A TSP account doesn't follow a will. It follows the TSP-3 beneficiary designation on file, which overrides the will entirely. If that designation is outdated, names someone who has since passed away, or was never completed, the TSP applies its own order of precedence to distribute the funds.
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A lot of federal employees don't realize that their TSP doesn't automatically follow their will. Who gets that money is determined by a TSP-3 form that may have been filled out years ago, or in some cases never filled out at all.
Whoever you named as your beneficiary on file with TSP is who gets the money. That designation controls everything, and it overrides your will entirely. If that designation is outdated, names someone who has since passed away, or was never completed, the TSP has its own order of precedence for distributing the funds, and it may not match what you would have wanted.
It takes a few minutes to log into your TSP account and check who's listed. It's worth doing, especially if your family situation has changed since you first enrolled. It's a small step that can prevent a significant problem.
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