Wrngway's Account Talk

**Wrngway** · 02-07-2007, 04:57 PM

I've decided to add an account talk thread for my trades. Both for myself, so I can keep a record of my thoughts and perceptions, and others to see why I've made the decisions I do.

I'm a beginner, but have committed myself to learning what I can and applying it to TSP. I'm watching the charts, listening to the high performers here as well as other market news.

I've been sitting mostly on the sidelines for the greater part of the past week waiting for what might have been a pause in growth for a buying opportunity that hasn't yet materialized. Since getting off the train I've watched the L2040 fly by me. I guess I'll catch it on the down side.

I'm getting back on the 'ol elevator. Hopefully I'll get off before the bear on the 1st floor presses the call button.

**Wrngway** · 02-08-2007, 05:00 PM

Well, obviously I jumped the gun a tad, but that's ok. With less than $4k in my account I can take it.

So, ante up and I'm all in:

C-15
S-40
I -45

If it goes a little to the upside tomorrow I'll pull a bit back to F or G. For the most part, I'm sticking it out unless the market goes negative in a big way.

**fabijo** · 02-08-2007, 05:18 PM

$4K! You can take some big hits at this point in the game.

**Wrngway** · 02-09-2007, 12:26 PM

Originally Posted by fabijo

$4K! You can take some big hits at this point in the game.

I just started to receive matching contributions.

It's easy to forget that there are people here representing all points in a career. I'll have to remember to keep that in mind when I'm reading through posts.

I have 8 years of active duty, and a little investing experience. So I'm ahead of the game pension wise and am not so innocent to not have experienced set backs in earnings.

So, back to today. With markets being a little fickle short term, the question is, do I take possible gains today and go for the G penny on Monday to jump back in Tuesday? Or do I just stick it out? Hmmm...

**Wrngway** · 02-09-2007, 05:49 PM

That crazy market. I was on the fence about moving to G today. Figured I might try to squeeze a bit more out of the market, but it looks like it's squeezing me.

I shifted my C and a bit of my I fund holdings to S and hope for a little Monday bounce. I feel like I jumped into the deep end before passing the Basic Swimmers' class.

This tadpole's in for a bit of a ride.

60 - S
40 - I

**Wrngway** · 02-10-2007, 08:12 PM

It seems my trade on 6 February didn't take. I don't have the e-mail. I checked to see if I accidentally deleted it and it's not in the trash. The recent transactions in my account don't go back that far.

I guess I'll have to call on Monday to see if it did go through. I'm hoping it didn't since it would have been better if I had just sat tight that day.

**Wrngway** · 02-12-2007, 02:01 PM

Originally Posted by Wrngway

It seems my trade on 6 February didn't take. I don't have the e-mail. I checked to see if I accidentally deleted it and it's not in the trash. The recent transactions in my account don't go back that far.

Ask a question, get an answer. I received mail confirmation of the trade on Saturday over the weekend.

**Wrngway** · 02-12-2007, 04:51 PM

I'm feeling schizophrenic today. I usually don't wait this long to put a transfer in. Anyway...

50 - G
50 - I

**Wrngway** · 02-13-2007, 01:49 PM

Well, it's time to post some lessons after a couple months of active trading.

I'm not very good at timing the market. The inherent lag in the TSP cutoff time and the market close magnifies this problem. I jump out too soon or get in too late. The L2040, where I would have been, has been kick'n my rear. I'm at .91% for the year after hits on Friday and Monday.

Therefore, unless the market is in correction mode, I need to be invested. I've missed out on about 2%. That's padding that would help in the beginning of a correction. So the added risk might be worth it.

My account is small, I can afford the risk. I was beating myself up over the loss the past couple of days, but it really only comes to maybe $20 for me personally.

I'll make minor adjustments between C, S, or I with occasional partial transfers to G or F until a big slide. Then it's out of the pool for me.

Feel free to post here if you have comments on this approach. I need to get some discipline and stick to my plan for a while and see how it holds up.

For 13 Feb if all looks well:
10 - C
40 - S
50 - I

**Wrngway** · 02-15-2007, 04:50 PM

Well, it's been a good week so far despite the Monday blues.

I had a last minute change of mind and decided to go 60/40 G/I today. It's hard to argue with a sure thing.

**Wrngway** · 02-21-2007, 03:57 PM

I'm going to pull some money off the table for now, but I as I'm pushing high risk and buy and hold, I'll keep most out in the market unless there's a shift to our steady gains.

I may change my mind in half an hour, but for now:

20 - G
20 - F
30 - S
30 - I