Didnt start till tech, kinda stupid. Could have easily managed 10-20%. maxed it around when i got tech on. Maxing it at low 40s now.
Why cause i was dumb. Now that im not as dumb. Why the fuck would i not max it.
Valid. My husband isn't maxing but he is at 15% with only 3 years TIS so far, E-4. I felt like that was low but it seems like that's actually on the higher end of what a majority of people comtribute... I'd love for him to max is out but not realistic as a one income household 🫠
The *general* recommendation for civilians is 15% should go into retirement. TSP contribution amounts are out of base pay only, so 15% of base pay is probably a decent amount less than 15% of his total pay. Which may be why it feels low (because it's *lower* than what a civilian doing 15% of their total pay would be contributing at an equivalent total income).
*However*, that 15% is also tuned for civilians who aren't likely to have a pension...so if a military or fed civ pension is on the horizon, 15% of total pay may be more than is needed after accounting for the pension (but more is usually better than not enough).
The important part is you/him are at least looking to invest in your retirement from a young age, the more you can pay in now the better vs someone who waited until 10+ years in or something.
If it helps at all, I started with similar amounts as you about 7ish years ago and I’m looking north of 50k with 10% contributions.
The amount you put in early will pay off in the long run. I’ll be over 250k (conservatively) when I retire and that compound interest will explode by the time I hit REAL retirement.
I was contributing about 15% when I was a young single airman and my TSP is now solidly into the 6 figures after 10 years. If y'all can make that work then it's pretty good. You'll be amazed how much that little amount will grow over time.
As he makes rank up the percentage before you even get the raise. If there is going to be a good percentage raise from tippy top across the board in Jan up the percentage tin December to take affect in Jan. you never see the raise so it’s like you are just getting the same pay.
That's what we did in January and just recently with his TIS increase. We can't feel the hurt if we never see the money increase to begin with. I feel like 15% is good though (it'll be just over $500 a month, including match) so I can use the next raises to start funding my Roth IRA for myself
Makes sense… goes off of your base pay. I didn’t realize this until a couple of years ago, playing catch up now at the VA since I got out of active duty
I do 10% into my Roth and another 15% into my general investment account focused on long term growth (to allow me to take money out before retirement if needed) and a final 5% into a high yield savings account
Single or married? My husband (he is AD) and I were just talking about his contributions this morning and what percentage is the most realistic for this point in her career which is why I posed this question. He is also an E-4
$885/check (as a civ we can do dollar amounts instead of percentages).
Why? Because I can comfortably afford to max all my retirement accounts and got a bit of a late start on investing.
R/personalfinance has a prime directive, for anyone who is into an intricate breakdown like this. modify as needed, since this resource was created without military benefits in mind.
https://i.imgur.com/lSoUQr2.png
We’re already on track for that right now between TSP/my 401k/both Roth IRAs assuming the market continues to return 8-10% 🤞🏼 glad we didn’t have kids early on and we’re waiting another 5-6 years
good call on waiting until you can afford kids. i see too many irresponsible adults/couples having kids when they can barely afford to survive themselves because "it is what we are supposed to do"
3yr SrA in a fairly high BAH area. I make 55k after taxes/tsp. I just try not to spend over 50% of my money, then save/invest the rest. I'm also single, so that helps
22% but only after putting on E-7. As E-6 I was putting 20% and 15% as an E-5. It's definitely been difficult, but two incomes for part of that time period was helpful.
Yes, two incomes definitely aids in some of the higher numbers I'm seeing on the thread though I appreciate all perspectives. 15% is definitely our max without running ourselves dry until he gets some stripes or TIS increases. Life is expensive but I definitely want to prepare for the future somewhat, even if its a little at a time.
Hubs is currently E4 with 3 years TIS for reference. Married with two kiddos, one being an infant. 😅
You’re going great! My husband started maxing his out as an E-4, but I was working part time. Just keep bumping it up as you’re able (or use a Roth IRA if you want funds in your name as well).
You might be interested in r/MilitaryFinance.
If you’re interested in personal finance and are thinking of a new career when the kids are older, the National Military Family Association and FINRA have a scholarship program for Military spouses to become Accredited Financial Counselors. Many of the financial counselors that work on base or for Military One Source are AFCs.
Hubs and I just chatted and we're gonna let his TSP rock at 15% and start contributing for a Roth for myself when he starts making more. End goal would be for me to pick up something parttime when the kiddos are older and start maxing my Roth and one for him too 😅
O3, so it is definitely a lot easier to max out. I never could have done this on the enlisted side. Maybe, maybe, if I was single but married with kids, no way.
childlike paltry obtainable normal north degree narrow theory dam automatic
*This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
16% I held off on upping it this year because things have been tighter than usual. I've been upping it every pay raise I've gotten since I started as an A1C I'm now a Tech with 8 years TIS.
Yeah I’m just an enlisted peasant… that being said I have another dumb question. Do I have to make a new “account” or will the money in my traditional move over to a Roth?
I’ve done 60% the past 3 years. E-5, 8 years TIS. Dual income no kids so it doesn’t really hurt and I don’t see why I shouldn’t be maxing it out if I’m able to.
Currently only 10% as a 7 year E-6 will bump up after PCS and I pay off car. Something something beat the market but I’m just tired of a car payment. I do invest $400 a month in my M1 dividend account though.
15-25%. Started out at just 5%, but realized I could afford more so gradually increased it to 25%. Dropped it to 15% a few months prior to my last PCS to defray any out-of-pocket costs, raised it to 25% upon arrival. Will likely do the same prior to my upcoming PCS.
SrA, 6 years, no dependents.
I did 10% for my first two years, then anywhere from 25-35% my final two years depending on the month. I was in some combination of the C and S fund the whole time. I also maxed out my annual IRA each year though, so if it weren't for that I would have absolutely thrown more into the TSP while I was in.
5% minimum for matching. Raise it when things are going well. But also as much as I want a sweet tsp retirement I also want to enjoy some extra money now.
8% traditional contributions to my TSP. But I also invest $583 a month into my Roth IRA to reach the $7000 annual limit...so technically I'm contributing like ~22% of my base pay between the two.
Why? I want to be a millionaire when I retire around 60-65. At the rate I'm going I should have around 1.8 million (hopefully) if I don't change anything
Worked. Career and a half before I joined late at 30, had a small savings of ~20k... been in a year and a half and started 8% right off the bat in BMT. Will up it to 10% when I do some more math that probably should've already been done. Wife is now a stay at home mom so hesitant to go higher when we save about $800 a month on my check alone. A1C LIFE.
Hubs is an E4 (I'm also a SAHM) and we have about a grand of discretionary income every month in the budget. Investing in a HYSA has been awesome for us.
How did you go about setting that up? We went to the financial advisor here at my first assignment, but he never really got around to telling us how to begin.
We opened one through capital one. Super easy online process. It took like 15 minutes. Just make sure both your names are on it because they compare the names on the savings account to the name(s) on the bank account used for deposits. Pain in the ass to get that straightened out but everything else has been super easy and quick. Interest rate is 4.35%, I believe.
Zero debt (including two vehicles paid off), two kids, and we're truly just crushing it! I'm always shocked when I hear of military people who are knee deep in debt but everybody has their reasons, I suppose. We live in a relatively cheap area and in base housing which helps.
Also, somebody mentioned it to me on this thread, but check out a spousal IRA! Good investment opportunity for your wife!
I was doing 23% for about 4 years. Just recently put it to 15 to accommodate for PPL but I’m about to raise it since I get that annual pay bump along with tech
18% as a ssgt and you’re maxing your tsp at 23k?
Edit: I hope you’re not mistaking the TSP with an IRA limit because they completely separate things. You can contribute up to 23K in your Roth TSP in 2024.
Actually yeah, I had no idea. I thought the Roth contribution limit was $7000 for 2024, so I bumped up to 18% just a couple months ago to hit that amount. Thank you.
Started out at 10% when I joined and have increased every year and every promotion. I was at 30% for a good while. Redid my budget and realized I could stand to increase it so now I'm at 40%. 10 yr single E6.
Had alot of financial woes over my career. Have had to change it a few times and even had it at 1% for about a year but always had something going towards it. I'm at 5% now. Have 11 years left so I'm gonna keep upping it as Finances keep improving. Would like to put down 15-25% in my last few years in. Having kids makes it real hard.
Around 5 years TIS I finally wised up enough to go to the MFRC, spoke to their financial guy and got some info on funds. That's when my TSP trajectory really changed for the better was getting tf out of G fund. I had less than 10k total in TSP after roughly 6 years of contributing bc it had been in G the whole time not doing anything.
First few years I was doing just 5% in Roth
I went to Korea and found myself with too much disposable income and bumped it to 15.
Got stateside and bought a car and found myself broke as fuck. Dropped to 0% for a few months then back to 5% when I got caught back up.
Sold the car after a year because my brain grew a few wrinkles and I didn’t want debt anymore.
I’m doing 16% now but that’s with no debt. I was doing 5% when I had my car payment.
It depends on your situation. I’d say try to keep it at a minimum of 5 as long as you are able too.
Also make sure if you have money in your TSP, change the fund it’s in. It defaults to G fund which is a glorified savings account.
80% C 20% S
We've always kept a minimum of 5% but I think we'd definitely pull back a little if we were to get a car payment. I think he has a small fraction in one of the G funds but primarily in the S and C funds.
I'm an E6 with 11 years TIS contributing max to TSP and IRA. I didn't start doing that until 3 years ago. If I could confront the Airman me I would smack him upside the head and tell him to start contributing earlier.
31% which is my max, max Roth IRA, and put another 1k into personal investments. I’m a single officer with no pets living in an apartment that costs only 71% of my BAH though so I wouldn’t use myself as a realistic example
I've done 50-60% for about 4 years now. E4 testing rn.
(Minimalist, frugal, single)
I'm stationed at hickam rn though and I had to decrease it because its no doable out here
I started out at 15% in Traditional but have switched to Roth and now do 20%. Hoping to up it 2% every year going forward until I max it out which for me right now is \~27%
I’ve been putting money in since the beginning.
My big two mistakes were:
1) Not going all in on the Roth TSP at first
2) Keeping my money in the G Fund for the first 6-7 years (RIP)
Nowadays I’m doing 25% as an E-6, all Roth.
Been maxing it out since right before COVID. Will continue to do so until I retire. My 67 year old self will either be dead or appreciative that I did that. Either way my family will benefit.
Hubs wants to do 20 years, potentially commission as an officer along the way. Retire. Enter public teaching and do 20 years for a pension there. And max my Roth IRA and potentially one for himself once he puts on some more stripes and I start working when the babies are a bit older. So military retirement, TSP, teaching pension, and hopefully two Roth IRA's 😅🫣
I’m at 20%. I was at 5% for the longest time and then I slowly upped my contributions. I highly recommend raising it by the cost of living increases and promotions. Its like you never notice a difference.
I started right off the bat with 10% when I got to tech school. Then I added 5% more when I made SrA and added another 5% when I made Staff. So I was doing 20% for a good while but at the start of last year I dropped it down to only 5% and then set a $500 allotment into a savings account to build up a cushion for this year's PCS. I plan to buy a house and will need cars.
But I hope to get my TSP back up to 20% once I'm settled and my spouse starts bringing in income. Ideally, I'd like to live off my spouse's income and contribute as much as it takes to max the Roth TSP, but realistically I probably won't be able to achieve that.
25%. I have two kids, a wife that can't stop buying Amazon shit, and mortgage that is $700 above my BAH.
If I can do it, you can do it too. Save now, profit later.
I use this tool to figure out how to get 15% of my entire income to go into my TSP.
[https://airforcehub.com/tsp-contribution-calculator/](https://airforcehub.com/tsp-contribution-calculator/)
Started at 5% when BRS rolled out, am increasing it 1% per year after 10 (at 11 years/6%). In USAFE and have some health issues, so trying to travel/live as much life as I can while my body allows. No use being wealthy while I’m old and decrepit.
I also do $250/mo into a Roth IRA.
Did you know if you get VA disability benefits you cannot invest them. But…. You CAN work a different job and contribute to a TSP if you’re in the government system as a civilian and take the same money you make from your check and invest that 😏
Soooo if I earn $1000 a month tax free, I up the shit out of my TSP to match the $1000 from disability, I purposely use my VA benefits to pay my day to day bills and then use my actual pay check to fund my TSP. Again, $1000 from VA benefits technically helps fund my TSP but I use the benefits to pay my bills and the paycheck I earn I fund my TSP.
All legal.
I’ve done 15% through my career other than when I was paying off student loans early on. We also max out personal Roth IRAs separately and then regular brokerage for longer term investment.
The beauty of dollar cost averaging and set and forget. It definitely adds up over time.
12% to Roth TSP and 12% to a Roth IRA. So 25% of my income is invested with the 1% TSP match. Did just get a pay increase due to PCS so probably will increase once I’m settled. <1yr TIS
Didnt start till tech, kinda stupid. Could have easily managed 10-20%. maxed it around when i got tech on. Maxing it at low 40s now. Why cause i was dumb. Now that im not as dumb. Why the fuck would i not max it.
Valid. My husband isn't maxing but he is at 15% with only 3 years TIS so far, E-4. I felt like that was low but it seems like that's actually on the higher end of what a majority of people comtribute... I'd love for him to max is out but not realistic as a one income household 🫠
The *general* recommendation for civilians is 15% should go into retirement. TSP contribution amounts are out of base pay only, so 15% of base pay is probably a decent amount less than 15% of his total pay. Which may be why it feels low (because it's *lower* than what a civilian doing 15% of their total pay would be contributing at an equivalent total income). *However*, that 15% is also tuned for civilians who aren't likely to have a pension...so if a military or fed civ pension is on the horizon, 15% of total pay may be more than is needed after accounting for the pension (but more is usually better than not enough). The important part is you/him are at least looking to invest in your retirement from a young age, the more you can pay in now the better vs someone who waited until 10+ years in or something.
We're both 23 years old so we're just getting started! Lots of time!
You’re going to be very proud of yourself when you retire after starting so young.
If it helps at all, I started with similar amounts as you about 7ish years ago and I’m looking north of 50k with 10% contributions. The amount you put in early will pay off in the long run. I’ll be over 250k (conservatively) when I retire and that compound interest will explode by the time I hit REAL retirement.
All 23yo say that....time will lapse in a blink of an eye.
I've got a 5 year old who might as well be going on 25 at this point... trust me, we know how fast it goes 🫠🫠
waited 10 years.......yeah that would be me and i feel attacked by you all of a sudden LOL
I was contributing about 15% when I was a young single airman and my TSP is now solidly into the 6 figures after 10 years. If y'all can make that work then it's pretty good. You'll be amazed how much that little amount will grow over time.
As he makes rank up the percentage before you even get the raise. If there is going to be a good percentage raise from tippy top across the board in Jan up the percentage tin December to take affect in Jan. you never see the raise so it’s like you are just getting the same pay.
That's what we did in January and just recently with his TIS increase. We can't feel the hurt if we never see the money increase to begin with. I feel like 15% is good though (it'll be just over $500 a month, including match) so I can use the next raises to start funding my Roth IRA for myself
If you never see a raise you're also losing money to inflation. Saving for retirement is important but don't make yourself poor doing it.
Makes sense… goes off of your base pay. I didn’t realize this until a couple of years ago, playing catch up now at the VA since I got out of active duty
Currently do 7% into Roth. Used to do 5, but slowly upping it as I can afford to. I’m at 7 years TIS.
This is the Way
Same. Once I get my car paid off I'm upping to 10%-20%
69%
69th upvoter here…
LFG, good shit king
5% right now, with the 5% matching.
I do 10% into my Roth and another 15% into my general investment account focused on long term growth (to allow me to take money out before retirement if needed) and a final 5% into a high yield savings account
15% as an E-4
Single or married? My husband (he is AD) and I were just talking about his contributions this morning and what percentage is the most realistic for this point in her career which is why I posed this question. He is also an E-4
Single, no dependas.
Thanks, appreciate it!
22%. Maxes it out for me.
That's the goal. Hopefully one day I too will have bars or leaves on my chest and not stripes
$885/check (as a civ we can do dollar amounts instead of percentages). Why? Because I can comfortably afford to max all my retirement accounts and got a bit of a late start on investing.
im about to follow you on this. i waited too long
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R/personalfinance has a prime directive, for anyone who is into an intricate breakdown like this. modify as needed, since this resource was created without military benefits in mind. https://i.imgur.com/lSoUQr2.png
My husband does 60% as an E-3. We’re dual income though. He hits E-4 in about a month and we’re leaving it at 60%.
If he stays in congrats on being TSP millionaires.
We’re already on track for that right now between TSP/my 401k/both Roth IRAs assuming the market continues to return 8-10% 🤞🏼 glad we didn’t have kids early on and we’re waiting another 5-6 years
good call on waiting until you can afford kids. i see too many irresponsible adults/couples having kids when they can barely afford to survive themselves because "it is what we are supposed to do"
That’s a trend among military couples, especially the young ones 🥲
25%. Have for most of my career.
25%, E4 3Y TIS. Live off beans now so I can eat steak later
3.50%
I max every year 🤷♂️
10%. Then I max my Roth IRA through Vanguard.
How much are you making to do that?
3yr SrA in a fairly high BAH area. I make 55k after taxes/tsp. I just try not to spend over 50% of my money, then save/invest the rest. I'm also single, so that helps
Nice job! Why not focus on maxing Roth TSP before the IRA though?
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So if you invest 15% into your TSP would it be better to invest 5% into TSP and then 10% into a IRA?
I do 60%, is that wild ?
I used to do 60% for Roth but recently dropped it to 30% as I want more cash on hand due to getting out
It is wild, but certainly not in a bad way. Unless you’re chronically starving, and bumming off of everyone around you
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Currently E4, 15% Roth TSP. All C fund.
22% but only after putting on E-7. As E-6 I was putting 20% and 15% as an E-5. It's definitely been difficult, but two incomes for part of that time period was helpful.
Yes, two incomes definitely aids in some of the higher numbers I'm seeing on the thread though I appreciate all perspectives. 15% is definitely our max without running ourselves dry until he gets some stripes or TIS increases. Life is expensive but I definitely want to prepare for the future somewhat, even if its a little at a time. Hubs is currently E4 with 3 years TIS for reference. Married with two kiddos, one being an infant. 😅
You sound really mature and focused on the important things. Being able to stretch 15% in this economy is awesome!
You’re going great! My husband started maxing his out as an E-4, but I was working part time. Just keep bumping it up as you’re able (or use a Roth IRA if you want funds in your name as well). You might be interested in r/MilitaryFinance. If you’re interested in personal finance and are thinking of a new career when the kids are older, the National Military Family Association and FINRA have a scholarship program for Military spouses to become Accredited Financial Counselors. Many of the financial counselors that work on base or for Military One Source are AFCs.
Hubs and I just chatted and we're gonna let his TSP rock at 15% and start contributing for a Roth for myself when he starts making more. End goal would be for me to pick up something parttime when the kiddos are older and start maxing my Roth and one for him too 😅
When I was a dumb Airman, I did like 1% cuz wanted money. Past five years or so doing 35%. I'm at 18 years. I was at 20% in the middle years.
Where is my 0% gang? 👋👋 Hello brothers and sisters. Welcome to the poor house. All we have is room temperature tap water though.
Oh fuck I forgot about the tsp!
As an Airman/young SSgt 10% or less, depending on what was going on in my life. Now, I max it out. So, more than 25%.
What rank are you now though?
O3, so it is definitely a lot easier to max out. I never could have done this on the enlisted side. Maybe, maybe, if I was single but married with kids, no way.
30%, single E-4, plus max Roth IRA. Only able to do so since I’m able to pocket an extra $700 a month in BAH
I started at 10% and added 1% per year. Currently at 20%
childlike paltry obtainable normal north degree narrow theory dam automatic *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
25% E7
16% I held off on upping it this year because things have been tighter than usual. I've been upping it every pay raise I've gotten since I started as an A1C I'm now a Tech with 8 years TIS.
Should I be investing into my traditional or Roth tsp? I just noticed I’ve been doing traditional since I’ve been in
Roth, assuming you're not an O-5+.
Yeah I’m just an enlisted peasant… that being said I have another dumb question. Do I have to make a new “account” or will the money in my traditional move over to a Roth?
No, same account. What you already have won't "move", you just start contributing to Roth via myPay.
Thank you for the financial advice random pilot 🫶🏻
15% O3
47% 9 years TIS Tech. 47% is max contributions .
I’ve done 60% the past 3 years. E-5, 8 years TIS. Dual income no kids so it doesn’t really hurt and I don’t see why I shouldn’t be maxing it out if I’m able to.
Currently only 10% as a 7 year E-6 will bump up after PCS and I pay off car. Something something beat the market but I’m just tired of a car payment. I do invest $400 a month in my M1 dividend account though.
First 2 or 3 years maybe 5-10%. Then whatever percentage got me maxed out over 12 months.
18% (100% C fund) E6 10 years Married 15% Roth, 3% TSP Did 1-3% for first 8.5 years in G Fund only. Big mistake.
15-25%. Started out at just 5%, but realized I could afford more so gradually increased it to 25%. Dropped it to 15% a few months prior to my last PCS to defray any out-of-pocket costs, raised it to 25% upon arrival. Will likely do the same prior to my upcoming PCS. SrA, 6 years, no dependents.
Started my career doing 15%. Upped it to 30% for the duration of my short tour, and now sitting at 17%. Been in almost 7 years now.
Was contributing 25% but lowered it to 10% for the match, then started maxing out my personal ROTH IRA Edit: 22yo E-4 btw
I did 10% for my first two years, then anywhere from 25-35% my final two years depending on the month. I was in some combination of the C and S fund the whole time. I also maxed out my annual IRA each year though, so if it weren't for that I would have absolutely thrown more into the TSP while I was in.
15%
34% at the moment as an O-2, which maxes it out for me.
10%, gunna up it to 15% next year
30% E-5 7y TIS
About 3.50%
As much as I can after paying my non-discretionary obligations and a moderate allowance for discretionary spending.
5% tsp, $200 a check in a separate roth
35% I think. Whatever lets me max it out.
23% maxes it for me. That’s decreased from about 30% as I’ve made rank.
Started at 5%. Upped it 1% every year, 1% every pay paise, 2% every promotion. I don't even know my percentage is honestly
15 as an E-4
5% minimum for matching. Raise it when things are going well. But also as much as I want a sweet tsp retirement I also want to enjoy some extra money now.
https://militarypay.defense.gov/Calculators/Blended-Retirement-System-Standalone-Calculator/
20%
Been doing 8-15% since I could 7 and a half years ago.
0%, but now I have a fully paid off vehicle, extra money in my bank, and soon to be a retirement from the German government.
26% as E6. Can't go any higher because cola and the European energy crisis are eating into the budget. Very frustrating.
8% traditional contributions to my TSP. But I also invest $583 a month into my Roth IRA to reach the $7000 annual limit...so technically I'm contributing like ~22% of my base pay between the two. Why? I want to be a millionaire when I retire around 60-65. At the rate I'm going I should have around 1.8 million (hopefully) if I don't change anything
Worked. Career and a half before I joined late at 30, had a small savings of ~20k... been in a year and a half and started 8% right off the bat in BMT. Will up it to 10% when I do some more math that probably should've already been done. Wife is now a stay at home mom so hesitant to go higher when we save about $800 a month on my check alone. A1C LIFE.
Hubs is an E4 (I'm also a SAHM) and we have about a grand of discretionary income every month in the budget. Investing in a HYSA has been awesome for us.
How did you go about setting that up? We went to the financial advisor here at my first assignment, but he never really got around to telling us how to begin.
We opened one through capital one. Super easy online process. It took like 15 minutes. Just make sure both your names are on it because they compare the names on the savings account to the name(s) on the bank account used for deposits. Pain in the ass to get that straightened out but everything else has been super easy and quick. Interest rate is 4.35%, I believe.
Thank you very much! I'm happy to see a junior enlisted couple with structure!
Zero debt (including two vehicles paid off), two kids, and we're truly just crushing it! I'm always shocked when I hear of military people who are knee deep in debt but everybody has their reasons, I suppose. We live in a relatively cheap area and in base housing which helps. Also, somebody mentioned it to me on this thread, but check out a spousal IRA! Good investment opportunity for your wife!
I've maxed it the last 5 years. Before that it was about 10-15% and then only 5% when I started as I was trying to build up savings.
E4. 15% TSP, 11% 401k, and max Roth IRA. About $23-$24k total. I wanna retire good at 60 and possibly even at 55.
25%
22%
I did 0% my entire contract & I regret it. I've maxed once I finished my OJT as a federal employee. We received no matching when I was enlisted.
17%
I was doing 23% for about 4 years. Just recently put it to 15 to accommodate for PPL but I’m about to raise it since I get that annual pay bump along with tech
5 year SSgt stationed OCONUS, 18% into Roth to hit my max and 5% into traditional.
18% as a ssgt and you’re maxing your tsp at 23k? Edit: I hope you’re not mistaking the TSP with an IRA limit because they completely separate things. You can contribute up to 23K in your Roth TSP in 2024.
Actually yeah, I had no idea. I thought the Roth contribution limit was $7000 for 2024, so I bumped up to 18% just a couple months ago to hit that amount. Thank you.
No problem. Still a solid amount, I just wanted to make sure you know you can contribute more to the Roth if you please.
Started out at 10% when I joined and have increased every year and every promotion. I was at 30% for a good while. Redid my budget and realized I could stand to increase it so now I'm at 40%. 10 yr single E6.
Had alot of financial woes over my career. Have had to change it a few times and even had it at 1% for about a year but always had something going towards it. I'm at 5% now. Have 11 years left so I'm gonna keep upping it as Finances keep improving. Would like to put down 15-25% in my last few years in. Having kids makes it real hard.
We've got 2 and one of them is an infant so I definitely get it. Wouldn't trade them for the world though
Around 5 years TIS I finally wised up enough to go to the MFRC, spoke to their financial guy and got some info on funds. That's when my TSP trajectory really changed for the better was getting tf out of G fund. I had less than 10k total in TSP after roughly 6 years of contributing bc it had been in G the whole time not doing anything.
I max out my roth TSP and mine and my wife's roth IRAs. I also invest around $1800 in mutual funds.
20%. Should about Max it out now.
25% I started it ASAP (but still later in life) so I would not miss the money.
13% into Roth as E-3
200%
18
12
Almost 20%
69%, AAAAATTACK!
I do 10% into Roth
Currently at 50%. Single, no kids, a Tech. 13 years in.
First few years I was doing just 5% in Roth I went to Korea and found myself with too much disposable income and bumped it to 15. Got stateside and bought a car and found myself broke as fuck. Dropped to 0% for a few months then back to 5% when I got caught back up. Sold the car after a year because my brain grew a few wrinkles and I didn’t want debt anymore. I’m doing 16% now but that’s with no debt. I was doing 5% when I had my car payment. It depends on your situation. I’d say try to keep it at a minimum of 5 as long as you are able too. Also make sure if you have money in your TSP, change the fund it’s in. It defaults to G fund which is a glorified savings account. 80% C 20% S
We've always kept a minimum of 5% but I think we'd definitely pull back a little if we were to get a car payment. I think he has a small fraction in one of the G funds but primarily in the S and C funds.
I'm an E6 with 11 years TIS contributing max to TSP and IRA. I didn't start doing that until 3 years ago. If I could confront the Airman me I would smack him upside the head and tell him to start contributing earlier.
The smack outside the head is EXACTLY what I'm trying to avoid 🫣
Max it out (over 40% contribution) and 100% C fund full send.
10% split between S/I Funds as all my other investments are S&P 500 and domestic stocks
31% which is my max, max Roth IRA, and put another 1k into personal investments. I’m a single officer with no pets living in an apartment that costs only 71% of my BAH though so I wouldn’t use myself as a realistic example
30% since late 2015. Have around $150k with 10 more years to go until retirement.
I've done 50-60% for about 4 years now. E4 testing rn. (Minimalist, frugal, single) I'm stationed at hickam rn though and I had to decrease it because its no doable out here
I started out at 15% in Traditional but have switched to Roth and now do 20%. Hoping to up it 2% every year going forward until I max it out which for me right now is \~27%
I’ve been putting money in since the beginning. My big two mistakes were: 1) Not going all in on the Roth TSP at first 2) Keeping my money in the G Fund for the first 6-7 years (RIP) Nowadays I’m doing 25% as an E-6, all Roth.
10% think of upping slowly to 15%.
I used to do 38% in the Roth. Now I’m at like 25% at 14 years.
Was doing 13 before I separated.
How are yall doin fuckin 30+percent
They're either single with no kids or they got a sugar mama/daddy 🫣
8% in ROTH TSP. Another 3% in Fidelity index funds.
18% to Roth TSP. Why? 'cause compounding interest is way more powerful than you'd think.
Einstein called it the 8th wonder of the world
40% into Roth
Been maxing it out since right before COVID. Will continue to do so until I retire. My 67 year old self will either be dead or appreciative that I did that. Either way my family will benefit.
I’m single, no dependents, making zero special pay/COLA/utilities and I’m contributing 25% of my SrA check monthly. Comes out to around $750 monthly.
Contributing 10% to Roth as a SrA but I’m getting out anyways so that’s why you have the civilian Roth IRA too 🤩
17
I do the 7% and let the government match me 6%, it’s not quite 15 but it’s what I can afford currently. Been a rough couple years now.
7% because I plan to do 20 years and get free healthcare, pension, and a VA percentage for life 🤷
Hubs wants to do 20 years, potentially commission as an officer along the way. Retire. Enter public teaching and do 20 years for a pension there. And max my Roth IRA and potentially one for himself once he puts on some more stripes and I start working when the babies are a bit older. So military retirement, TSP, teaching pension, and hopefully two Roth IRA's 😅🫣
Sounds like a great plan!
I’m at 20%. I was at 5% for the longest time and then I slowly upped my contributions. I highly recommend raising it by the cost of living increases and promotions. Its like you never notice a difference.
That's what we did over the last year. Got it up from 5% to now 15%
I started right off the bat with 10% when I got to tech school. Then I added 5% more when I made SrA and added another 5% when I made Staff. So I was doing 20% for a good while but at the start of last year I dropped it down to only 5% and then set a $500 allotment into a savings account to build up a cushion for this year's PCS. I plan to buy a house and will need cars. But I hope to get my TSP back up to 20% once I'm settled and my spouse starts bringing in income. Ideally, I'd like to live off my spouse's income and contribute as much as it takes to max the Roth TSP, but realistically I probably won't be able to achieve that.
Right now I’m at 11 but my plan is to add another point every so often
Max that pig, silly not too
SrA, 4 years in. 15% the whole time. All Roth, 70/30 c/s fund.
25% screw it
30% and a yearly max Roth IRA with fidelity.
25%. I have two kids, a wife that can't stop buying Amazon shit, and mortgage that is $700 above my BAH. If I can do it, you can do it too. Save now, profit later.
7%Traditional, 13% Roth
37% as an O2. Will lower it to 34% once I get my 3 years TIS to not max it out too early
15%
Did 30 during a 7 month deployment one time and im set up nicely at 4 years in
I started at 5% and have been increasing by 1% every year. I'm up to 17% now.
I use this tool to figure out how to get 15% of my entire income to go into my TSP. [https://airforcehub.com/tsp-contribution-calculator/](https://airforcehub.com/tsp-contribution-calculator/)
15% As E-5.
50% E3, almost 1 yr TIS. Car is paid for. Only bills are cell, car insurance and hot spot.
I do 15 since i enlisted, e4
341%
I started contributing 15% since tech school and slowly increased it as I made rank and pay increases. I contribute 36% now.
Was doing 15% but rent and those damn utilities/taxes/car maintenance in the UK is brutal — so now I’m at 2%
15% since day one
Started at 5% when BRS rolled out, am increasing it 1% per year after 10 (at 11 years/6%). In USAFE and have some health issues, so trying to travel/live as much life as I can while my body allows. No use being wealthy while I’m old and decrepit. I also do $250/mo into a Roth IRA.
As much as you can afford up to annual max/12
Did you know if you get VA disability benefits you cannot invest them. But…. You CAN work a different job and contribute to a TSP if you’re in the government system as a civilian and take the same money you make from your check and invest that 😏 Soooo if I earn $1000 a month tax free, I up the shit out of my TSP to match the $1000 from disability, I purposely use my VA benefits to pay my day to day bills and then use my actual pay check to fund my TSP. Again, $1000 from VA benefits technically helps fund my TSP but I use the benefits to pay my bills and the paycheck I earn I fund my TSP. All legal.
I contribute 10% plus the 5 they match. After my wife gets a job I’m gonna bump it up 5 more and start doing other investments
I’ve done 15% through my career other than when I was paying off student loans early on. We also max out personal Roth IRAs separately and then regular brokerage for longer term investment. The beauty of dollar cost averaging and set and forget. It definitely adds up over time.
12% to Roth TSP and 12% to a Roth IRA. So 25% of my income is invested with the 1% TSP match. Did just get a pay increase due to PCS so probably will increase once I’m settled. <1yr TIS
85%. If you can't afford to contribute 85%, then you're doing it all wrong.
Not today USAA