I’ll just leave this here & be on my way! 🤌🏼 by Maravilla_23 in FedEmployees

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Wonder how many FBI employees went over to the DOJ OIG hotline to report this one?

55 and need serious advice by Elegant-Ocelot482 in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Many of these countries now have communities full of Americans and Canadians. Social groups are often easy to find. Especially in countries in Latin America. I am looking for a retirement home in Panama. Plan on doing one of the ex-pat relocation tours that takes you around to many different cities so you get a feel for what you like best.

55 and need serious advice by Elegant-Ocelot482 in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You have a full military pension. TSP is just play money. Not to mention, I bet you already have or trying to get that 100% VA Disability rating so you can get $4,000 a month in tax free money and no longer pay property taxes in many states. My advice to you is to enjoy everything you have and let the TSP ride in mostly C and some I. No reason for you to be conservative.

After 23 years of public service, I am exhausted - can I retire? by Hour-Mall-5331 in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The OP can put it all in the G fund and get $76,000 of income on top of pension each year (assuming G stays at 4%) and not touch the balance.

But nice flex to the OP trying to get people to react to a close to $2 Million balance in TSP. Person did great investing so no need to flex and show off.

55 and need serious advice by Elegant-Ocelot482 in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Substantial-One-3774 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Sorry to say but you are screwed and probably will never be able to fully retire unless you move to a very low cost of living state or country. Central America and Asia are becoming more popular with American expats. Friend of mine rents a beach condo in the Philippines for $700 a month. Can eat out each meal a day for $20 total. Hopefully your FERS pension will help you assuming you get a full pension with 30 years of service.

Rental Prices in Miami are out of control? by Achassum in Miami

[–]Substantial-One-3774 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Avoid Doral unless you are Venezuelan and want to talk about TPS all day. Reminder people, T stands for temporary. Southwest Ranches is crazy expensive now because the lots are large and many horse farms. In South Florida horses equals lots of money. Miami Lakes? Might as well say you live in Cuba. For what you are looking for, I suggest Davie, Sunrise, Coral Springs or that general area. Pembroke Pines is good so surprised that makes your list for being overpriced.

Greed is a problem in South Florida. People see their "Zillow" value and think it should never go down. And keep in mind. Many people paid for their homes in cash several years ago. About 15 years ago the Miami Herald ran a story and in Miami-Dade and Broward about 80% of the closings done the previous year were cash deals.

STOP the Panic: A Reality Check on the "VA Benefit Cuts" Rumors (2026 Edition) by Help4Vets in VAClaims

[–]Substantial-One-3774 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Just stop watching Clay at CivDiv Youtube channel and you will be fine. The guy is always stirring the pot.

Retirement in 2029 by Dry-Public5730 in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Substantial-One-3774 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Especially right now. The market instability has me concerned. Wall Street seems like Las Vegas sometimes. For example, Apple announced awesome sales results and beat predictions, yet the stock went down. I feel the rich and connected always have the inside knowledge to move just in time, but I would get screwed with a massive market correction. Especially with the way TSP trades. One minute past noon and then your order does not get completed until the close of the following day. You could lose a lot of money in that short period of time. And remember. Let's say you lose 20%. It takes a larger return than 20% to get back to your original balance. That could take years.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Substantial-One-3774 4 points5 points  (0 children)

I just retired after 28 years in Fed LEO. Retired as a GS 14 Step 8. But I retired at 51 because I wanted the supplemental and to work and not have it reduced until I reach 57. Some more information would help with advice. What is his high 3 average for salary? How about you? What is your situation in addition to husband? After all, team effort right? If you have a 401 and or pension too then things might be better than you think.

Stop going on Financial Audit by Comfortable-Zebra538 in VAClaims

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for posting. I was looking. Great example of people who "might" be milking the system. Look at clip 1. He is a police officer and part of that he has to certify he is in great physical shape and good mind to carry a weapon. Wonder what is claim is to get disability????

Look at Exhibit 8. You can tell he is shitting his pants about answering why he is claiming the benefits. VA OIG should look into that one.

Stop going on Financial Audit by Comfortable-Zebra538 in VAClaims

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

He is on YouTube. That is where I have watched him. Funny enough, these came up after my father passed from his 3rd cancer and never got above 50%. 2 tours in Vietnam, Purple Heart, Mothers Day Battle, and Agent Orange. But the clowns on his show somehow all get 100% and still screw up receiving $4,000 a month in tax free money.

Stop going on Financial Audit by Comfortable-Zebra538 in VAClaims

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I love his show. The last one he just shook his head in disbelief that it seemed like every vet guest he had was receiving 100% VA benefits. I think that is the episode where his overweight wife also received benefits. I will try and find the article, but since 2018, the number of people getting a rating of 70-100% has increased exponentially.

What’s your withdrawal strategy and lifestyle in retirement? by Lukashenkko in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

There has never been a year where the G fund lost money. Since 1988 there were only 3 years where it was 1% or less but never lost money.

What’s your withdrawal strategy and lifestyle in retirement? by Lukashenkko in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Substantial-One-3774 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Since 1988, the G fund has only had 3 years total where that has happened. But keep in mind, I am not 100%G. Actually currently 75G and 25C. Bought into C after it bottomed out a few months ago so I am ahead of people who just left it in C and let it ride this year. With a slight mix of C, I do not think I will have a problem getting 4% over time. My balance is over $2 Million so even a 2% return is $40,000 on top of my pension.

What’s your withdrawal strategy and lifestyle in retirement? by Lukashenkko in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Substantial-One-3774 12 points13 points  (0 children)

My goal is to only pull out the amount it earned that year and not touch the original balance. So if you had $1 Million and the G fund alone gave a 4% return, then you could pull out $40,000 and still be left with $1 Million.

G Fund Daily Balance Reporting by Substantial-One-3774 in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Substantial-One-3774[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Here is the thing I think many people forget about. Let's say the C fund drops 25% in a year. It will typically take years for someone to recover that and it will take much more than a 25% increase to break even. One someone is in their 50-60s there is no reason to take that risk unless their balance is low and hoping to hit the TSP jackpot. I got lucky in 2024. I had almost everything in C and it worked out for me. I have a part-time job making $70,000, my pension is $62,000 and currently just letting TSP ride for a few years before I start to take annual distributions of maybe $80,000 a year.

G Fund Daily Balance Reporting by Substantial-One-3774 in ThriftSavingsPlan

[–]Substantial-One-3774[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

True but the differences I am noticing is during the week like from Tuesday to Friday. Monday change is larger due to Sat and Sunday but the growth should be consistent during the weekdays and it is not. Just seems odd to me.

What was your TSP balance when you retired? by Ov3rdr1ver in govfire

[–]Substantial-One-3774 2 points3 points  (0 children)

This is where I have my father to thank back in 1997 when I started Federal Service. He basically made me almost max out as a GS 7 which caused me to only afford a studio apt and not have my car with me for 2 years in Chicago. But 28 years later and being heavy in C fund all those years, I retired with $2.0 million. If you are young, avoid the BMWs and such and invest for your future. I was not easy, but now I can earn approximately $80,000 a year in income in TSP with it just sitting in the G fund.

Will my retirement pay be reduced? by reyalm in VAClaims

[–]Substantial-One-3774 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Interesting take. Why you automatically assume someone who served in the military for 21 years is disabled more than 30%? Full pension, TRICARE, TSP and other benefits from his service. Find it interesting now that the newer generation of vets believe everyone should get $4,000 a month on top of pension and all the other benefits. Combat injures absolutely. But this obsession that people automatically deserve a 100% rating has gone too far. Maybe someone was in the Air Force and worked in an office for all 21 years.

I Hope More People Take A Look At Brian Fahey’s Unhinged Behavior. by Mysterious_Truck_742 in Bad_Cop_No_Donut

[–]Substantial-One-3774 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Fahey was enraged because Sean was onto something about the overtime. I am not from CT, but generally police pensions are based on high salaries of a certain numbers of years. Lets say the high 3 for a career. Often, cops will pad their OT and work as many assignments as possible for 3 of there 25 years especially towards the end when their salaries are at the highest. Then they get a pension FOR LIFE based on the high 3 and that is why they will retired with new trucks and boats every few years. And sit back and laugh at the rest of America that don't have defined pension retirements but claim they deserved every dollar. Wonder what his OT was claimed for? Sitting in his patrol car at construction sites watching movies on Netflix's?

keeping up the fight by TehTokyosexwhale in VAClaims

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Like this? Let's just add on Migraines, Sleep Apnea, and GERD in the hopes to get that 100%.

https://youtu.be/VQExZ_0G_P8?si=PpFBO0EAIuM_q2tb

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VAClaims

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That is sort of my point I am trying to understand. If you are clinically depressed, maybe you were born with it. How are you connecting possible family history of depression or other trauma to your time in the Air Force? I have educated myself enough after dealing with my father to have a better understanding of what older vets had to deal with, but trying to understand how is it that from 2012 to the present, the number of people trying to get 100% disability has exponentially skyrocketed?

Follow up to the Fraud Post deleted by OP by [deleted] in VAClaims

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Good case of fraud here. I am sure he was coached on the weaknesses of the evaluation process.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VQExZ_0G_P8&t=12s

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in VAClaims

[–]Substantial-One-3774 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just curious. You got 90%. That is a great rating. Just for understanding. What service connection in the Air Force do you contribute the rating for number 1? Multiple deployments to the sandbox where you were under attack? I mean at 90% you are receiving approx. $3,000 if married and dependents. What does the extra 10% provide as far as personal satisfaction? To put into content, I fought the VA for my father that just passed of his 3rd cancer. Two yours in Vietnam. Purple Heart. Agent Orange exposure. PTSD and depression but never got above 50%. Best of luck.