What YOU can do to fight back - IFT limit

Re: Show-me Account Talk
Show,
Please excuse my invasion of your thread for a request that I have to make to all my friends in the message boards at TSPtalk. I am making this appeal here because you are highly respected and your thread is widely read.

Some good friends with whom I have corresponded with through the years have tried to help me, but they have their own problems and their own limitations. I always have been a very discreet and very private person, but the circumstances that are weighing on me have dictated that I open up a bit of my personal life in order to seek wider advise from other colleagues here at TSPtalk.com.

I would have thought that certain events should be treated with flexibility, and that a supervisor at TSP.gov should be able to use some discretion in order to deal with exceptional problems with a sense of fairness and understanding. We shall see!

My problem below is self-explanatory. I need your good minds to help. Thank you in advance all!

To all members at TSPtalk:

Please treat this as a true personal emergency. I am asking for your help urgently. Since you have helped me in the past, I trust that you might help me find a solution to this problem.

In January 2008, I had to face some debts and other personal financial obligations. At that time I was in confusion, and it was all quite hectic. Due to the fact that my maximum loan amount was capped at around 40,000, and I needed in excess of $100,000, in the stressful confusion, I decided to do what I believed was the correct thing to do. I took $125,000 dollars, knowing that they would retain 20% witholding for tax purposes. I received the $100,000 dollars and was able to meet all of my existing obligations. My wife and I were able to breathe normally after I cleared the debts.

It was never my intention to preclude myself from using the provisions of an aged-based roll-over IRA after age 59 1/2. I sincerely believed (and still believed until today) when I called the TSP toll-free number at (877) 968-3778 that the witholding penalty withdrawal was different and separate action which was governed by different regulatory provisions. In my predicament and stress in January, it never occurred to me that TSP thrift would prevent me from doing a roll-over IRA. Today, a representative by the name of Kimberly told me that the application that I filed for a roll-over IRA on March 19, 2008, is being denied for the reasons I just explained above.

In my good faith I opened an account at the Orlando, Florida branch. It was from that office that the manager faxed the application with their help and with the required information. I have been very excited and looking for the transfer and to manage my IRA.

This morning (yesterday) I asked Ms. Kimberly at TSP to let me talk to a supervisor, but she left me waiting a long time until she finaly told me that a supervisor would call me in up to 48 hours. Please help me reach someone that may be understanding of my true intention under stress. Your suggestions are highly valued!
 
However, Long said, TSP veterans who move from job to job in the private sector, building 401(k) accounts as they do, can roll those nest eggs into their TSP account where expenses are far lower than other rollover account.

Commercial firms that manage investment funds for 401(k) plans typically impose annual fees of from 50 cents to $1 per $100 in account balances. TSP fees are only about two cents per $100. Intel, Mobil and perhaps a few other corporations have gotten employee 401(k) fees down below 10 cents per $100, Long said, “but nobody does it as cheaply as we do.”

So if the TSP already has such low expenses, why are you trying to completely demolish our ability to manage our own accounts just to save each member less than $2 per year, Mr. Long? :confused:

"Because it looks good on my resume. I saved the U.S. government's retirement plan $30 million" (or whatever amount T. RaY and Greggy L claim). They want the glory, even if it does decrease the desirability of the plan to those who don't have their head in the sand, the uninitiated. They have played the ignorance of the masses to their favor.
 
Palladin,
Forgive my lack of response. Excuse me for not answering your PM, but I have been quite busy, and my hands are full. Later. Thanks.

Guys,
Add my name to the list of fallen "rebels". Today I tried an IFT from 100G to 100F, but my account has been restricted.
 
Does anyone know how long we will be stuck in purgatory?
icon8.gif
 
Air, if you haven't already, start a spreadsheet to track your blocked IFT's and potential gains losses caused by the restrictions. It will come in handy if/when legal action is needed. I created my own version, but you can use this one if you don't have time to set up formulas, etc.

http://www.tsptalk.com/utilities.html

Didn't 'they' award some early FERS participants, due to not transfering them from CSRS to FERS, what they would have earned if they were in the best performing TSP fund at the time?
 
Anidoc,
You won't believe how unskilled I am working with computers. I do need help and I thank you for offering this link. If it's a matter of simple downloading and ready to use, I'll put it to use as soon as I get home this PM. Some time ago, I was downloading a spreadsheet that another member had kindly offered for free and I was not able to use it because my security system had popped a notice, and I decided not to lower the level of security for fear of getting some virus or the like. Keep in touch and Tia.
 
I just faxed in my comments on the proposed rule. I will also mail in my comments. I encourage everyone else to fax and mail in their comments. With the NTEU opposition, James' analysis, and the beginning of some long overdue Congressional interest in this, the FRTIB just might back down a little bit from the proposed rule.
 
well just this snippet of the caller's remark is wrong...we all know TSP was established in 1976 or so. Makes me wonder if the caller is in fact a former fed or a Rush plant.

I entered the Federal service in July 1979. There was no TSP at that time. TSP was part of the new Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) that was enacted under President Reagan. I looked at my first TSP paperwork when the system was just starting (I keep everything) and it was dated June 1987. I think that caller may have been legit. Can anyone find out what was said? Rush reaches about 3-5 million listeners a day. If that caller was trying to make our case, it would be the biggest audience we've had yet. Just curious.
 
I was one of the first mandatory FERS signups, early 1986. In fact, my retirement history shows I have like 1-2 months of CSRS-offset, which I didn't know til shortly before all our local HR people retired or disappeared for other reasons. I was never given a concious choice of retirement systems, so still don't quite get how I ended up with a smidge of CSRS-offset, but I did.

Long and short of it, the caller to Rush sounds legit, just a bit fuzzy on history since they apparently came into the system later than me and Anidoc. And no, I do not listen to Rush except once every now and then out of sick fascination, and its been nearly 10 years since the last time. Guess I got over being sick. :laugh:
 
I want to know why Congress & the Senate have been mute on this matter. Maybe they think we don't matter. Maybe they suport the FRTIB if so 3.9 Million families should know that in the next election. Where is Hillary Clinton she has all the TSP infomation and I was notified she would look into this situation and so far nothing.

I contacted Henry Waxman and he has the information but no reply to my request for an investigation. I contacted the entire Committee and yet the only reply was from Congressman Stephen Lynch (D) Massachusetts - if you watched the Clemens hearing he was the one who had Clemens on the ropes about the Medical Report.

I read somewhere that members have received replies about contact your own Congressman in your area that is wrong. When a member is on a particular Committee they are supposed to get information from every source if there is a concern so point is go after the Committee and suddenly Senator Susan Collins (R) Maine is quiet was 2003/2004 her election year ???
 
AN EMAIL FROM AFGE:

"While speaking at this weeks Conference, Congressman Carney again
echoed his support for prison workers and the proper funding and is
committed to holding hearings in the future. On March 13th, 2008 he
worked with Congressman Mollohan on constructing a "Dear Colleague
Letter" asking for support on the necessary funding for Correctional
Facilities. He realizes that the current Anti-deficiency Act (deficient)
money we are currently receiving is only a stopgap and does not make
up for the 400 Million plus shortfall in S&E and B&F funding. Next week,
Congressman Carney will once again visit another Institution for a tour
and carry our message forward. He is also working on behalf of Federal
Workers to revise the current Thrift Savings Plan by eliminating the early
withdrawal penalty, the amount of times you can move your funds and
correct the matter of temporary employee issue".

I'VE BEEN GETTING WORD BACK FROM OUR LOCAL, THAT THE NATIONAL
AFGE UNION HAS BEEN ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN COMMUNICATIONS WITH
LEGISLATORS CONCERNING OUR OBJECTION TO IFT LIMITS.
 
If you get any more info on Congressman Carney's proposal, please let us know. This is the first I have heard of it, and I don't know what Carney has in mind.
 
Does anyone know who the TSP Congressional Liaison is? I heard today that we have one. I also heard back from Congressman Heller's office and they're pushing to stop the 549 ban on IFT's.

John
 
Okay, I'm done for the day.... I sent in one more letter with a little different approach:

Thomas K. Emswiler, General Counsel
Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board
1250 H Street, NW
Washington, DC 20005

FAX: (202) 942-1676


Subject:

Docket Title: Participants Choices of TSP Funds
Document ID: FRTIB-2008-0004-0001
Federal Register Number: E8-04776
Date Posted 3-10-08, Comments Due 4-9-08



Dear Mr. Emswiler,

I am one of the 549 who have had his/her ability to make electronic transfers. I wish to comment on Mr. Longs decision to arbitrarily punish a select group of TSP members and to point out why the proposed rule change should not be approved.

I do not believe that Mr. Long has been given the necessary authority by the Board to do this and that the action was discriminatory towards a few individuals, not applied equally amongst all TSP members. I would like my ability to make IFT’s restored and to have Mr. Long removed for cause.

I would like you to disapprove the proposed rule change to limit the number of electronic transfers a TSP participant can make. The provision to allow TSP Participants the opportunity to make changes in their TSP allocation helped determine my decision to remain in the federal workforce. A change now would result in a material adverse change and as such I feel that all current TSP members like myself, would be entitled to compensatory damages. Any change approved should apply only to those who have not already entered or sustained federal employment service and who do not already have an implied benefit. This would simply be a “Grandfather Clause” to the proposed rule and would limit TSP liability.
 
Does anyone know who the TSP Congressional Liaison is? I heard today that we have one. I also heard back from Congressman Heller's office and they're pushing to stop the 549 ban on IFT's.

John

TSP Employee Tom Trabucco is the legislative person.
 
STATEMENT BY THOMAS J. TRABUCCO, DIRECTOR OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS,
FEDERAL RETIREMENT THRIFT INVESTMENT BOARD, BEFORE THE HOUSE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE AND AGENCY ORGANIZATION
APRIL 26, 2006

Good Afternoon Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommit-
tee. My name is Tom Trabucco and I am the Director of External
Affairs for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board. My
position includes three main areas of responsibility -- legisla-
tive affairs, the press, and relations with the unions and asso-
ciations representing Federal and Postal employees. I also
serve as the Agency’s spokesman when the Executive Director is
not available.

I have served in this position for nearly twenty years as a
career member of the Senior Executive Service. Before that I
served for a total of thirteen years handling legislative mat-
ters for two organizations -- the National Association of Re-
tired Federal Employees and the National Federation of Federal
Employees -- and as a staff member to the predecessor of this
committee.

Since coming to the Thrift Investment Board in 1987, it has
been my great privilege to work with many outstanding individu-
als in the Agency, the employee organizations, the Executive
branch and the Congress who were completely dedicated to the
success of the Thrift Savings Plan. There has been a truly ex-
ceptional effort to assure those who place their retirement sav-
ings in the TSP that this plan would be managed solely in their
interest by expert fiduciaries.

This does not mean there have not been different views
openly expressed. In a 1989 hearing, the Chairman of the
Board’s House authorizing subcommittee strongly urged the Execu-
tive Director to support a policy that would disinvest in cer-
tain companies doing business in Northern Ireland or South Af-
rica. The Executive Director at that time respectfully de-
clined. The Mortgage Bankers Association and others sought leg-
islation to establish a mortgage backed securities fund in the
TSP. The Board opposed this, and it was not advanced in the
Congress.

Certain Members of Congress have also promoted legislation
to require a small and minority-owned business fund, a precious
metals fund, a corporate responsibility fund, and other addi-
tional TSP investments or divestments over the Agency’s twenty-
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- 2 -

year history. The Board examined and opposed each of these pro-
posals. Although the Congress could have enacted any of these
proposals over the objections of the Board, the proponents ulti-
mately decided to defer to the fiduciaries who are required to
act solely in the interest of TSP participants and beneficiar-
ies.

When Congress created the TSP, it recognized that the ex-
perts who serve as the Plan fiduciaries -- the Board Members and
Executive Director -- would not necessarily be familiar with the
Federal workforce. To ensure that the employees eligible to
participate had top-level input into all investment and adminis-
trative matters considered by the Board, the House committee
proposed the Employee Thrift Advisory Council. The Council was
created and has functioned exactly as envisioned ever since.

Although the Executive Director and the ETAC have worked
together over the years, they have sometimes disagreed. For ex-
ample, at the Subcommittee hearing in 1989 the Council Chairman
made clear that his and many other ETAC organizations supported
restrictions on investments in South Africa and Northern Ire-
land. More recently, some Council members have sought IRA type
features for the TSP as well as other changes that are not being
actively pursued at this time. These matters remain under ac-
tive discussion, however. It is my expectation that future Ex-
ecutive Directors and Councils will continue to see the wisdom
of discussing and agreeably working through issues to reach con-
sensus for the benefit of Plan participants.

Part of my job at the Board is to serve as the secretary to
the Council. In this role, I am the primary point of contact
between Council Members and the Executive Director. Council
members are appointed by the Chairman of the Board from organi-
zations prescribed by law. I manage the process by which nomi-
nations are solicited from the presidents of each of these un-
ions and associations. I am also responsible for filing the an-
nual reports regarding Council activities as required by the
Federal Advisory Committee Act and performing other administra-
tive support functions.

By law, the Executive Director meets at the request of the
Council. I normally receive the first call that a meeting is
being requested. I coordinate with the Committee Management
Officer (the Agency’s General Counsel) to develop the meeting
notice and forward the agenda for publication in the Federal
Register. As Executive Director Amelio stated, I responded to
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- 3 -

Chairman Sauber’s request regarding his resolution opposing
REITs. He told me the points that he wanted in the resolution
and asked that I run them by the General Counsel to ensure that
they were put in the proper legal language and that he was prop-
erly following the statutory provision regarding Council resolu-
tions. I did so.

The General Counsel advised me that the resolution I
drafted based on Chairman Sauber’s specifications was fine and
that his actions were consistent with both the law and the ETAC
charter. A copy of that charter is attached. She further ad-
vised that Mr. Sauber should be sure to circulate his resolution
in advance of the meeting.

I forwarded the file that I had created to Mr. Sauber.

I recall that Mr. Sauber made two rounds of revisions which he
circulated to Council members and copied to me. I also asked
him just before the meeting to send me his final version so we
had a copy that could be promptly edited to reflect any amend-
ments made at the meeting. The resolution was indeed again re-
vised at the ETAC meeting. Board staff promptly produced a fi-
nal version for ETAC members at the meeting and it was approved
by the Council.

That concludes my prepared statement. I would be pleased
to respond to any questions you may have regarding the Employee
Thrift Advisory Council.

Attachment
 
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