The federal pay system is complex. Some readers have asked good questions because of confusion about the amount of their pay based on the possibility of an average pay increase of 3% or an average of 3.5%. If you are confused, you are not alone.
What is a market “correction?” Are we in a bear market now or do the November TSP prices reflect a correction in a market that may still be going up? The value of the TSP stock funds followed the overall stock market and prices dropped in November. Your long term gains are still intact but here are some facts that should make you take a close look at your TSP funds.
The President has proposed an alternative pay plan for federal employees that would give an average raise of 3% for 2008. Congress is on record as preferring 3.5%. Are you surprised at any of these developments?
Recent articles have generated considerable discussion on the site about the cost incurred by those who try to time the market with frequent buying and selling of their TSP funds. A few readers contend that it costs the TSP considerably more to balance the lifecycle funds than the costs incurred by those trading frequently. Does anyone know the actual costs of the lifecycle fund rebalancing and how do these costs compare to the costs created by those frequently trading the I fund?
Imposing restrictions on frequent trades in the TSP has generated numerous comments and frequent expressions of outrage from readers. Some readers give examples of how they have made considerable amounts of money with their frequent trading. Should everyone be trying to time the market with their future retirement funds?
Out of a few million Thrift Savings Plan participants, there are several thousand who trade their funds on a frequent basis. This activity is costing a few million dollars a year in additional expenses. The TSP is considering a recommendation to limit the number of TSP trades that a participant could make during a month.
Congress has gone home even though the Senate says it is still technically open for business. While they may enjoy their time away from DC, their departure leaves open the possibility of furloughs in DoD, funding for most federal agencies still up in the air and uncertainty about the 2008 pay raise for current federal employees. Retirees are set though. Enjoy your holiday.
Any federal employee who may have wondered if career civil service employees are involved in politics need only consider the current budget war on spending for fiscal year 2008 (for the fiscal year that started October 1st). Will there be a government shutdown? Will “nonessential” federal employees be sent home? Will the dispute impact your 2008 pay raise?
Last week’s article on the I fund generated questions and comments from readers. “Isn’t the I Fund a Risky Investment for a Conservative Investor?” was a common question. Here is more information about the I fund and the difference between the I fund and high risk/high reward “emerging markets”.
TSP participants are sitting back and watching their returns grow each month. Here is a summary of the biggest winners.
