirement
TSP withdrawal options after you separate include leaving the balance invested, taking installment payments, taking a partial or single lump sum, buying a MetLife life […]
Should I Max Out My 401(k)? The Order-of-Operations Guide
Whether to max out a 401(k) is a sequencing question, and the full 2026 employee deferral limit of $24,500 is often the fourth or fifth […]
How to Roll Over a TSP to an IRA (and When to Convert to Roth)
A TSP rollover to an IRA moves your Thrift Savings Plan balance to an IRA after federal separation, and a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer avoids the […]
FERS Retirement Explained: Pension, TSP, and Social Security for Federal Employees
FERS retirement pays from three sources: a defined benefit pension, the Thrift Savings Plan with an agency match up to 5%, and Social Security funded […]
Roth 401(k) Income Limits: Why There Are None
Roth 401(k) income limits do not exist: at any salary you can defer the full $24,500 in 2026, plus catch-up amounts if eligible, as long […]
Can You Cash Out Your 401(k) While Still Employed?
You generally cannot cash out a 401(k) while still employed by the plan sponsor; your only routes are a hardship withdrawal, an in-service distribution at […]
Backdoor Roth IRA Limits 2026: How Much You Can Actually Put In
The backdoor Roth IRA limit for 2026 is $7,500, or $8,600 if you are age 50 or older, because the conversion step that follows carries […]
Are QCDs Still Allowed in 2026? (Clearing Up the Confusion)
Qualified charitable distributions are still allowed in 2026, never repealed, and the 2026 per-person limit rose to $111,000, letting an IRA owner age 70½ give […]