Decoding Military Blended Retirement (BRS)

by | May 19, 2023 | Thrift Savings Plan | 29 comments

Decoding Military Blended Retirement (BRS)




Military Blended Retirement (BRS) Explained

In this video we explain the blended retirement system for the military. We go over both roth tsp and traditional tsp and how they apply to the brs retirement. Investing in the thrift savings plan while in the military is now part of your military retirement, so we wanted to make it easier to understand your brs pension.

Military TSP – Thrift Savings Plan Explained:

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The Military Blended Retirement System (BRS) was introduced in 2018 as a new retirement plan for members of the US military. The BRS is a combination of a traditional defined benefit pension plan and a defined contribution plan, which includes a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP).

Under the BRS, service members who join the military after January 1, 2018, are automatically enrolled in the new plan. Those who are currently serving or who joined before January 1, 2018, have the option to switch to the new plan or remain in the legacy pension plan known as the High-3 plan.

One of the key features of the BRS is the TSP, which is similar to a 401(k) plan in the civilian world. Members can contribute up to 5% of their basic pay, and the government will match the first 4% of contributions. The TSP also offers a variety of investment options to help service members grow their retirement savings.

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The BRS also includes a reduced pension benefit compared to the High-3 plan. Under the BRS, the pension is calculated based on 2% of the service member’s average basic pay for their highest 36 months of service, multiplied by the number of years of service. This is compared to the High-3 plan, which calculates the pension based on 2.5% of the service member’s average basic pay for their highest 36 months of service, multiplied by the number of years of service.

However, the BRS includes a new feature called Continuation Pay, which provides a lump sum payment to service members who agree to serve for an additional 4 years. The amount of Continuation Pay is based on the service member’s years of service and their branch of service. This payment can be used as a retention tool to encourage service members to stay in the military.

Another key feature of the BRS is its portability. Service members who leave the military before reaching full retirement age can take their TSP savings with them. This can be beneficial for those who leave the military before reaching 20 years of service, which is when they become eligible for the pension benefit under the High-3 plan.

Overall, the Military Blended Retirement System offers a flexible and adaptable retirement plan for members of the US military. It includes both a traditional pension plan and a defined contribution plan, as well as additional benefits like Continuation Pay and portability. However, service members should carefully consider their options and speak with a financial advisor before making any decisions about their retirement plan.

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29 Comments

  1. ismo designs

    They used to match up to 5% in TSP before too

  2. Kendall L.

    You can retire 3 years after service?

  3. rickey

    Does the pension for people under the BRS kick in right after you complete your 20 years and retire or do you have to wait until retirement age to start collecting??

  4. Randy Persad

    Just to clarify, if you do 20yrs of service you receive full retirement package and your TSP contributions, if you enrolled in the BRS?

  5. Military Moments

    Y’all explained this so much better than I could , thanks .

  6. Capt Nightwatch

    Question: for a USNA Midshipman, USMA/USAFA Cadetst that Commission, are they subject to the 60 days until TSP starts? What about the 2 years matching waiting period? FYI: MIDN & Cadets are considered Active duty whale at USNA, USMA and USAFA.

  7. Stong

    On BRS, there's a benefit called Continuation Pay at your 12yrs mark. Wondering if that affects my monthly retirement $$$ if i were to do 20+ yrs?

  8. Asahisagoiboi

    I retired after 4 years with SSDI and 100 percent service connected disability.

  9. ghia wafa

    Please help, soo, were medically retiring 14yrs and we do have tsp and blended also. Question are we getting a monthly paycheck from this when we get out? Or we have to wait until were old and dying to get paid?

  10. Estevan Bonilla

    Wow I have some catching up to do. 6 years and never dropped a dime into TSP

  11. Malik-Seven Navarre

    Hey just had a quick question. In the new TSP plan is high 3 still a thing ? You guys made it sound like for the new plan members can serve their time and still receive a check separate from their TSP, but I’ve been told Unc Sam is trashing high 3 and basing retirement solely off of TSP. Is high 3 (with 2% instead of 2.5%) separate from the TSP still a thing for the new system or no ?

  12. Shawn

    BRS is trash this will gut our senior leadership in 5 years stop lying to these kids.

  13. Shalaya Mallory

    I’m glad you made this video! There were a lot of First Classes scaring the junior sailors that if they did 20 years they didn’t get a pension until 67. I believe this is a great way for them who won’t be financially prepared to get a lump sum or have it for a rainy day.
    All lot of them were not educated in the BRS program. Thank you for breaking this down! I shared this with couple of my junior sailors as well!

  14. Javier Domingo

    If I only contribute 4%, Will I still get the 5% because 1% is automatically contributed by the government?

  15. Jeremy Anderson

    Do you know if those matching contributions are traditional or roth? Meaning if I decided I'd rather contribute to my TSP using Roth contributions, will the government match those Roth contributions up to 5%. Or is this only for traditional contributions?

  16. Waif Greer

    Hey folks, would you recommend BRS to E6-7s with 10+ years of service today in 2022 if they're thinking of starting TSP?

  17. Lofa

    This awesome dude!

  18. Miguel Mendoza

    I wish they would've shown this during our finance brief…. all this talk about the BRS but no one just hit key points like this. Thank you gentlemen!

  19. SFCRMSA

    I retired at 20 1/2. old system. I am a 17%'er as well.

  20. Jjay R16:16

    New subscriber here!

  21. BoostedDrummer

    E-6 here, trying to educate my troops on TSP/finances and I'm reading up on the BRS. Great video, btw. My question is, I'm assuming that new troops coming in that are automatically enrolled in TSP are still defaulting all their money into the G-fund? I feel that if that's the case, they should change that to the C or S fund at their first duty station to maximize their returns.

  22. Ohsonice1

    So if i do my 20 years under brs i still get paid until i die? right?

  23. DA Films

    smh.. why don’t you guys opt into the blended system then

  24. zac blackwood

    Since the BRS is comprised of a pension and TSP(basically 401k). Does that mean you get your pension right when you retire after 20 years, but you can not touch the TSP until 59 like a normal Retirement fund?

  25. A

    Is every branch and/or service member eligible for the BRS?

  26. Fel Lim

    you just earned yourself a subscriber big Sarge

  27. Miles Morales

    please can you make a video on what type of car a military can buy after 2 or 3 years of saving money

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