R 181430Z APR 02  ZYW
FM CMC WASHINGTON DC//MP//
TO ALMAR
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UNCLAS  //N07200//
ALMAR 021/02
MSGID/GENADMIN/CMC WASHINGTON DC/MP//
SUBJ/THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN (TSP)//
POC/K.J. HACKBARTH/MAJ/M&RA (MPO-40)/DSN: 278-9386/
TEL: (703) 784-9386//
RMKS/1.  THE THRIFT SAVINGS PLAN IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR
MARINES TO LEARN ABOUT INVESTING MONEY THROUGH A PORTFOLIO OF FIVE
INVESTMENT PLANS.  THESE PLANS RANGE FROM SECURE U.S. TREASURY
SECURITIES THAT ARE SPECIALLY ISSUED TO THE TSP TO THE RISKY
"INTERNATIONAL" FUND.  TSP IS A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SPONSORED SAVINGS
AND INVESTMENT PLAN THAT WILL ALLOW MARINES TO SAVE UP TO $11,000 IN
2002.  THIS AMOUNT WILL INCREASE BY $1,000 UNTIL 2006 WHEN THE LIMIT
WILL BE REMOVED.  CONTRIBUTIONS ARE MADE WITH PRE-TAX DOLLARS AND
EARNINGS GROW TAX FREE UNTIL WITHDRAWN.  FOR SENIOR MARINES, THE TSP
CAN BE A RELATIVELY SAFE, CONVENIENT TAX SHELTER.
2.  WHILE IT IS ENCOURAGING TO SEE THE INTEREST OUR CAREER FORCE HAS
SHOWN IN THE TSP, IT HAS COME TO MY ATTENTION THAT OUR YOUNGER
MARINES HAVE NOT DEMONSTRATED THE SAME LEVEL OF INTEREST.  BY TAKING
ADVANTAGE OF THIS PROGRAM, THEY ARE THE MARINES WITH THE POTENTIAL
TO BENEFIT MOST.  BY INVESTING EARLY IN LIFE, THEY ARE ABLE TO FULLY
EXPLOIT THE EARNING POWER OF COMPOUND GROWTH.
3.  MARINES CAN ONLY ENROLL IN THE TSP DURING AN "OPEN SEASON".  THE
NEXT OPEN SEASON RUNS FROM 15 MAY TO 31 JUL.  MARINES CAN ENROLL IN
THE TSP FROM HOME USING EMPLOYEE/MEMBER SELF SERVICE WEB ACCESS AT
HTTP://WWW.DFAS.MIL/EMSS, OR VISIT THEIR PERSONNEL ADMINISTRATION
OFFICE.
4.  FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, MARINES SHOULD VISIT WWW.MOL.USMC.MIL
OR WWW.TSP.GOV.
5.  J. L. JONES, GENERAL, U.S. MARINE CORPS, COMMANDANT OF THE MARINE
CORPS.//
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