2015 Thrift Savings Plan 

Education Efforts 

Federal Retirement Thrift 

Investment Board 

June 2016 
IntroducƟon 3

Stay Campaign 4

YouTube Videos 4

ParƟcipant CommunicaƟons 5

Uniformed Services ArƟcles 5

Financial Literacy & EducaƟon Commission 6

Annual Statement Enhancements 6

In‐Person Agency Rep/Employee Trainings 7

Contents 
We are pleased to provide this summary of our educaƟon efforts in 2015 in response to the following

requirement contained in the ThriŌ Savings Plan (TSP) Open ElecƟons Act of 2004:   

The Board shall annually report to the CommiƩee on Governmental Affairs of the Senate and the CommiƩee 

on Government Reform in the House of RepresentaƟves on its ThriŌ Savings Plan educaƟon efforts on behalf 

of plan parƟcipants. Pub. L. 108 ‐469, §2, 118 Stat. 3891, 3892 

In 2015, educaƟon iniƟaƟves undertaken by the Federal ReƟrement ThriŌ Investment Board included a

campaign to help parƟcipants to understand the benefits of staying with the TSP aŌer reƟrement, enhanced

coordinaƟon with the Financial Literacy and EducaƟon Commission, several YouTube videos, and a robust

program of in‐person training sessions for employees and agency representaƟves.

Financial literacy is a criƟcal element of reƟrement readiness. To that end, we are commiƩed to delivering

compelling messaging that encourages parƟcipants to save for reƟrement; to educating, communicating,

and interacting with parƟcipants to help them make smart choices; and to delivering innovaƟve products

and programs to assist parƟcipants in achieving their reƟrement goals.  

Introduction 

Thrift Savings Plan Education Efforts 3
 

In November 2015, the TSP launched the “Stay” campaign to highlight the benefits of

staying with the TSP aŌer leaving federal service. Part of the impetus for this effort is the

persistent myth that parƟcipants must leave the TSP upon separaƟng from federal

service. The Stay campaign explains that, should they choose to, separaƟng parƟcipants

can leave their TSP account right where it is.  

In addiƟon to a poster for distribuƟon at federal agencies and services, the TSP created

an interacƟve website (tsp.gov/stay). The site includes two educaƟonal videos and an

interacƟve “scorecard” with key quesƟons parƟcipants should ask before rolling their

money into another reƟrement account. We also noted that while each individual’s situaƟon is different and should be

considered when making this decision, our goal was to help provide the tools parƟcipants need to make the best

choice for themselves. To date, the Stay microsite has received more than 170,000 views.  

“Stay” Campaign 

The TSP released seven new or updated videos during 2015. In addiƟon to those connected to the Stay campaign,  

videos covered how the TSP fits into the Federal Employees ReƟrement System (FERS) and more. One parƟcularly

creaƟve video used building blocks to help define compound interest and demonstrate how it can help parƟcipants’

savings grow exponenƟally. We also updated videos to reflect two legislaƟve changes: the change in the TSP’s default

investment fund and the new excepƟon to the early withdrawal penalty tax for public safety employees.

     How the TSP Fits into FERS — 148,055 views*

 Thinking about Moving Your TSP Savings to Another Plan? — 72,724 views

 How Can Compound Earnings Work for Me? — 68,795 views

 Once You’re Gone, You’re Gone — 34,669 views  

 Don’t Move — 22,243 views

 10% Early Withdrawal Penalty Tax (Updated) — 9,445 views

 Your Investment OpƟons: The G Fund (Updated) — 7,530 views

*All views are as of May 30, 2016.

You Tube Videos 

Thrift Savings Plan Education Efforts 4
 

Participant Communications 

We conƟnued working with our network of print and online military publicaƟons. More than a dozen publicaƟons have

agreed to publish our content on a regular basis. Through them we have provided criƟcal TSP informaƟon in a format

that is easily accessible and familiar to service members. Topics have included the

benefits of contribuƟng to the TSP for mid‐career members, how small changes can

grow into substanƟal savings over Ɵme thanks to the power of compounding, and the

benefits of tax‐free earnings with our Roth opƟon.

Thrift Savings Plan Education Efforts 5

Uniformed Services Articles 

Our educaƟonal efforts also include one‐to‐one contact. We offer parƟcipants various ways to submit inquiries to the

TSP including wriƩen correspondence, secure e‐messaging, and telephone calls.  

Telephone Calls  

Answered

2,227,889 

Secure  

E‐messages

55,510 

WriƩen  

Correspondence

43,111 
 

Financial Literacy and Education Commission 

(FLEC)

In early 2015, the TSP provided support with the StarƟng Early for Financial Stability and Long‐Term Savings & InvesƟng

CommiƩee. Through this FLEC subcommiƩee, nine federal agencies began working collaboraƟvely to increase TSP

parƟcipaƟon among their employees. At the request of the parƟcipaƟng agencies, the TSP created a new video, “How

the TSP Fits into FERS,” to help illuminate the role the TSP plays in the Federal Employees ReƟrement System (FERS).

This video, which explains how the FERS Basic Benefit, Social Security, and the TSP all work together to create the  

three‐part FERS reƟrement package, is the TSP’s most popular ever. To date, it has more than 148,000 views.

The TSP also supported the subcommiƩee’s efforts by providing select TSP materials for agency distribuƟon and

reviewing an email targeted at FERS employees contribuƟng less than 5% of their salaries. The email explained the

benefits of receiving the full agency match and provided precise instrucƟons about how to increase contribuƟons

should employees decide to.

Annual Statement Enhancements 

While the TSP has included targeted messages on parƟcipant annual statements for years, in 2015 we redesigned the

first page of the statement to make the locaƟon of the message more prominent. We increased the font size,  brought

the messages front and center, and used color to draw addiƟonal aƩenƟon to them. We then used this space to share

brief educaƟonal messages for parƟcipants who were not contribuƟng to their accounts, parƟcipants who were

invested 100% in the G Fund, and other groups.  

We also included special leaflets with some of the annual statements of targeted groups. One targeted FERS

parƟcipants of any age who had never contributed to their TSP accounts; it detailed how matching works and the

benefits of not leaving money on the table. Another went to young uniformed services members and explained the

power of compounding over Ɵme. Finally, a third leaflet informed new employees that they had the opƟon to transfer

other eligible plans into the TSP if they chose.

Thrift Savings Plan Education Efforts 6
 

By law (5 U.S.C. § 8350) the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is required to operate a training program for

reƟrement counselors in employing agencies. This requirement ensures that employees are able to obtain current

informaƟon and personal service in response to their reƟrement‐related quesƟons. Since 1987, we have worked with

OPM to sustain a network of TSP agency representaƟves as part of this program. The TSP agency representaƟves

receive training and stay current by aƩending specialized TSP training sessions. In 2015, 234 agency representaƟves

aƩended a total of 14 training sessions led by the TSP training staff. We also hosted four quarterly meeƟngs with 228

agency representaƟves receiving TSP updates for their HR offices.  

A total of 31,055 employees aƩended TSP training sessions either in

person or offsite via webinar, conference call, or video teleconference.

We provide these sessions free to employing agencies and services.  

We also set up TSP exhibits at conferences and financial benefits fairs

for civilian employees and members of the uniformed services. In

2015, we parƟcipated in 25 such events, enabling our staff members

to talk with more than 3,919 aƩendees.

In-Person Agency Rep/Employee Trainings 

We also partnered with the SecuriƟes Exchange Commission (SEC) to conduct a special session, “Your TSP Account –

What to Consider When ReƟring or Leaving the Government,” for their employees. The session covered withdrawals

and transfers, investment opƟons, risks and fees, and the red flags of fraud. This session reached 435 SEC employees

locally and remotely through an internal broadcast link.  

We will conƟnue joint efforts such as this one to reach more employees in the future.

Thrift Savings Plan Education Efforts 7

Early to Mid‐Career

Pre‐Separation

TSP A to Z

Total Number of Employee Briefings

91 

108 

39