STUDmoney · Accounts

403(b) / 457 / TSP

Also known as

403b · 457b · thrift savings plan · tsp · teacher 403b · governmental 457

Community talk may be wrong. Not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. No return or outcome is promised.

In brief

403(b), 457 and TSP are workplace retirement plans common in schools, hospitals, government and uniformed service when a 401(k) is not the wrapper.

The common picture

403(b): school/nonprofit plans; TSP: federal-service planTSP stands for Thrift Savings Plan.

457(b): a separate contribution limitIts limit is separate from the 401(k)/403(b) employee-deferral limit and includes employer contributions.

TSP’s famous cheap fundsFederal/uniformed talk.

The match still mattersSame instinct as the 401(k) match card.

2026 basic limits: $24,500 per relevant limitA person eligible for both a 403(b) and a 457(b) can have both limits available, subject to pay and plan terms.

Age catch-ups depend on plan and eligibilityFor most eligible 403(b), governmental 457 and TSP participants: $8,000 at 50+, or $11,250 at ages 60–63 in 2026.

People ask whether a 403(b) is ‘the same’ as a 401(k), then discover annuity-heavy menus, TSP’s cheap funds, and 457 stacking rules that depend on plan type.

Good to know. Annuity-heavy 403(b) menus. Governmental vs non-governmental 457. This is not advice. Not $STUD.

What people say

The job: use the workplace wrapper they actually have, not the one blogs assume.
r/personalfinance, Bogleheads, physician 457 threads are the rooms.
403(b) annuity menus are the complaint. People roll or use a brokerage window when it exists.
Non-governmental 457 has creditor/risk talk that governmental 457 threads do not.
Not a 401(k) rollover card — that neighbor still exists.

How people do it

Defer enough for the match, then ask if a 457 is extra room.
They read whether the 457 is governmental before treating it like a twin 401(k).

Amounts people use

IRS deferral limits change by year — people chant the current number, then confirm.
Stacking 403(b)+457 is the hospital-forum headline when both exist.

How people keep it

Cheap funds if the menu has them.

How it may feel

Confusion, then a paycheck line.

How long

The job years.

The longer notes

The match, 401(k) rollover, Roth vs Traditional are the cousins.

Good to know

Annuity-only 403(b) with huge fees.
Treating every 457 as portable and safe.

Earlier wording (updated)

The plan on the paycheck 403(b) or TSP instead of a 401(k) logo.
457 as a second bucket Hospital/gov threads stack deferrals when the plan allows.

Checked sources

Selected links for the notes above, not a review of every historical claim.

IRS: 2026 retirement contribution limits (opens in a new tab)
Official context · Checked 2026-09-12
Employee base $24,500; general eligible age-50 catch-up $8,000; eligible ages 60–63 $11,250; IRA base $7,500 and age-50 catch-up $1,100. This reference explains the named format or rule. Individual community accounts remain attributed in the notes.
IRS: participation in more than one retirement plan (opens in a new tab)
Official context · Checked 2026-09-12
457(b) has a separate limit including employee and employer contributions; 401(k)/403(b) employee deferrals share the individual limit. Numeric examples on this page are older, so 2026 numbers come from the separate current IRS source. This reference explains the named format or rule. Individual community accounts remain attributed in the notes.