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Why Invest in Risky TSP Stock Funds? To Make More Money

Why Seek a Haven in G? To Make More Money!

Product Specialist
DSCP
Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:42 AM

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Whenever the Market starts diving, I put everything in G because G is guaranteed and always goes up, even if it does so slowly, that's better than losing your funds.
When the stocks start going up again, I buy back while they're still comparably priced to the G.
So while hard noses have lost 30% of their total fund value, mine have increased modestly.
Hoping that the market is near bottom, I've just moved a good portion back into stocks, which remain comparably priced to the G, some cheaper still.
So, I'm following the Golden Rule: Sell high; Buy low.
This takes more work than just trusting that over the course of time everything goes up, but I believe, in the short run, my efforts will be rewarded.
I thank Tom Crowley of TSPTalk.com for his wise advice.
But for those who haven't the time or inclination to follow the market, Ralph Smith is certainly right.
Either way, we're gambling with our futures. All the charts in the world won't tell what the market will do tomorrow.

C, S, I

FIRE GOD
USFS
Sat Oct 18, 2008 9:21 PM

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no csi is not a tv show. it is fun to watch. i pulled all my money out of the g fund as in 0% in g and went in 5% in each of the l fund and the rest in c,s and i and yes i have 40% of my pay going in to c,s and i . ( at a gs-7 that ant much)dam the torpetos the market is down, wake up get out of g fund and make your money work for you. no the market is not at bottom , buy on the way down and on the way up and you will do just fine.
as far as the 2 trade limit it is my money let me manage it as i see fit.
if you were any good at managing the funds no one would be loosing money. i'm not let me run the thing!!! (check out the motley fool)

thank you
the fire good

Showing shares

Writer
Bureau of Reclamation
Mon Oct 20, 2008 10:10 AM

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It would be a lot better emotionally to show the number of shares. My Roth IRA shows the value going down, but my number of shares going up. My TSP only shows the value going down.

Why can't the TSP show number of shares? Do we own shares or just a value?

Re: Showing shares

RMO
USSTRATCOM
Tue Oct 28, 2008 3:40 PM
If you go into your TSP account you will see that there are five columns of data (Investment Fund, Shares, Share Price, Balance and Distribution. I think what your looking for is in column two (Shares).

RETIRING IN ONE YEAR AAND ALL TSP IS IN STOCKS

Federal Employee
OIG - USPS
Mon Oct 20, 2008 2:01 PM

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I am confused!! I have 50% in the C, @%% in the F and 25% in the I funds. I was thinking of moving all earned monies into the G fund and leaving all future earnings where they are. Is that a wise move, since I do plan to retire in one year. I was not planning on touching my TSP until I have to.

Please give me your thoughts.

Re: RETIRING IN ONE YEAR AAND ALL TSP IS IN STOCKS

analyst
DOD
Mon Oct 20, 2008 6:19 PM
If you're about to retire I would reduce your stock exposure substantially (but not get out entirely).

Two recommendations:
1) Talk to a financial advisor about your asset allocation right now, he can give you more specific advice once he'she knows more about your individual situation.

2) Consider rolling your money out of the TSP and into and IRA once you retire. The main tax advantage of the TSP is that contributions are made with pre-tax money and that advantage is no longer applicable when you stop contributing. Also, a good IRA will give you considerably more investment options with the potential of smoother returns over the years.

Timing of Transactions

Work Leader
KyARNG
Sat Oct 25, 2008 7:49 AM

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Employees investing in the TSP should be educated to some degree on the markets that are available prior to making investments. I've taken some time to try and learn the system. I must admit however that I am gazillions of miles away from being a market pro. I would like to explain a scenario that I performed. Although you can't accurately estimate the market downturn, you can listen to the pro's and get a reasonably good feel. As the market came down, I moved ALL of my stock funds (C,S & I)(I had none in G) into the G Fund. I had $100,000.00 on the initial downslide with $95,000 when I sold and dumped in the G Fund. The good news is when the market bottoms out, and I can "hopefully" detect that bottom out effect, I will buy back into the stock funds. Assuming the stocks return to their past values, I'll most likely double or even approach triple value.

TSP investors need to remember an important fact... the # of shares doesn't decrease... the VALUE decreases!

TSP stock puchases

Recce Maintenance Officer
USSTRATCOM
Mon Oct 27, 2008 3:43 PM

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When are shares of stock purchased after contributions are made through payrol deduction...next business day, specific day(s) of the month?
Thanks,

why invest in tsp

retired
USPS
Tue Oct 28, 2008 11:42 AM

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FERS employees don't have a choice. They are stuck with the poor performing TSP funds. I compare this to the poor folks who had their entire 401k invested in the company stock of the company they worked for. Many of my friends who were invested in their company stock have seen 90% of it disappear.

A couple years before I retired, I sold all my wife's company stock @$50. This stock is now ar $4.50 share. Sad for those who kept it.

The only advantage to TSP is that FERS gets $ for $ from the agency. Too bad there are Fannie Mae types running the plan.

Total Comments: 42
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