{"id":27566,"date":"2026-04-15T05:41:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T05:41:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=27566"},"modified":"2026-04-15T05:41:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-15T05:41:09","slug":"a-strategy-for-managing-the-thrift-savings-plan-in-retirement","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/finderica.com\/?p=27566","title":{"rendered":"A Strategy for Managing the Thrift Savings Plan in Retirement"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Well-known CPA and federal retiree, Chris Barfield, has released his 2026 publication of the \u201cThrift Savings Plan barbell strategy.\u201d The TSP barbell strategy is an approach to protecting retirement income using both safe investments with high-growth investments.\u00a0 The strategy can involve maintaining a few years of living expenses in the G Fund and investing the remainder in equity funds like the C or S Funds, while avoiding sell-offs during market downturns.<\/p>\n

While Barfield did not invent the barbell strategy, he has published an annual book about it for several years, The Barbell \u2014 A Strategy for Managing the Thrift Savings Plan in Retirement<\/em><\/a>.\u00a0 Barfield recently retired after two decades in federal law enforcement \u2014 a FERS Special Category Employee (SCE) \u2014 within the Department of Justice.\u00a0 He holds both BS and MS degrees in accounting as well as an active CPA license in the state of Indiana.<\/p>\n

Barfield\u2019s popular book aims to address these common questions TSP participants have as they enter the withdrawal phase of their life:<\/p>\n

\u2022 How do I protect what I\u2019ve built up?<\/em>
\u2022 How do I know how much to take out?<\/em>
\u2022 How often should I take money out?<\/em>
\u2022 When should I start to take money out?<\/em>
\u2022 What if I start taking it out and the market crashes?<\/em>
\u2022 Maybe I should not be in the market anymore?<\/em><\/p>\n

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\u201cThe Barbell Strategy: We eliminate the red portion, and keep the greens.\u201d Source: Barfield Financial.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The book (68-page PDF<\/a>) includes detailed explanations of what the TSP investment options are, and how one might allocate their funds when they are in retirement.\u00a0 It also illustrates the strategy by using a fictional character who retired from federal service in December of 2017 \u2014 tracking his TSP account in real-time using actual TSP returns.<\/p>\n

NOTE: Barfield is not recommending this strategy, or giving financial, investment or tax advice of any kind.<\/strong><\/em> In the preface of the book, Barfield explains that the publication \u201cis meant to be a thorough explanation of how someone could<\/em> employ The Barbell Strategy in conjunction with their TSP and IRA, or other account, were that person so inclined. It is in your best interest to talk with a professional about this strategy to see if it is right for you and your particular financial situation. I\u2019m not recruiting any followers here.\u201d<\/p>\n

The book is available as a\u00a0free download here<\/a>. Barfield also has a free monthly email newsletter available here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Barfield held an explanation and Q&A of last year\u2019s version (2025). The recording of the session (approx. 90 minutes) is below.<\/p>\n