The investments of the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program encountered a setback last month, as all but one of the Thrift Savings Plan’s portfolios lost value in December.

Fidelity says that by age 40, you should aim to have enough retirement savings to replace your salary three times over. So by ...

Lifecycle funds were made popular by an account known as the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) for employees of the federal government and have since trickled down into private retirement plans.

The Thrift Savings Plan is the federal government’s defined contribution retirement savings plan. It consists of a traditional option similar to a 401(k) and a Roth option.

There’s no easy answer about how much you should have in your TSP account at retirement, but there are a few basics to consider.

Defined contribution plans come in varieties like 403(b), 457, and Thrift Savings Plans. You choose investment options within your plan, determining the ultimate value of your retirement fund.

The catch-up contribution limit that applies to employees aged 50 and up enrolled in most 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans and the Thrift Savings Plan will remain at $7,500 for 2025.