Re: Investment Shares

That would work if you were actually buying stocks, in specific companies. If you invested $3,500 in "Dell" at $35 a share, you have $100 shares. If it goes down $10 a share, from $35 to $25, and within a year it goes back up to $35, then you suffered only a paper/shadow loss because your $3,500 is where it was when you started.

You need to watch out for dollars verses percentages. If you had the same $3,500 invested in "shares" or some say the TSP Pool, and it went down 35 percent, from a BIG starting poinnt of $3,500 that is a big loss and it is now only worth $2,275. It is misleading to think that you are "even" if that $2,275 goes UP 35 percent, because that is a percent of a SMALLER starting point, and it only gets you back to $3,071.

The TSP is not like the old days of owning an actual share of stock that was easy to track.

Re: Investment Shares

Plus compound interest. Let's not forget that.

So, the original poster was right on with his or her question:

Yes, you still own XX number of stocks and those stocks have made money PLUS the interest accrued.

Re: tsp

Well, that OK. You gotta do what's right for you.

Still, I--and many of my counterparts---have done very, very well in the TSP market.

My retirement account--as compared to other who either don't invest at all (yikes!) or invest solely in the G Fund--is fairly substantial. I chose to face risk and invested heavily in the C and I Funds. It was a wee hairy there for a spell, but now. Wow, you should see this nest egg!

Set it and forget it. That's my investment strategy.

Re: tsp

So you are using TSP as a savings account that you can not touch, in the G fund? No risk no reward right? How long have you been in the TSP? As of right now I have been in a year, not sure how much I went down and do not care because it will grow grow grow. Taxes might eat it a little. Roth IRA?

Re: Dumping Losses?

You "Dump Losses" from your memory, Not the TSP Balance. For a more accurate picture of loss or gain in your account, look at the Calendar Year totals (Annual Activity Summary by Fund Statement) not the current 12 mo. cycle of % gain or loss you see posted. In '08 we lost big. In '09 our investments are recovering some. Hopefully, in the long run, interest gains are greater than losses. The amount of gain or loss depends how/if you manage your fund (diversify or one fund, no trades or make trades to beat the market) and how much you are willing to risk ourside the G fund.

Re: Dumping Losses?

I assume I can't "dump" - write off/deduct any of the losses of 2008, correct? Thanks

Re: Validity of TSP Article

I don’t know how long you’ve been investing in the fund, but I find it difficult that, even with the recent hemorrhage, your account amounts to less than your principle. Like you, I monitor my TSP investment, and while I took the same bath as most a year ago, at worst I was still in the black, albeit showing relatively small return on the investment over time. The more concerning issue is that the value of the cash itself is increasingly in question given the recent spending and borrowing proclivities of the Government. One way or another, this house of cards is going to collapse again – inflation, commercial property collapse, whatever. It’s pretty frightening when Gordon Liddy makes the most sense as an investment advisor pitching gold.

Re: Validity of TSP Article

PLEASE GIVE ME A QUICK 101" CRASH LESSON ON HOW/WHY STAYING IN THE TSP ONCE YOU HAVE RETIRED. I planning on retiring at the end of 2010.