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What If:
Spouse 1 Monthly Benefit
(monthly)
Quit Working!
But (always, always, always) KEEP YOUR SALARY!
Last Calculated: ________________
Prepared for: ________________________________
Date: ________________________________
Text Jim 949 500 5478
💰
Salary Preview
(same as chart below)
| Age | Gross Salary |
|---|---|
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Spouse 1 FERS Calculator
Auto-filled from main inputs
Monthly FERS:
$0
Advanced Options
⚠️ Important COLA Disclosure:
The calculation of your FERS benefit in this calculator assumes a flat COLA increase annually based on the percentage that you have entered into this calculator. In reality, however, your actual COLA will adjust typically annually based on future pricing and economic conditions. For official explanations on your FERS benefits, please go to the OPM here.
Spouse 2 FERS Calculator
Auto-filled from main inputs
Monthly FERS:
$0
Advanced Options
⚠️ Important COLA Disclosure:
The calculation of your FERS benefit in this calculator assumes a flat COLA increase annually based on the percentage that you have entered into this calculator. In reality, however, your actual COLA will adjust typically annually based on future pricing and economic conditions. For official explanations on your FERS benefits, please go to the OPM here.
Guaranteed Income numbers are available from the insurance industry RIGHT NOW.
Don't "white knuckle" your salary in retirement !
Find Out Your Numbers Today!
949 500 5478
✉️ [email protected]
Spouse 1 TSP Calculator (Estimate)
Enter TSP balance you hope to have at retirement
⚠️ Important Notes:
- 10 year Treasury + .465%
- The TSP rate adjusts monthly
- These are ESTIMATES ONLY
%
Default Rate as of January 28, 2026. See Current Government Rates here
Monthly Annuity:
$0
⚠️ Estimate - 4 reasons:
- Future balance is hypothetical
- Interest rates at application time will affect offer
- Met Life can adjust pricing
- Mortality tables may adjust also
💡
Interest Rates & Your TSP Annuity
Stay informed with the latest rates
📊
Today's Treasury Rates
The default rate is updated periodically. If values differ from official sites, use the federal treasury site. Choose "10 YR" and scroll to today's date.
🧮
Federal TSP Calculator
Compare with official numbers. Use the federal TSP calculator to verify your annuity estimates.
Spouse 2 TSP Calculator (Estimate)
Enter TSP balance you hope to have at retirement
⚠️ Important Notes:
- 10 year Treasury + .465%
- The TSP rate adjusts monthly
- These are ESTIMATES ONLY
%
Default Rate as of January 28, 2026. See Current Government Rates here
Monthly Annuity:
$0
⚠️ Estimate - 4 reasons:
- Future balance is hypothetical
- Interest rates at application time will affect offer
- Met Life can adjust pricing
- Mortality tables may adjust also
Understanding TSP Life Annuities
Converting your TSP balance into guaranteed lifetime income
What is a TSP Life Annuity?
A TSP life annuity converts your TSP account balance into guaranteed monthly payments for the rest of your life, similar to a traditional pension. The TSP partners with MetLife to provide this option.
Key Features:
✓ Lifetime Payments: Receive monthly income for as long as you live—you can never outlive your annuity.
✓ Joint Life Options: Choose single life (payments stop at your death) or joint life with 50% or 100% survivor benefits for your spouse.
✓ Guaranteed Period: Optional 10-year or 20-year guarantee ensures beneficiaries receive payments if you die early.
✓ Cash Refund Feature: If you die before receiving payments equal to your purchase price, the difference goes to your beneficiary.
Important Considerations:
⚠ Irrevocable Decision: Once you purchase the annuity, you cannot change your mind or access the principal.
⚠ Cost-of-Living Adjustments: COLA options may reduce initial payment significantly but they can provide inflation protection.
⚠ Rate Dependent: Monthly payment amounts depend on your age, account balance, and current interest rates when purchased.
⚠ Death Benefit Options: Single Life annuities offer a cash refund feature—if you die before receiving payments equal to your purchase price, the remaining balance passes to your beneficiary. Removing this feature increases monthly payments.
How It Works:
- Request an annuity quote from TSP (available after separation from service)
- Choose your annuity type (single life, joint life, guarantee period, cash refund)
- Review the monthly payment amount offered by MetLife
- Decide how much of your TSP balance to convert (partial or full)
- Complete the purchase—payments begin within 30-60 days
💡 Pro Tip: Compare TSP annuity rates with private market annuities before purchasing. Click here to see a comparison table
Want to learn more? Visit TSP.gov for official details and current rates.
Evaluating MetLife's TSP Annuity Offering
VS
The Marketplace of Publicly Available Annuity Contracts
Understanding your options for guaranteed lifetime income
| Category | TSP Transferred to MetLife Insurance Company |
TSP Transferred to (+/-) 50 Publicly Available Insurance Companies |
|---|---|---|
| Annuity Type | Single Premium Immediate Annuity for Lifetime Income Only | Index Annuity with Optional Lifetime Income Rider |
| Product Purpose | Guaranteed Income in Retirement | Guaranteed Income in Retirement or Principal Protected Growth |
| Time to Purchase | At Retirement Only | Any time after age 59.5, employed or retired. |
| Ramification of Purchase Timing: | Pricing Parameters on RETIREMENT DATE Dictates Benefits (interest rates, account balance, discretionary company pricing, and mortality tables) |
Pricing Parameters on PURCHASE DATE Dictates Benefits (interest rates, account balance, discretionary company pricing, deferral credits, and mortality tables) |
| Largest Pricing Mechanism of Policy | Interest Rates | Interest Rates |
| Your Level of Certitude of Income Benefit in Advance of Retirement | LOW Income Benefit is UNKNOWN in Advance because pricing parameters (interest rates, account balance, discretionary company pricing, and mortality tables) are ONLY KNOWN ON RETIREMENT DATE |
HIGH Income Benefit is KNOWN in advance because pricing parameters (interest rates, account balance, discretionary company pricing, deferral credits, and mortality tables) ARE KNOWN AT TIME OF PURCHASE |
| Define the Pricing Modality | Mortality Credits Insurance - only concept that pools the risk of running out of money with other insureds who share the same risk. Shared risk - pooling results in higher than average income streams. |
Deferral Credits Guaranteed annual rollup rates applied to an income account value provides the basis for higher than average income streams. |
| Competitiveness of Offer | If you are retiring NOW and you want the HIGHEST solo lifetime income at the cost of FORFEITING the death benefit, this annuity format should be competitive to many other SPIA products available in the public annuity marketplace, but for due diligence purposes you should ask for a ledger of at least 20 other carriers offering the same SPIA format. | If you are retiring NOW, there may be superior benefits for solo and joint income, long term care benefits, options to cancel, reinvestment and/or death benefits. If you are retiring FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD, the issuance of DEFERRAL CREDITS added to these aforementioned benefits means that the SAME or even a HIGHER income benefit down the road can be purchased TODAY with a LOWER PREMIUM. (ask for an illustration) |
| Cancelation Options | Cannot be canceled | Cancelable with or without penalties depending upon when the policy is surrendered. |
| Access to Principal | NO | Yes. 10% annually and/or surrender value during term and/or full value after term. Withdrawals WILL affect income guarantee. |
| Choice of Insurers | Met Life | Allianz, American Equity, American General, American National, Americo, Ameritas, Aspida, Athene, Augustar, Axonic, ClearSpring, Corebridge, Delaware Life, Equitrust, Fidelity Guaranty, Global Atlantic, Guaranty Income, Heartland National, Ibexis, Integrity, Investors Heritage, Lincoln, Mass Mutual, Midland, Minnesota, Mutual of Omaha, Nassau, Nationwide, National Life, National Western, New York Life, Penn Mutual, Security Benefit, North American Company, Oceanview, Oxford, Pacific Life, Protective, Price, Reliance Standard, Revol One, Sagicor, Securian Silac, Symetra, Standard |
| Inflation Offered? | Available if willing to start with significantly lower payments. | Not per se. Most buyers of this format stagger different policies to start income at different times which allows for increased benefits for less money by virtue of deferral credits. (ask for an illustration) |
| Is the annuity an "Investment"? | No, it is an insurance contract regulated by your state DOI (Department of Insurance) |
No, it is an insurance contract regulated by your state DOI (Department of Insurance) |
| How do heirs receive the balance at my demise / death? | For the highest payment for a single individual (life only) there is no inheritance. But there are 5 different scenarios here in the original popup (See the "Key Features" heading) | Heirs receive the balance of any unused monies, inclusive of any growth, minus fees, if any. Income continues till death, regardless of a balance or not. |
| What other benefits are available? |
• Solo Lifetime Payments • Joint Lifetime Payments (100% / 50% survivor) • 10 and 20 year certain plans • Cash Refund |
These plans are also available from the immediate annuity marketplace of 50+ insurers. Make sure you compare quotes. |
| Income doubler for Long Term Care is available for certain policies if you cannot perform 2 out of 6 ADL's (activities of daily living) | ||
| Free Cancelation for Medical / Terminal Illness also available in most policies | ||
| First Year Bonus plans exist here as well; in some cases providing 10% to 15% incentives. | ||
| For NON-INCOME shoppers, the account can be set up (with zero fees) as a protected growth account as well, guaranteeing annual principal preservation. | ||
| Contract can be set up for inheritance-only benefits. | ||
| Contract can also be later transferred to another carrier if need be. |
💡 Remember: Always compare quotes from multiple providers and consider working with a qualified advisor to evaluate all factors beyond just the monthly payment amount.
Why This Comparison?
The Federal Government is logistically unable to coordinate your retirement income plan(s) through the hundreds of insurers within the publicly available annuity marketplace. After all, The Thrift Savings Plan is the largest defined benefit plan in the world and it would not be feasible to incorporate such an administrative burden. The contract was thus awarded to a solo carrier, MetLife, in 1986 to be the facilitator of the TSP annuity.
But your TSP annuity through MetLife is not "insured by the federal government" in any fashion whatsoever.
In fact, your TSP funds are only technically insured by the "claims paying ability of MetLife" which is the exact same protocol of every insurance company in America offering annuity products. Insurance companies are state regulated. Ask your agent to see how MetLife stacks up for ratings, rates, and product information against those companies that you may be interested in. Do your due diligence! This comparison will help you understand the differences between TSP's MetLife annuity and the publicly available annuity offerings from (+/- 50) other insurers.
TSP Annuity Comparison Worksheet — Spouse 1
Comparing the MetLife SPIA Estimate to Publicly Available Guaranteed Income Benefits from 50+ Carriers
| CATEGORY | MetLife ESTIMATE | TOP GUARANTEE from 50+/- Insurers |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime Monthly Benefit | ||
| # of Carriers Paying Higher Benefits | ||
| Difference in Funds Received over 25 Years between Met Life and Todays Top Carrier | ||
| Premium Cost from Top Carrier to Match Met Life's Estimate | ||
| Difference Between Met Life Premium and Top Carrier Premium | ||
| Scenarios If Ten Year Rate Changes Before Met Life Application | ||
| IF Rate = % | (no change) | |
| Difference in Funds Received over 25 Years between Met Life and Todays Top Carrier | ||
| IF Rate = % | (no change) | |
| Difference in Funds Received over 25 Years between Met Life and Todays Top Carrier | ||
TSP Annuity Comparison Worksheet — Spouse 2
Comparing the MetLife SPIA Estimate to Publicly Available Guaranteed Income Benefits from 50+ Carriers
| CATEGORY | MetLife ESTIMATE | TOP GUARANTEE from 50+/- Insurers |
|---|---|---|
| Lifetime Monthly Benefit | ||
| # of Carriers Paying Higher Benefits | ||
| Difference in Funds Received over 25 Years between Met Life and Todays Top Carrier | ||
| Premium Cost from Top Carrier to Match Met Life's Estimate | ||
| Difference Between Met Life Premium and Top Carrier Premium | ||
| Scenarios If Ten Year Rate Changes Before Met Life Application | ||
| IF Rate = % | (no change) | |
| Difference in Funds Received over 25 Years between Met Life and Todays Top Carrier | ||
| IF Rate = % | (no change) | |
| Difference in Funds Received over 25 Years between Met Life and Todays Top Carrier | ||
Contact Information
James Alden
Guaranteed Income numbers are available from the insurance industry RIGHT NOW.
Find Out Your Numbers Today!
949 500 5478
✉️ [email protected]