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.
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.
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.
TSP participants are learning and changing their investing habits. In part, that may be because of market volatility and, in part, because the lifecycle fund option has been successful for many TSP participants.
The stock market has been volatile in 2007. Billions of dollars have been traded in the TSP during the year as some investors have decided to buy and sell different funds as the market ebbed and flowed. What lessons can this volatile market provide for investors?
There was plenty of bad news in the past month and the fluctuations in the stock market frequently reflected the uncertainty. But, despite the storm clouds, TSP investors did very well for the month of September–as well as for the recent quarter and for the last year as well. You can sleep better tonight–your TSP investments are still moving higher.
TSP investors often bail out of stock funds when the stock market becomes volatile–often to their financial detriment. The market was volatile in August. Did investors react differently this time? And what are the trading costs for the funds when the market is volatile? Here is a quick summary.
Readers had strong opinions about the concept of charging a fee for frequent trading of TSP funds. Most are opposed to charging a fee or to limiting the number of transfers one can make during a year. Here are the results.
Should the TSP charge a fee when someone decides to transfer money between funds? Some TSP investors rarely make such transfers. Others do so on a regular basis. Should the expenses be spread out among all investors or paid for by those making the trades?
The stock market has been volatile. The leading stock market average has been up or down triple digits on a daily basis for the past month. The final result? Most TSP investors will be satisfied with the results if not the process.
