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TSP Funds Up Five Months in a Row

Another Good Commentary

Fiscally Responsible Fed
Somewhere
Tue Aug 4, 2009 10:10 AM

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Consider that those buying now are paying more to get into stocks than they would have six months ago when they bailed out to G fund.

Best to have a long term plan and stick with it. Acting emotionally doesn't pay. Amateurs are better off just going with a Lifecycle fund than acting on emotion or other instinct.

Re: Another Good Commentary

IT Specialist
HHS
Tue Aug 4, 2009 10:38 AM
I agree, I always got a kick out of reading those comments everytime there is a TSP article. We got blasted for sticking it out buying more C,S & I. We were so dumb.

I've only been in the government for 5 years now but my TSP is at its highest point ever this morning, January 1st I maxed out my TSP contributions. Never bought a single share of G or F.

Lifecycle fund

newly retired
USDA
Tue Aug 4, 2009 10:34 AM

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Even though I just retired, I kept my money in L2020, because I don't need it for awhile. However, I do wonder if I would have done better if I had distributed it myself, i.e., put similar percentages into the G, C and F funds. I think that the total percentage was pulled down more than if I had done that.

Re: Lifecycle fund

BMEU
USPS
Tue Aug 4, 2009 12:00 PM
4 months ago the tanking market was supposed to be a verdict on Obama, according to the greybeards of Fedsmith: gonna bring yourselves to give him credit now that it's soaring??
I didn't think so.

Re: Lifecycle fund

hr specialist
civilian agency
Tue Aug 4, 2009 12:14 PM
I routinely read all of the articles that are published on this site about the TSP. I have not seen articles saying the stock market results were a verdict on Bush or Obama; in fact, there are articles that say an investor should ignore politics and focus on economic reality.

I went back and looked thinking I must have missed something as blatant as what you purport to be seeing. I did articles that said markets don't like uncertainty and we are in a period of uncertainty. I suppose you could read that to fit your political prejudice but it doesn't come close to what you are talking about.

I find it perplexing that this site, which I read very day as there are a variety of articles here all pertaining to the federal workforce, as so many political prejudices coming from the readers. Apparently it is not possible to read an article about the federal workforce without having a political agenda coming into play from some of my colleagues.

Are we all whiners or just creating the impression we are mindless followers of a political party?

Re: Lifecycle fund

Analyst
DoD
Tue Aug 4, 2009 6:37 PM
"4 months ago the tanking market was supposed to be a verdict on Obama, according to the greybeards of Fedsmith: gonna bring yourselves to give him credit now that it's soaring??"

BMEU - The market tanking wasn't Obama's fault. The market rising now isn't because of him either. It's much more complex than that, generalizations such as you have given us are nothing more than political catch phrases.

Market timing????

o2B XFED
irs
Thu Aug 6, 2009 6:22 AM

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Why is Smith recommending market timing? That is almost always considered a bad idea. He says "The stock market usually looks ahead--or at least stock investors try to invest based on future events. The looming national debt and the high unemployment rate of about 10% are likely to give some investors pause and could well put a damper on the markets continuing to go up at their current rate." Any investor with a brain has already seen the national debt and high unemployment. Why would they all of a sudden cause the market to reverse at this stage?

Re: Market timing????

editor
fedsmith.com
Thu Aug 6, 2009 8:38 AM
The article simply stated "The stock market usually looks ahead--or at least stock investors try to invest based on future events." This stock market trend is generally recognized by investors who choose to invest in stocks. It should not be taken as an exposition advocating readers follow--or not follow--a program of market timing. In fact, we have had several articles on this site that illustrate many who try to time the market often magnify their losses. http://www.fedsmith.com/article/428/timing-market-your-tsp-funds-heres-what.html
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