JHZR2
Staff member
Hi,
Since there are a lot of folks on here knowledgable about investing, etc., I have a question.
I am a federal employee, DoD Civilian. I am elligible for the TSP (thrift savings program),and have maxed out my contributions since I started working there. My contribution is 14% of my pre-tax salary. My 'agency matching' starts on Friday, and will amount to 5%, so Ill be putting away 19% of my salary towards retirement.
I can afford to keep paying the 14% to the TSP, as I still live thrify, though I do indulge (bought a new saab), and am house shopping.
My question is, what is the best way to do my retirement investment? The TSP provides a government securities fund, bond fund, S&P index, small cap index and international index. The funds are a very good deal, as the yearly maintenance fees, etc are below .1%
That said, would I be better off puting less into that for now, and pay off a house much faster? To that Id think no, because of tax advantages of having a mortgage. But what about instead putting money directly into stocks in an IRA (which I already have), or other funds to diversify further?
Id appreciate any advice you can give.
Thanks,
JMH
Since there are a lot of folks on here knowledgable about investing, etc., I have a question.
I am a federal employee, DoD Civilian. I am elligible for the TSP (thrift savings program),and have maxed out my contributions since I started working there. My contribution is 14% of my pre-tax salary. My 'agency matching' starts on Friday, and will amount to 5%, so Ill be putting away 19% of my salary towards retirement.
I can afford to keep paying the 14% to the TSP, as I still live thrify, though I do indulge (bought a new saab), and am house shopping.
My question is, what is the best way to do my retirement investment? The TSP provides a government securities fund, bond fund, S&P index, small cap index and international index. The funds are a very good deal, as the yearly maintenance fees, etc are below .1%
That said, would I be better off puting less into that for now, and pay off a house much faster? To that Id think no, because of tax advantages of having a mortgage. But what about instead putting money directly into stocks in an IRA (which I already have), or other funds to diversify further?
Id appreciate any advice you can give.
Thanks,
JMH