What is the Blended Retirement System (BRS)?
May 30, 2024 | 5 min. read
We’ve boiled down the BRS to the 8 things you need to know in 2024.
The Blended Retirement System (BRS) is the current retirement system for the U.S. military. Implemented in January 2018, it combines the traditional pension available to those who serve 20 years or more with matching TSP contributions, the opportunity to earn a mid-career bonus and options for taking a portion of your retirement pay as a lump sum.
More than 80 percent of service members do not serve the 20 years required to earn a lifetime pension1. One of the objectives of the Department of Defense in implementing the BRS was to give those members an opportunity to leave the military with retirement savings equivalent to those a worker in the private sector might accrue in a 401(k) plan.
What does all of this mean for you? How can you best capitalize on the benefits offered within the BRS? We’ve outlined eight key things you need to know.
1. Lifelong Pension for 20+ Years of Service
For members who serve 20 years or more, the BRS provides a guaranteed lifelong pension2. This pension, often referred to as military retirement income, is calculated using this formula:
High-3 x Years of Service x 2%
So, for example, if the average of your three highest years of earnings (High-3) was $53,088 and you served for 20 years, your monthly pension would be calculated as follows:
$4,424 ($53,088/12) x 20 x 2% = $1,770
Like Social Security, military retirement income is protected from inflation by an annual Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA), based on changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) as measured by the Department of Labor.
2. Personal Monthly Contributions
The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is a defined contribution retirement savings plan, much like a 401(k) offered at many private companies. After 60 days of service, you are eligible to begin making contributions directly from your paycheck. Unless otherwise specified, your contributions will default to five percent of your monthly pay. These contributions can be adjusted at any time. The money you contribute to the plan is not subject to a vesting schedule, so if you separate from the service, it belongs to you.
For service members aged 50 and older, you may also contribute an additional $7,500 yearly to your TSP in ‘catch-up’ pay to bridge any contribution gaps you may have had during your service.
Below you’ll find the annual TSP contribution limits for 2024. The Elective Deferral limit refers to the maximum amount one person can contribute toward their TSP in each calendar year from elective deferrals.
The annual additions limit applies to all TSP-eligible service members and is the most one person can accrue in their TSP in total. Each year’s Annual Additions Limit is inclusive of Elective Deferrals, matching programs, and includes the ability for service members stationed in combat zones to contribute greater amounts to their TSP. Those within combat zones may also have their income tax requirements waived, meaning they can more easily benefit from larger contributions. Your First Command Financial Advisor can help you navigate this specific benefit to help you create future financial security.
3. Automatic Government Contributions
Regardless of your personal contributions to your TSP, the government will contribute an amount equal to one percent of your salary on a pre-tax basis every pay period, beginning 60 days after your start date. These funds are not deducted from your pay—they are contributed from the federal government at no cost to you. This one percent is an automatic contribution, and you do not have to do anything to receive it. Automatic contributions vest after two years, at which point they are yours to take with you if you leave the service.
4. Matching Contributions
The BRS offers matching contributions in the TSP. This means that after two years of service, the government will match your pre-tax contributions dollar for dollar up to the first three percent and 50 cents on the dollar up to the next two percent. In other words, if you contribute five percent of your own pay to your TSP account, you will be investing an amount equal to 10 percent of your pay (5 percent individual contributions + 4 percent matching contributions + 1 percent automatic contributions). Better yet, all matching contributions are immediately vested.
The bottom line is that if you’re not contributing at 5 percent to the TSP, you’re not taking full advantage of the government’s matching contributions. And there’s one more thing to keep in mind – even though contributions above 5 percent are not matched, that doesn’t mean it’s not a good idea to benefit from the tax advantages of the TSP by contributing more if you are able.
5. Investment Options
Service members decide where the money in their TSP is invested by choosing from a menu of mutual funds. These funds vary in their historical performance, asset allocation and risk. It’s important to select funds that are aligned with your circumstances, objectives and tolerance for risk. A First Command Financial Advisor can help you determine which funds are the best fit for you.
6. Traditional or Roth Accounts
TSP contributions can be put into a traditional retirement account, Roth account, or a combination of both. Contributions to a traditional retirement account come out of your paycheck before you pay taxes on them, thus reducing your taxable income for the year. Taxes on the earnings are deferred until you begin withdrawing the money in retirement, at which point they are taxed as ordinary income.
In contrast, contributions to a Roth account are made after taxes, so there is no immediate tax benefit. However, both contributions and earnings can be withdrawn tax-free in retirement, assuming that all IRS requirements are met. This is a particularly compelling feature for those who begin investing early in life and benefit from the power of compounding.
So, which is the best option for you – traditional or Roth? A knowledgeable financial advisor can help you decide.
7. Continuation Pay
Continuation pay is a direct cash payout, or bonus, paid between eight and 12 years of service in exchange for a commitment of continuing service for at least three more years. This bonus is equal to a multiplier times monthly base pay for those on active duty and a smaller multiplier times monthly base pay for those in the Guard or Reserve. See below for a detailed breakdown of the 2024 continuation pay rates for each service.
8. Retirement Pay Options
For those in the BRS, there are three options for receiving retirement pay: (1) full monthly payments, (2) a 25 percent lump-sum payment and monthly payments based on 75 percent of retired pay, and (3) a 50 percent lump-sum payment and monthly payments based on 50 percent of retired pay. For both lump sum options, the reduced retirement pay remains in effect until you reach full retirement age, which is currently 67. At that time, retirement pay will be restored to the full amount. There is a degree of risk to taking the lump-sum payments, however, in that the lump sum payout is less than the payments that would be received over a period of time, effectively reducing the total retirement income of a service member who chooses this option.
Connect with a First Command Financial Advisor
As you can see, the structure of the BRS makes it necessary for service members to be active in preparing for their financial future. There are multiple decision points that will require increased financial engagement, disciplined savings behaviors, and smart investment choices.
Luckily, the complexity of the Blended Retirement System is not a puzzle you have to solve on your own. A First Command Financial Advisor can help you integrate all of your military benefits into a comprehensive financial plan tailored to your unique circumstances and goals. And then serve as your personal financial coach, helping you make smart, informed decisions at every step of your financial journey.
2Active duty military receive their pension after military retirement. Members of the National Guard and Reserve are eligible to receive this benefit at age 60.
TSP funds have very low administrative and investment expenses and, low expenses can have a positive effect on the rate of return of your investment.
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