Allocating Your TSP in Volatile Markets
The days of ignoring your Thrift Savings Plan are over, at least if you want to have some hope of managing for positive returns.
If you are a federal employee, you may be wondering how to plan for your retirement and make the most of your Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). The TSP is a tax-advantaged retirement savings plan that allows you to invest in various funds and options, depending on your risk tolerance and goals. On this tag page, you will find articles and resources that will help you understand the benefits and features of the TSP, as well as tips and strategies to increase your investment returns and secure your future income. You will also learn about the latest news and updates on the TSP performance, fees, withdrawals, and more. Whether you are just starting your federal career or are near retirement, these articles will provide you with valuable information and guidance on how to make the best use of your TSP.
The days of ignoring your Thrift Savings Plan are over, at least if you want to have some hope of managing for positive returns.
2009 TSP performance was outstanding with all funds in the black. The big winner: The S fund.
Your Thrift Savings Plan retirement fund investments are recovering. The C fund is still on a tear with a return of 6% in November and a return of 24.26% so far in 2009.
TSP investors will pull money out of the safety of the G fund when they think they will make more money in stocks. Conversely, they will quickly move money into the G fund when they think there is more risk in the market.
Some federal employees are borrowing money from their Thrift Savings Plan. That provides a great interest rate but there are disadvantages that could impact your future retirement income. If you need a loan, or want to loan money as an investment, there may be another alternative as federal employees are often a good credit risk.
When you look at your TSP returns for the past twelve months, it will make you feel good to see how much money you have made. But you need to be realistic. Your investment may still be down despite the rosy figures. Here’s why.
Sometimes no change can be good. On October 15th the Internal Revenue Service announced the elective deferral limit for defined contribution plans such as the Thrift Savings Plan
Investors in the Thrift Savings Plan have seen their returns reflecting a positive return for a number of months now. September continues the same upward trend.
The C fund has now had six straight months of gains in the federal Thrift Savings Plan. No doubt, TSP investors are cheering the 2009 results so far but there is still plenty of reason to be cautious in investing your retirement funds.
Lifecycle funds are growing in popularity for TSP investors. At the end of July, more than 606,000 TSP investors had money in an L fund. But investors are not putting all of their assets in one location. The number of participants with their entire TSP balance in one L fund is surprisingly small.