TSP Growth Projector
Your TSP could be worth more than you think — run the numbers.
Project your TSP growth year by year — with BRS matching, fund allocation, Roth vs. Traditional comparison, and 2026 contribution limits.
Enter your pay grade and contribution rate
See year-by-year TSP growth
Compare Roth vs. Traditional and BRS match scenarios
E-5 · age 26 · BRS 5% · aggressive · $0 starting
Projected at 65: $2.85M
Your Profile
Military Information
BRS applies to anyone who entered service on or after January 1, 2018, or opted in during the 2018 window. BRS members receive DoD matching contributions; Legacy members do not.
Contribution Settings
= $206/mo (5.0% of base pay)
BRS tip: contribute evenly across all 12 months — hitting the $24,500 annual limit before December stops your government matching for the remaining months.
BRS government match always goes to Traditional, regardless of your election.
Full BRS match: $205.50/month government contribution
Auto 1%: $41.10 · Matching: $164.40 · Total gov: $205.50/mo
Annual gov contribution
$2,466/yr
Applies annual cost-of-living and merit increases to contribution amounts
Fund Allocation
Blended annual return: 9.42%
Projected Balance
$2.85M
at age 65 (39 years)
Est. Monthly Withdrawal (4% rule)
$9,498
Planning estimate — not guaranteed income · $113,977/yr
Balance Breakdown
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Useful for retirement planning, comparing contribution scenarios, or reviewing your projected balance with a financial advisor.
Balance Growth Over Time
Roth vs. Traditional TSP
Traditional TSP
$7,409/mo
after 22% tax · $88,902/yr
Pre-tax contributions. Entire balance taxed on withdrawal.
Roth TSP
$9,498/mo
100% tax-free · $113,977/yr
After-tax contributions. Qualified withdrawals are tax-free.
If your tax rate in retirement is lower than it is now, Traditional may come out ahead. If it stays the same or rises, Roth wins. Combat zone contributions to Roth TSP are a triple tax advantage: no tax going in (combat pay exclusion), no tax on growth, no tax on withdrawal. Note: BRS government matching contributions always go to Traditional TSP regardless of your election.
BRS Match at Different Contribution Levels
Based on E-5 (SGT/PO2/SSgt) at 6 years of service ($4,110/mo base pay)
| You contribute | Your $/mo | Gov match $/mo | Total $/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0% | $0.00 | $41.10 | $41.10 |
| 1% | $41.10 | $82.20 | $123.30 |
| 2% | $82.20 | $123.30 | $205.50 |
| 3% | $123.30 | $164.40 | $287.70 |
| 4% | $164.40 | $184.95 | $349.35 |
| 5% ← you | $205.50 | $205.50 | $411.00 |
| 10% | $411.00 | $205.50 | $616.50 |
Contributing at least 5% of base pay unlocks the full government match of $205.50/mo ($2,466/yr).
What Does an E-6 at 10 Years Project for TSP at Retirement?
Scenario: E-6, 10 years of service, enrolled in BRS, contributing 10% of base pay to TSP in an aggressive growth allocation (approximating L2050), with $25,000 current balance — projecting 10 more years to a 20-year retirement.
What this means:By contributing 10% under BRS, the government adds nearly $238/month on top of the member's $476 — effectively a 50% match up to 5% of base pay. Over 10 years, that government contribution alone is worth approximately $47,000 in the account. The projected $658/month in TSP income supplements the BRS pension, which at E-7/20-year retirement adds another $2,457/month.
What is the TSP?
The Thrift Savings Plan is the federal government's retirement savings plan — the military equivalent of a 401(k). It offers five individual investment funds (G, F, C, S, I) plus Lifecycle funds that automatically shift to more conservative allocations as you approach your target retirement date.
The TSP is among the lowest-cost retirement plans available — with core fund expense ratios around a few basis points per year as of 2025. That means more of your money stays invested instead of going to fund managers. A civilian 401(k) might charge 0.5–1.5% per year, which compounds into dramatically less money at retirement.
BRS Matching Explained
Under the Blended Retirement System (BRS), DoD contributes to your TSP:
- 1% automatic: DoD puts in 1% of your base pay automatically, even if you contribute nothing. Starts after 60 days of service.
- Dollar-for-dollar on first 3%: You contribute 3%, DoD matches 3%.
- 50¢ on next 2%: You contribute 2% more (total 5%), DoD adds 1% more.
- Maximum match: Contribute 5% → DoD adds 5% → 10% of base pay going in each month.
BRS matching is monthly — if you max out your contributions early in the year (hitting the IRS limit), you stop receiving matching for the rest of the year. Spread contributions evenly across the year.
When matching begins: The automatic 1% DoD contribution starts after 60 days of service. The matching contributions (up to 4%) do not begin until the start of your third year of service — month 25. If you entered service on or after January 1, 2018, full matching kicks in after 24 months. A brand-new E-1 receives only the 1% automatic contribution until that milestone.
Roth vs. Traditional TSP
Traditional TSP: Contributions are pre-tax (reduce your taxable income now). Your entire balance is taxed when you withdraw in retirement.
Roth TSP: Contributions are after-tax (no immediate tax break). Qualified withdrawals in retirement are tax-free, including all the growth.
Combat zone triple tax advantage (Roth TSP only): If you contribute to Roth TSP from combat zone pay, you get a rare benefit — combat pay is already excluded from income tax, so you pay no tax going in, no tax on the growth, and no tax on the withdrawal. This is a significant tax advantage that applies specifically to Roth TSP in qualifying combat zones.
Traditional TSP in a combat zone: Contributions made from excluded combat pay are not subject to income tax withholding at the time of contribution — but all growth and withdrawals from Traditional TSP are still taxed in retirement. The full triple tax-free benefit only applies to Roth TSP.
2026 TSP Contribution Limits
In a combat zone, the $72,000 annual additions limit applies to total contributions — but the Roth TSP elective deferral portion is still capped at $24,500. Contributions above that go to Traditional TSP only. Verify your specific situation with your finance office.
The TSP Funds
G Fund — Government Securities
Invests in short-term U.S. Treasury securities. Principal cannot decrease in nominal terms. Returns are currently ~4–5%. Best suited for near-retirement stability or short-term preservation — returns may not outpace inflation over long periods.
F Fund — Fixed Income Index
Tracks the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index. Higher return potential than G, but bond prices fluctuate with interest rates.
C Fund — Common Stock Index (S&P 500)
Tracks the S&P 500. Long-term historical average approximately 10%/year. A common growth option for investors with long time horizons — past performance does not guarantee future results.
S Fund — Small/Mid Cap Stock Index
Tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Completion Total Stock Market Index — everything not in the S&P 500. Higher volatility and higher long-term return potential than C.
I Fund — International Stock Index
Tracks international developed markets. Provides geographic diversification. Performance varies with currency and global economic conditions.
The Power of Starting Early
Time in the market is the single biggest factor in TSP growth. An E-3 who starts contributing $200/month at age 20 (with a 10% blended return) reaches retirement at 65 with approximately $1.7M. An E-5 who waits until age 26 to contribute the same amount reaches the same age with approximately $1.1M — $600K less, despite paying in for only 6 fewer years.
Those early years do the most compounding. Even a small contribution at 20 beats a larger contribution at 30. Start with what you can, and increase it over time as your pay grows.
What this projection does not include
- Inflation — projected balances are in nominal (today's) dollars, not inflation-adjusted purchasing power
- Taxes on Traditional TSP withdrawals — your actual after-tax income will be lower
- Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) beginning at age 73
- The Roth TSP 5-year rule — qualified tax-free withdrawals require 5 years to have passed since your first Roth TSP contribution
- TSP loans or early withdrawals — both reduce compound growth and can trigger taxes and penalties
- Future rank or duty status changes — pay grade promotions, early separation, or retirement system changes all affect contributions
- Sequence-of-returns risk — a series of poor returns early in retirement can significantly reduce how long your balance lasts
- State income taxes on Traditional TSP withdrawals — most states tax these; a few exempt military retirement income
Common TSP mistakes to understand
- Front-loading contributions under BRS: If you hit the $24,500 annual limit before December, you stop receiving BRS matching contributions for the rest of the year. Spread contributions evenly across all 12 months to capture the full match.
- Moving to the G Fund during market downturns: Selling out of stock funds when the market drops locks in losses and misses the recovery. Historically, staying invested has outperformed market-timing attempts.
- Taking TSP loans: A TSP loan removes money from compound growth, and if you separate before repaying it, the outstanding balance becomes a taxable distribution with potential penalties.
- Ignoring the Roth option in low-income years: Early career — especially in tax-free combat zones — is often the best time to use Roth TSP, since your marginal tax rate is lower and growth compounds tax-free for decades.
- Not keeping beneficiary designations current: TSP beneficiaries are determined by your TSP designation on file, not your will. Review your designation after major life events (marriage, divorce, birth of a child).
Disclaimer
This is a projection tool using assumed rates of return, not guaranteed outcomes. Default return assumptions (G: 4%, F: 5%, C: 10%, S: 9.5%, I: 7%) are simplified long-term historical averages — past performance does not guarantee future results. Actual returns will vary year to year, including periods of negative returns. This calculator is not financial advice. Consult a fee-only financial advisor or accredited financial counselor for personalized guidance. Visit TSP.gov for official fund information and contribution rules. 2026 contribution limits sourced from TSP.gov and the IRS.
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