United States Marine Corps: The Confluence of Leadership, the Blended Retirement System, and the Thrift Savings Plan

Abstract

The Department of Defense’s transition to the Blended Retirement System (BRS) in 2018 marked a significant shift in military retirement planning, allowing service members for the first time to receive matching contributions to their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). This thesis delves into the financial implications of default settings within the BRS, focusing on three distinct groups: opt-in members, automatic 3% enrollees, and automatic 5% enrollees. Developing a conceptual framework to construct various financial models, this thesis examines the differences in TSP portfolio earnings based on default settings and assesses the appropriateness of Roth and traditional TSP account options for enlisted personnel and officers. This thesis illustrates differences in service member contributions, government matching contributions, TSP portfolio balances at the end of different service lengths, and the projected TSP account balances at age 60 given an annual 8% rate of return. Current data shows that not all BRS members are actively contributing to the TSP or receiving the full government match. This highlights a missed opportunity for current active-duty service members. Moreover, the complexity of TSP account selection is underscored, emphasizing the importance of informed decision-making. Leadership intervention and enhanced financial education are needed to correct these issues and raise awareness of retirement entitlements among all BRS participants.