Thread: gunsmokex's account talk

IFT 100% S before noon on July, 6th

Just a gut feeling that the Wilshire 4500 will outperform the S&P 500 today.

I'm very new at making changes in my TSP. If any one has any opinions, please let me know good or bad. I'm still learning.

Well as you might have noticed in my member allocation talk page, I said I'd stay out of the I fund, well I lied and changed my mind

G-X, you will derive little benefit from making changes in your TSP allocation. The most important thing you can do is to maximize your contributions. Since you are at 5% currently, you have a lot of 'upside potential' there.

Use your COLA's and step increases. If you get 3%, give 2% to the TSP. Work it up to $15,000 gradually. When you get it maxed, you will probably feel as I do, that after all that work and struggle it is just too painful to watch it disappear due to a poorly timed move.

My answer was to decide on a level of anxiety I could live with and which would still allow me to reach my goal. I keep my personal contributions in the G-fund, usually. They amount to 35-40% of my balance, and I protect them absolutely. The rest I diversify among the funds. I re-balance monthly to account for new contributions and market gains.

This has kept me off the floor and in the middle of the pack. I am only in the upper echelons now due to the misfortune of others, not my own investing prowess. It does show the usefulness of avoiding losses, however.

Good luck!
Dave

Effective July 7th before noon. 25% C 25% S and 50% I.

Thanks for the reply Dave, I hear what you are saying. But I'm sticking with 5% right now, I've gotta get my '80 CJ-5 done one of these days and that thing will be a $$ pit. That plus paying off $100 extra on my house will help too in the long run.

If I figured everything out right on the calculator I'm at a 5.65% return right now, which isn't too bad for a newbie. I was just waiting for the right time to dump my G funds get into the C S and I funds.

I decided I will play I funds though, the Roth I may change into a plan similar to say the L 2040, because I can't do transfers with that like I can with my TSP.

You are correct! I had you down for the wrong starting allocation? Thanks for pointing that out. My error was in not reading the post carefully. I have a habit of using the last number mentioned in a post, and I am not accustomed to members posting their contribution allocation changes. We do not incorporate contributions into the TSPTalk Weekly Tracker.

I will correct the TSPTalk Weekly Tracker and post in the next installment dated July 14th. Your fund allocation from July 5th to July 6th COB will be 10% C and 90% S, rather than 25% C and 75% S.

IFT 75% C and 25% S before noon July 18th. I'm getting out of the I fund for now too much stuff going on overseas. For the year I'm at 0.07% right now. If I stick with I much longer that'll -1.0% or -2.0%. I guess I just feel that the bigger companies can absorb the high gas prices a little better than the small-medium sized companies, it wouldn't take much right now to take out the oil supply over there.

Crap I think I jumped the gun too soon by getting outta the I too soon should have held steady

Hmm, now looking at the 5 day chart comparing the MSCI EAFE and S&P b/n 7/14 and 7/17 I remember why I got out of I. That and I should have stuck with my mind to begin with and kept out of the I and let the Roth handle that index.

Oh well I'll just have to make a decision and stick with it next time. Sucks getting outta the I the day before it spikes like this, dammit.

Be right and sit tight is what I say. Sitting tight is the easy part - being right requires work.