Did you not read the post? I’m trying to get approved for a loan

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Oh damn I hadn’t realized the fees were that awful. Wow. NeverMind on that at all then

TSP is superior. When I left my government job I kept everything in TSP and over the last 6 years my return has tripled where as my IRA has remained more stable. There's a lot more choices for TSP. YMMV of course

So I won’t have to wait until my tax return, I just need to wait until I file?

We subleased and this was the solution for us when we bought our house.

> The new brokerage link option narrows the issue with broader investment choices.

Not really, the fees are absolutely absurd ($145 in annual fees plus $28.75 per trade - which means monthly if you invest new funds into it once per month - and that's on top of any fund specific fees) and you can only invest 25% of your total TSP balance this way.

If anyone is legitimately looking for broader investment choices, they would be better off rolling from TSP into a bad 401k plan than they would be staying in TSP.

Yes, you’ll have to wait until you file. You can file as soon as you get all your information though. Employers are required to provide W2s by January 31.

And will I have to wait until tax returns to prove my income to banks? I am trying to get a car in the next couple months.

Yup, although not additional taxes. Just whatever taxes that you always owed in the first place.

> in case I need to backdoor Roth in the future.

Yeah, I think my bias is showing since that is such a more important consideration in this forum than perhaps in the world at large.

The new brokerage link option narrows the issue with broader investment choices.. NeverMind. Super bad.

I agree about the other flexibilities with IRAs

Thanks. So when I am filing I will most likely need to pay additional taxes correct?

Yes, if you report your tips on your 2022 tax return, banks will accept your tax return as proof of income. Reporting them will also count towards your social security.

TLDR, don’t cheat on your taxes. They’re probably not a ton at your income anyway, but even if they were, don’t cheat regardless. It tends to catch up with you in unexpected ways at inconvenient times.

> and its almost always a super bad idea

Depends on how they leave it. While it is tough to beat TSP in a company 401k, it's easy to beat in an IRA, and IRAs have so much more flexibility and accessibility.

It's only a bad idea when they want to move into a worse plan, which definitely doesn't describe an IRA at the big brokerage providers.

The only reason I left my traditional balance in TSP is cause my income is close enough to the Roth IRA income limit that I didn't want those dollars going into a traditional IRA in case I need to backdoor Roth in the future. My Roth balance went into my IRA and has lower fees, similar overall returns with better market exposure, doesn't require leaving my employer to withdraw, and is cheaper to withdraw early (contributions can be withdrawn in full tax/penalty free vs pro-rata like TSP and 401k's are).

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Can you delay taking the new apartment for a month?

I'm confused about the "thank you for renewing" email, and the "you are not renewed" statement. Those seem to be contradictory. Make damn sure you have given notice and that you are leaving. Make sure you are not on the hook for another full year.

As for the previous place, you don't have to "sublet" for a month, but just find someone who wants to move in when you are gone, and make an arrangement that they pay you the rent for January. It's a bonus for them, they get the place a month early. There's a fair chance you can get that arranged.

If you told them you were leaving at the end of the lease that's one thing, but I've never heard of an apartment that doesn't require any advance notice whatsoever before you move out. Try to negotiate with them, but yes you are going to end up paying at least one month's rent to them.

Pull out your current lease. You are bound by whatever it says, but it would be highly unusual NOT to have to give notice for move out, even when the lease ends and month to month. Subletting may or may not be allowed either, and even if it is, finding someone interested in subletting for just 40 days probably won’t be easy. Lots of risk there too if they trash the place.

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You’re going to pay one way or another, so you’re just going to have to bite the bullet and pay according to the terms of your lease to avoid a blemish on your rental history. Consider it an expensive life lesson.

It partly depends on the fees in her current 401k. It also depends on what funds are available in her current 401k. The TSP is awesome, but one of the downsides that I’ve found is that there is no total market index fund (VTSAX) or total world market index fund (VTWAX). If your gf has either of those funds in her 401k at very low cost, I’d say keep the 401k. It’s a pain to try to approximate either of those two funds in the TSP since it only has SP500 (C fund), DJ Completion Index (S fund), and International Developed Market (I fund). Making sure that these 3 funds approximate a total market fund is not as simple or hands off as it should be, especially once you start adding bonds into the picture.

That being said, if your gf plans on using target date funds, then I’d rollover into the TSP hands down.

Completely agree. Just wanted to offer an option should something arise, since many people tend to want to leave the TSP and its almost always a super bad idea.

Thanks for the feedback, my assumption was moving into the TSP was the best move. And I don't think she'll be leaving federal service until retirement; she will have much more room for growth at her new job and it's hard to argue with a pension + TSP.

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Generally yes, the TSP is hard to beat and is generally only equaled by the very best plans at the very best employers.

And if she ever leaves federal service, she should keep the TSP since it accepts rollovers from everything, making consolidating very easy