The Foreign Service Journal, March 2013

THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | MARCH 2013 71 AFSA NEWS Make a worthwhile contribution to the Senior Living Foundation of the American Foreign Service today. For more information, please contact the SENIOR LIVING FOUNDATION OF THE AMERICAN FOREIGN SERVICE 1716 N Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-2902 Phone: (202) 887-8170 Fax: (202) 872-9320 E-mail: info@SLFoundation.org Web site: www.SLFoundation.org A time of service…a time of need The Senior Living Foundation is a tax deductible 501 (c)(3) charitable organization. Send a check to the Senior Living Foundation Make a credit card donation via our Web site Enter our CFC #40530 on your Combined Federal Campaign Pledge Card Remember us in your will or Charitable Remainder Trust On Jan. 25, Ambassador David Newton spoke on U.S. chal- lenges in the Middle East to more than 120 persons at a Foreign Service Retirees Association of Florida luncheon in Sarasota. Five of the attendees were recognized for their char- ter membership in the FSRA, which was formalized in 1982. About a dozen attendees attended the event as a result of FSRA’s ties with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers chapters in Florida. The FSRA holds luncheons five times a year through- out the state and also provides speakers on the Foreign Service and related subjects to interested parties. Mem- bership is open to persons who have represented the U.S. government abroad and their spouses or partners. For more information on FSRA, please visit our Web site at www.foreignserviceretireeassociation.org. n ACT I VE AFTER ACT I VE- DUTY Middle East Lunch Topic pare that to the average cost for mutual funds is $2.62 per $1,000 and median 401(k) expenses are $7.20 per $1,000. Your low-cost TSP investment allows you to save more. Withdrawals from your TSP account have their own set of rules and par- ticipants must be aware of notification requirements. All post-service withdrawal requests require a notarized signature of the participant. Withdrawal forms can be pre-filled using the online wizard on the TSP website and this can help to avoid mistakes. Married FERS partici- pants must obtain a nota- rized spouse’s signature, but not for married CSRS participants. If a participant has both a traditional and a Roth balance, all withdrawal options are paid proportion- ally (pro-rata) from each balance. In order to elect an in-ser- vice withdrawal, the partici- pant must be 59½ or older. It is very important to know that an in-service withdrawal is a one-time withdrawal of all or a specific dollar amount of at least $1,000. For more on managing your Thrift Savings Plan, please see the April issue of AFSA News. n BY T. DENNIS REECE, CHAIR, FSRA-FL