TSP to Gold IRA: Savings Plan with Precious Metals

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), formerly known as the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), offers you the opportunity to convert your savings plan account balance into gold, silver, platinum, palladium, rhodium, iridium, osmium, or ruthenium. This option allows you to diversify your retirement portfolio while protecting yourself against inflation and currency devaluation.

If you're interested in converting your TSP into precious metals, here's what you'll need to know about how it works.

The Thrift Savings Plan: What Is It?

The Thrift Savings Program was established in 1974 to provide a tax-deferred investment vehicle for federal civilian employees. Today, there are over 8 million participants enrolled in TSP accounts, making it the largest defined contribution program administered by the government.

How Does the Thrift Savings Plan Work?

You can open a TSP account online, by mail, or at a financial institution. Once you've opened an account, you can contribute up to $18,500 per year ($24,500 if you're 50 or older). If you make contributions to your TSP account, you'll receive matching contributions from the government. For example, if you contribute $1,000 annually, the government will match it dollar for dollar. After five years of contributing, you'll reach the maximum annual contribution limit.

Once you've reached the maximum amount allowed, you can continue to save money in your TSP account without penalty. However, once you withdraw funds from your TSP account, taxes must be paid on those earnings.

What is a “gold IRA?”

Self directed IRAs are one way to invest outside of what the IRS considers acceptable investments. Some people prefer to invest in precious metals like gold because it’s considered a safe haven during times of financial turmoil. However, there are some downsides to investing in gold, including high fees and liquidity issues.

A “gold IRA” is a type of retirement plan where investors purchase physical gold bullion, such as bars or coins, rather than stocks or bond. Gold IRA plans are typically much more expensive than traditional IRAs, since the investor must pay for the actual metal itself.

There are several types of self directed IRA plans, each with their own advantages and disadvantages. One example is a “gold” IRA, which invests in physical gold bullion. This type of plan is very costly and illiquid. Another option is a “private equity” IRA, which involves buying shares of companies. Private equity IRAs are less risky than gold IRAs, but require a lot of research and due diligence.

The best way to find out about the options available is to talk to a qualified advisor. They can help you determine whether a self directed IRA makes sense for you.

Do You Pay a Price for the TSP?

The Tax Savings Partnership (TSP) is one of the most popular ways to invest in precious metals because it offers tax advantages. But many people don’t realize that the TSP isn’t necessarily the best investment choice. In fact, some experts claim that it could cost you money.

According to Investopedia, the TSP allows participants to contribute up to $17,500 per year ($5,000 each paycheck). Participants pay taxes on the amount contributed plus earnings. However, contributions aren’t taxed again during retirement. If you withdraw funds prior to age 59 ½, you’ll owe income taxes on the entire amount withdrawn.

But what about the fees? Many people assume that the TSP doesn’t charge fees. However, the fees vary depending on how long you participate, whether you choose to reinvest dividends or take withdrawals, and even where you live. For example, the average fee for a participant living in New York City is 0.75% annually, while the average fee for someone living in San Francisco is 2.00%.

Many people believe that the TSP is a good idea because it gives them access to gold and silver without having to worry about market fluctuations. However, the TSP isn‍​'​t always a great option. Not only does it require a large initial investment, but it can actually cost you money over time.

TSPs: Overview

A traditional pension plan is a defined benefit plan where employers match employee contributions up to a certain percentage. Employees receive monthly payments based on how much money they contribute and how long they work. In exchange for contributing to a pension plan, companies usually offer better pay and benefits.

In contrast, a defined contribution plan is one where employees make voluntary contributions into a fund. Companies do not provide matching funds like they do in a defined benefit plan. Instead, they set aside money in a separate account called a trust fund. This money is invested in stocks and bonds. When it comes time to retire, employees withdraw their savings from the plan.

There are several types of defined contribution plans. One common type is a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Employers often use TSPs because they are easy to administer and don't require large investments. Another popular choice is a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP). SEPs are similar to TSPs, but they are easier to establish.

If you're thinking about switching jobs, transferring your TSP to another employer's plan is tax-free if you meet certain requirements. You'll want to check out our guide to TSP transfer rules.

What Plans Allow Gold Bullion?

Investors looking to add precious metals to their portfolios can do so by opening up an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). But what plans allow investors to purchase physical gold bullion? And how much does it cost to open one?

The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), administered by the federal government, offers three ways to invest in gold. You can choose to invest in physical bullions like bars, coins, rounds, or ingots; you can invest in futures contracts based on the price of gold; or you can invest in exchange traded funds (ETFs) designed to track the performance of the yellow metal. Each option has pros and cons, including costs associated with purchasing physical gold, and each type of investment requires different levels of expertise and knowledge.

For example, ETFs offer diversification benefits, while physical gold investments require more hands-on involvement. If you're interested in owning physical gold, you'll likely need to roll over your existing IRA into a plan that offers gold investment options. In addition, some plans charge fees for adding gold to your portfolio.

To learn more about what plans allow gold bullion, read our guide to the best IRA providers.

How to Rollover Your TSP

If you are thinking about rolling over your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) into an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), here are some things to consider. If you decide to roll it over, you won’t have to pay taxes on any gains or losses on your investments. Also, you won’ t have to pay taxes on the metal you buy for your IRA. And finally, you can diversify your portfolio without having to worry about losing money during market downturns.

There are two ways to transfer your TSP to a gold IRA:

Roll Over Or Direct?"

To move your Traditional Savings Plan (TSP) to a gold IRA, there are two options: roll over or direct. Both methods require some planning ahead, but one method is easier than the other. If you choose the rollover route, it will take about six weeks to complete. On the other hand, transferring directly to a gold IRA takes just three days.

The rollover process involves moving funds from your current TSP account to another account, such as a bank savings account or brokerage account. You then use those funds to open a new IRA at a different institution. This is called a "rollover."

If you choose the direct method, you'll simply send your cash directly to the custodian of your choice. In most cases, this will involve sending the money to a broker or bank. Once the transaction is completed, you'll receive a confirmation letter from the custodian detailing how much money you sent and where it went.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Gold Offer Better Returns Than the TSP?

The average return of the ten year Treasury portfolio since 1926 is 8.8%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Over the same time frame, the 10-year annualized return of the SPDR Gold Shares ETF (NYSEARCA: GLD) is 11.1%. This represents a difference of 2.3 percentage points.

As you might imagine, there are many factors involved in determining whether investing in stocks or gold makes sense for each investor. I think it’s fair to say that most people don’t want to put up with the hassle of owning physical gold. They want to invest in something that provides liquidity and diversification.

But what about those who do like the idea of putting money into tangible assets? Are there better alternatives than buying shares of the SPDR Gold Trust? Let’s take a look at how the TSP stacks up against gold.

What Types of Gold IRAs exist?

There are three main types of gold IRA investments. Traditional gold IRAs fund accounts on a tax-deferral basis. They are funded with pre-tax dollars and tax is deferred until the investor withdraws funds. This type of account is suitable for investors who want to save for retirement, but do not plan to take out large amounts of cash early in life.

Roth gold IRAs are funded with after-inflationary earnings. Investors pay income taxes now, but there is no tax penalty when withdrawing funds later. This type of investment is ideal for those looking to build wealth over time.

SEP gold IRAs are designed for self-employed individuals or small business owners. A SEP gold IRA is similar to a Roth gold IRA except it allows investors to contribute up to $55,000 annually ($65,500 if married filing jointly).

What can I hold in a self-directed IRA?

A self-directed IRA offers you complete control over how your money grows and what it ultimately gets invested in. You decide where to invest your money, whether it’s stocks, bonds, mutual fund shares, commodities, collectibles, real estate, or something else entirely. If you want to diversify your portfolio, consider adding a range of different types of investments into one account.

You can set up a self-directed IRA in just minutes online with no paperwork required. And unlike a regular IRA, there are no income restrictions on contributions. This makes a self-directed IRA perfect for people who don’t qualify for employer retirement plans, like freelancers, contractors, and independent consultants.