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The Value of the F Fund in Your Retirement Planning

F fund

RA
IRS
Wed Apr 2, 2008 9:57 AM

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If the F fund is backed by mortgages, would that not make the risk high right now with so many failing mortgages or is it something completly different?

Re: F fund

Supervisor
dhs
Wed Apr 2, 2008 8:12 PM
The F fund is invested in a mix of bonds intended to follow the Lehman Brothers index. While there may be some mortgage exposure, it won't be enough to have a significant effect. The index is very broad.

F Fund and CSRS

Former HR Specialist
Federal Agency
Wed Apr 2, 2008 10:18 AM

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A financial advisor that addressed my CSRS Retirement Class explained the F Fund this way: The purpose of including the F Fund in your TSP is to moderate the ups and downs in your TSP. With a CSRS Retirement Annuity, there is no additional need for moderating your TSP because the Annuity is the major part of your retirement. Therefore, CSRS folks shouldn't bother with the F Fund.

She said it better than that, and it made sense to me. So there it is, FWIW.

Stock turnaround

Branch Chief
DHHS
Wed Apr 2, 2008 10:58 AM

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Considering your article and timing as depicted, wouldn't it be a good time to diversify by pulling out of the comfy G fund, and investing strongly in the L funds, whereby you can buy cheaper now and wait it out for stronger results in hopefully the very near future. My horizon puts me in the L 2010... what do you think? Thanks.

Re: Stock turnaround

analyst
DoD
Wed Apr 2, 2008 3:54 PM
If you choose an L fund, get in it and stay in it. Pulling in and out of an L fund based on temporary market swings completely defeats the purpose of the concept.

Twice Burned Once Shy

Claims Rep
SSA
Wed Apr 2, 2008 2:23 PM

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Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I've been fooled more times than I care to remember, during the last year with my TSP account. With only 3 years before I retire, I can not risk looking into a crystal ball to see where this market is heading. At this point in my career, losses are more difficult to make up because of my short time horizon leading up to retirement so I've decided to sock all of my funds into the "G" Fund. I'm in the CSRS so it is not that big of a deal, but if I was in FERS, I'd be concerned and sweating like a hog...I'm so glad that I didn't jump over to FERS when it was offered to me or I'd be a cooked goose...

Re: Twice Burned Once Shy

Mgt ANalyst
FSA
Wed Apr 2, 2008 7:22 PM
Are you for real? Glad you did not jump into FERS? Was this assessment made based on these recent somewhat facile market events. If you had jumped to FERS some 24 years ago now, you would not only have SSA (which you work for by the way), you'd have probably triple the amount in TSP and big tax advantages in each of the 24 years. You are an ostrich with your head you know where if you think CSRS outperformed FERS and fully contributing TSP in C for 24 years. Frankly, your working for SSA is not a surprise.

Re: Twice Burned Once Shy

Manager
dod
Thu Apr 3, 2008 7:58 PM
A TSP portfolio intelligently built over 30 years (say age 25 to 55 contributing 10% of your annual pay) can provide a retirement income that exceeds your working income.

How that qualifies as being a cooked goose is quite a mystery.

Re: Twice Burned Once Shy

amm
SSA
Mon Apr 28, 2008 5:32 PM
I jumped into FERS when I had the chance and I don't regret it. TSP has been good to me and I look forward to the retirement part that it will provide.
Don't judge all SSA employees by one. Some of us did the math and figured out it would be a good deal. The problem is that some people don't want to take care of themselves and consequently don't take advantage of the options or the possibilities. I've been with SSA for 27 years and I've seen way too many people think that SSA is the only retirement they need. I know there are lots of CSRS'ers who think the same way about CSRS. CSRS'ers also think they shouldn't have any SSA offset or WEP.
I personally think you should look at all your options and not be so critical of the decisions that others make. Tough choices are involved but make the one that is right for you.

Re: Twice Burned Once Shy

Supervisor
US Marshals
Sun Sep 21, 2008 11:19 PM
Before you berate this person who is happy they avoided FERS, lets do some math. I am FERS, and can leave with 30 years of law enforcement service in 10 years. Under CSRS I would bring home what, 2.5% X the first 20, then 2%X the last 10, for a total of 70% of my high three average? Is that correct? If correct, I get that the day I walk out, no waiting for SS supplements or TSP, or anything else. Under FERS its what, roughly 46% of my high 3? I've been TSP since day 1 and have under 400k, full amount every year, allocation roughly 50% C, 20%S, 15% I, 10%F, and 5% G. FERS was not given to us because it was better.

Re: Twice Burned Once Shy

Nameless, Faceless Nobody
DOD
Mon Sep 22, 2008 10:02 AM
Higher Grades, double-incomes, people who can afford to put in an additional 10% on top of the 7+% on top of....did better in FERS.

Those of us at lower grades, already not making the minimum needed to cover all costs for our family demographics, (I manage to stay 7K or so below that amount no matter what I do,) have struggled to put money into our TSPs and our 401Ks. I am very grateful that I stayed CSR as I can count on a certain amount of money, an earlier retirement, and still get some small income suppliments from my small TSP and 401K.

It just depends on where you are standing as to which one looks better.

The Real Winner....THE F FUND!!!!

Fed Peasant
DOD
Wed Apr 2, 2008 10:01 PM

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Look at the TSP stats for 2007. The F fund was the 2nd best performer, only behind the I (International) Fund. It actually beat the 2 US stock funds (C & S). There is a place for bonds!! They have short periods where they can really out do the stock funds. You have to understand the quirky bond market.

F Fund Consistant Performer

Retired
DOD
Fri Apr 11, 2008 2:09 PM

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All I know is that over the last three or four years I have had my TSP in the F Fund, with a few minor fluctuations, it has been a consistant performer, even when the growth funds were all over the place. I chose the F Fund for this very reason. It provides better growth than the G Fund which is not even keeping up with inflation right now and less risk than the C Fund and the I and L funds. Go Figure.

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