Free Email Updates

Get our news articles by email: Subscribe now.

Winners and Losers: Frequent TSP Trading, Balancing LifeCycle Funds and Money

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?

Market Timing and Your TSP

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?

Whistleblower Gets a Win in Court

A financial economist complained that her supervisor took adverse personnel actions against her in retaliation for whistleblowing. The administrative judge and the MSPB blew off the allegations but a federal court sends the case back to the Board. It found, among other things, that the Board erred in holding that an action that never actually occurred cannot serve as the basis for a protected disclosure.

Traders Taking Bite From TSP Returns

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.

Shutdowns, Furloughs, COLAs, Congress and the 2008 Pay Raise

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.

The Federal Budget, Government Shutdown and the 2008 Pay Raise

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?