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.
TSP returns for the month of January reflected the faltering stock market as all of the TSP stock funds showed negative returns for the month of January. Here is a summation of what happened in significant market moves from 1929 – 2001 to help you put the current market turmoil into perspective.
Some readers are checking their TSP portfolio balance and they get upset. That is understandable as all of us prefer to see our investments go up. Before taking immediate action, take a deep breath and see how your investments have done over the past several years.
Panic selling of stocks has gripped overseas markets. The TSP stock funds may take a big dip as the American stock markets open after the long weekend. Can your TSP stock funds fall further than they already have? Here is an historical point of reference.
The value of your stock funds in the Thrift Savings Plan have gone down considerably so far in 2008. What financial decisions will you take as a result? Weigh the implications of your financial decisions whether you are still an active federal employee or if you are retired.
Frequent trading the the TSP has been a controversial topic in the federal community. This article by a 30-year advocate of objective, patient and profitable proactive fund investing has a perspective on the topic.
The TSP says that a few people who are engaging in frequent trading are costing all other TSP participants money and creating a “great risk of performance deviations” in the TSP fund benchmarks. The answer to the problem: Limit the frequent trading. A new interim regulation is effective as of today, January 7th.
2007 was a volatile year for stocks. Is your TSP portfolio diversified if the trend continues–or gets worse–in 2008? Here is a wrap-up of the returns for the past year.
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.
Recent articles on this site have generated many questions from readers about the trading restrictions to be imposed on TSP participants who frequently trade in their TSP accounts. The TSP has responded to these issues. Here are some common questions–and answers–from the Thrift Savings Plan on these issues.
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?
