Page 26 of 44 FirstFirst ... 16242526272836 ... LastLast
Results 301 to 312 of 521

Thread: PessOptimist's Account Talk

  1. #301

    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Stinking desert valley of bad air quality, AZ
    Posts
    2,993

    Default Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    Well sasaphrat! My TSP is going down the toilet. My contribution Monday is gone plus several thousand dollars.

    Yeah, I know I can avoid that by payroll allocations going to G and making clever IFTs at the proper time. That means of course that I must monitor the market every day and make a 1200 EST prediction. Too bad I have a real time job where I don’t sit on my ass all day in front of a computer connected to the internet.

    Retirement time is 2.4 years out. At the pleasure of the constantly changing management hierarchy of course. Two years ago I told an “acting” manager my projected retirement date. I watched said manager type that info in to a file. Said manager has now come back as permanent manager but claims they have never had any contact with me. Said manager signed my performance review while acting manager. Such is the confidence I have in my current management.

    Speaking of which, my new manager’s boss was at meetings last Friday doing his thing and being assigned tasks by his boss etc. Monday morning he no longer existed in the context of a boss of bosses. An e-mail was sent from the boss’s boss’s boss that it was due to admin concerns and not to be alarmed.

    Life couldn’t be better for me right now. I am retirement eligible. I am sticking around until I am made an offer I cannot refuse. I feel badly for some of my peers as their futures are less certain.

    All the proletariat worker bees really want is to do the job they were hired for and have some confidence that a new manager will not halt the job they are doing and declare they should never have done that job and are bad and will be punished.

    I take great pride in saying that my peers keep on doing assigned tasks and keeping things going in spite of the fact we don’t really know who is in charge or what their goals are. Other than the managers furthering themselves of course.

    Enough of my usual rambling “stuff”. When is it time to go to G fund or get funds out of TSP? I am 63, Will work for two or more years unless declared redundant.

    PO

  2.  
  3. #302

    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    3,024

    Default Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    Hi PO. You are quite correct. It is difficult to juggle making a living and managing your TSP portfolio. You have to stay on top off the news and the data. And I hear you about "poor management". The federal government, (for all the positive benefits associated with retirement) are not always the best people to work for. My career was a mixed bag when it came to management. About half were good and half... less than good. In the first case (good managers were fair and honest) and in case 2 (assholes and egoists). I ended up relocating for new jobs about every 8 years so I could move up the chain and get a fresh start. My saddest day was when I took my job in Oklahoma (which I ended up loving BTW) and moved from Alaska. I so loved Alaska but I was stuck in a job that wouldn't help me with a reasonable retirement check.

    Have you thought about using a Premium Account. I never felt flush enough (while I was working) to buy the service but I'm quite sure that if you used one of the services you have a better chance of making and not losing. I've come to the conclusion that the Top 50 are important to watch everyday. So I look at this site on the Forum managed by Ocean TSP Talk AutoTracker every day. This is just stuff...not advice. I'm not good at advice. Anyways, the Tracker helps me.

    Just remember, you are really in a good place in life...retirement eligible....It's all in your control...I hope that you things sorted out in a way works best for you.

    All the best.

    FS
    FogSailing
    Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.

  4.  
  5. #303

    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Stinking desert valley of bad air quality, AZ
    Posts
    2,993

    Default Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    Thanks for the reply and reading my whining. Yes, you are correct I am in a good position. I remain active mostly because I like my job, what I do and enjoy it.

    This may not be the proper forum for whining about J.O.B. issues. Such whining used to take place at break areas outside the buildings. Recently statements made in such areas seem to have come to managements attention and used as examples in warnings about gossip and questioning of policies as a possible offenses requiring disciplinary action. So now we don't talk. Better judgement tells me I should not post things here.

    A premium service is something I have been thinking about for years but still would require action on my part. Probably is not going to happen.

    PO

  6.  
  7. #304

    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Minneapolis
    Posts
    361

    Default Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    Quote Originally Posted by PessOptimist View Post
    Thanks for the reply and reading my whining. Yes, you are correct I am in a good position. I remain active mostly because I like my job, what I do and enjoy it.

    This may not be the proper forum for whining about J.O.B. issues. Such whining used to take place at break areas outside the buildings. Recently statements made in such areas seem to have come to managements attention and used as examples in warnings about gossip and questioning of policies as a possible offenses requiring disciplinary action. So now we don't talk. Better judgement tells me I should not post things here.

    A premium service is something I have been thinking about for years but still would require action on my part. Probably is not going to happen.

    PO
    That's why I'm out Sept 30. It's happening everywhere. Me, Postal Service. Planned to stay longer but got tired of some 30 yr old little sh*t trying to tell me how i've been doing my job all wrong after 32 years! I'll take my pension and get a job at a liquor store!
    "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends...

  8.  
  9. #305

    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Stinking desert valley of bad air quality, AZ
    Posts
    2,993

    Default Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    Hey, 99, I feel for ya. The people mentioned in my chain are actually 50 something former engineer/craft who were not very good at that and have been floating around the .gov system running various programs. Now they are running the place.

    PO

  10.  
  11. #306

    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Phoenix, AZ
    Posts
    3,024

    Default Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    Yes! And just to light fuel on the fire again...many of these same geniuses that "know it all" are the same folks that that let the Chinese steal all of our identities and work history, etc.

    It really makes me sad to hear these stories. Where have the good leaders gone and what has happened in the federal workplace that makes it right to destroy corporate knowledge and instill fear in the workplace. What has happened to the SES ranks. When I was young, I always looked up the senior folks because they knew how the system worked best. Most of these kids appear to be out for themselves.

    It reminds me of the old adage " The beatings will continue until morale improves...

    FS
    FogSailing
    Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.


  12.  
  13. #307

    Default Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    Quote Originally Posted by FogSailing View Post
    Yes! And just to light fuel on the fire again...many of these same geniuses that "know it all" are the same folks that that let the Chinese steal all of our identities and work history, etc.

    It really makes me sad to hear these stories. Where have the good leaders gone and what has happened in the federal workplace that makes it right to destroy corporate knowledge and instill fear in the workplace. What has happened to the SES ranks. When I was young, I always looked up the senior folks because they knew how the system worked best. Most of these kids appear to be out for themselves.

    It reminds me of the old adage " The beatings will continue until morale improves...

    FS
    Even worse is when these geniuses come with "new" ideas that been tried unsuccessfully multiple times over the past 30 years (before they were even born). They are rarely smart enough to listen to the "old-timers" who were there when said idea failed miserably. Oh well they are the boss and its their ass.

  14.  
  15. #308

    Join Date
    Sep 2012
    Location
    Vicksburg, MS
    Posts
    224

    Default Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    PO -- Get the hell out. It sounds like you work for the COE's where I retired from. You need to borrow my white flag?

  16.  
  17. #309

    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Minneapolis
    Posts
    361

    Cool Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    "Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends...

  18.  
  19. #310

    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Stinking desert valley of bad air quality, AZ
    Posts
    2,993

    Default Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    What else that happens is a "new" idea is proposed that was proposed in the last century and might actually work but it is a "new" idea. Another one is when you are told to do something you have been doing for oh, say, 18 years. Gives you a lot of faith in the knowledge of day to day operations by the managers. Doesn't matter if you have been doing it, it is a new idea starting on the day the manager mentioned it. Bonuses and promotions for all. Except the workers.

    White flag hell. I'm sticking around for FERS 63YO+20years. Unless I don't.

    PO

  20.  
  21. #311

    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    Stinking desert valley of bad air quality, AZ
    Posts
    2,993

    Default Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    Well. Interesting last several days. I saw one post where poster said they were beating S&P500 So I had to look. Me too. Woohoo!

    Since there is no urgent action to take right now, I went to look at 1997, 2001, 2008, and 2012 to see what I did. I found that for all the stupid data I have compiled since 1998 I have no easy way to find a record of IFTs. They are all in a paper file somewhere but an easy way of getting a picture would be my quarterly statements. I had apparently stopped my project to download them at 2008. That is how I found the tsp.gov site not working for a short while. It seems to be working OK now and I got all my statements. I have them on paper, much to TSP.govs disgust but this was easier in the long run.

    Believe it or not I made a few IFTs back in those days. Gave me a -.23% gain for 08, 1.88% for 2011, 3.65% for 2012, 15.39 in 2013. After that I got lazy. Made a 40G60C IFT in 3/14 and let it go. Made 9.04% in 2014 and thought “OK”. No need to worry. Read everything public there was to read on TSPTalk and did absolutely nothing. Now my dreams of a Mazda MX-5 Miata with a retractable hardtop are reduced to a used Fiesta. Or keeping the 01 Dakota until I die. Or until it dies.

    No need to worry. I rode my TSP down 4+% and no need to bail out yet. It will go back up. Sometime. Problem is I have only 2.35 years until retirement.

    Speaking of which, my boss’s boss asked me again today if I would consider planning to stay longer. WTF?

    OK. I am considering going to G or F this week. But only considering. I would like to lose no more but also get back to at least to where I was on July 17th. Probably not going to happen.

    Keeping the Dakota may not be so bad. Last time the grand kids were here we strapped all the car seats in the back seat (not easy to do on a 2001 vehicle) and went for a ride. The oldest grandchild exclaimed “you can see everything from up here and this truck could go anywhere”. With that kind of enthusiasm maybe it still can. DIL suggested we not try “anywhere” that day. Mom stays home next time.

    This TSP stuff is one of the hardest things for someone who got to be a lazy buy and hold type. I’m not sure what motivated all those IFTs 2008-13.

    PO

  22.  
  23. #312

    Default Re: PessOptimist's Account Talk

    I wouldn't knock Buy & Hold, PO. It's beating 90% of us traders on the AT right now.

    Watch out about trying to get back to where you were. I've been trying to do that since 2000 and it hasn't worked for me. I'm still looking up at the G Fund.

    Good to hear that your boss want's to keep you. Are you considering it? Remember, every year extra you stay gives you another year to shovel more $ into your TSP and one less year of retirement to fund. It's like getting 2 for 1. I'm still 7 years out from my projected retirement date, but given my track record I can't see getting out then. I plan to stay longer if they'll keep me and my health holds out.
    Allocations as of COB Dec 28 : 100% S. | Retirement Date:Dec 2025
    Past Returns:
    2020 31.85%,2019 27.97%,2018 -3.36%,2017 13.10%, 2016 -1.79%, 5Yr Avg 12.61%

  24.  
Page 26 of 44 FirstFirst ... 16242526272836 ... LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
S&P500 (C Fund) (delayed)
PessOptimist's Account Talk
(Stockcharts.com Real-time)
DWCPF (S Fund) (delayed)
PessOptimist's Account Talk
(Stockcharts.com Real-time)
EFA (I Fund) (delayed)
PessOptimist's Account Talk
(Stockcharts.com Real-time)
BND (F Fund) (delayed)
PessOptimist's Account Talk
(Stockcharts.com Real-time)

Yahoo Finance Realtime TSP Fund Tracking Index Quotes