Thread: marmot Account Talk

Originally Posted by marmot

Howdy! I am new to the site and investing. I am educating myself, however, sometimes I have no idea what others on this board are talking about. I have a question. I've noticed that putting money into the L funds is discouraged by members here. I have most of my money in L2040, which made 3.41 interest last month and 16.35 year to date through August. So what's wrong with that? I'm not being sarcastic, I just honestly would like folks to explain to me why I should be investing more (or totally) in the individual funds and less (or not at all) in the L funds. Thanks!

Welcome and continued good luck.

Originally Posted by marmot

Howdy! I am new to the site and investing. I am educating myself, however, sometimes I have no idea what others on this board are talking about.

Well it's GREAT you finally joined us.

When you don't understand what the others are saying it's likely because their fingers are moving out of control and the words are like random nonsense - because they are typing without any thought. Half talk Chinese but type 'English' and so it's kind of goofy but you get used to it.

Many speak in 'unknown' languages - for instance I'm Buster's 714
(estasy) --- but nevermind about that --- and just let it go

ANYWAY - AND ABOVE EVERYTHING ELSE - when they talk 'way over your head' .... like Birchtree's recent post on Uptrend's Thread .. they are Genuses (seriously) that know every financial term possible and when you hear them talk about wedges, spinning tops, candlesticks, bollinger bands, wave 3 ..... and the list is endless.

ALL OF THEM ARE 'REGULAR PEOPLE AT HEART' - (Alevie included) so if you want to learn ~~ and not remain in the dark ~~ simply ask them what they mean. Most of the time they simply assume 'we' know what they're saying.

I have a question. I've noticed that putting money into the L funds is discouraged by members here.

The Main History connected with this site is associated with unlimited IFTs over many years. So this was largely a place for 'Players' who made fairly frequent adjustments to maximize their returns. That's probably the greatest part of why most of us came and remained.

There is NOTHING WRONG with keeping your money in L FUNDS and in all sincerity it's probably about the smartest thing you can do. Most 'Market Timers' LOSE and DO NOT WIN.

I have most of my money in L2040, which made 3.41 interest last month and 16.35 year to date through August. So what's wrong with that?

That's wonderful and I really hope you the very best in the years to come. 16.35% through Aug is fantastic !!

I'm not being sarcastic, I just honestly would like folks to explain to me why I should be investing more (or totally) in the individual funds and less (or not at all) in the L funds. Thanks!

The L Funds are entirely based on the 5 Individual Funds and designed to maximize your investments for the duration.

Again - most of us are caught up in the game - and it's the thril of winning and the pleasure of being in Safety when others are losing that make it all worthwhile.

http://www.investopedia.com/

This is one source of information and you can always just "google" the terms used.

http://www.google.com/

See my signature for more information on specifics topics which I have collected over the years. "delicious.com" is a place for pubic bookmarks which are like your local favorites in windows but you can access them from any computer on the internet.

I have worked for the VA since April 2007 and have very little money in TSP but I intend to watch carefully and never let what happened in 2000 and 2008 happen to me in the stock funds. I will get into Fund G on a 5-10% drop for investment preservation. I do intend to contribute the maximum that I can into TSP as it is the best saving vehicle available to me especially with the matching contributions up front up to 5%.

Good luck with your investments.

Welcome marmot! The L-funds are fine for the buy and holder who may not want watch their account and want to be diversified (which is fine for many investors), but we don't encourage trading / timing them. That's not what they were set up for.

Since our slogan at TSP Talk is, "friends don't let friends buy and hold", most of us here prefer to trade just the 5 individual funds.

Good luck!

Thanks for the replies everyone!

In the future I may "play" the individual funds, once I feel like I know a little bit more about what I'm doing. It seems a bit like fantasy football, only with investments, is that correct? Does being good at fantasy football translate into market success? I drafted Drew Brees high, and so far that's working out well for me.

Welcome aboard. Lot to be said about investing. You'll find some smart advise here. Investing you have to remember you have to pay if you play, no pain no gain. What's scary is you can lose money as well as make money.

Originally Posted by marmot

Howdy! I am new to the site and investing. I am educating myself, however, sometimes I have no idea what others on this board are talking about. I have a question. I've noticed that putting money into the L funds is discouraged by members here. I have most of my money in L2040, which made 3.41 interest last month and 16.35 year to date through August. So what's wrong with that? I'm not being sarcastic, I just honestly would like folks to explain to me why I should be investing more (or totally) in the individual funds and less (or not at all) in the L funds. Thanks!

Welcome to the TSP Circus, You can make a lot or lose a lot,
Follow the Leaderboard compare vs MessageBoard(MB)
Choose to your liking, Roll-the-dice, Pray Hard!!
BOTTOM-LINE:YOUR $$$,YOUR RETIREMENT.
DB

Originally Posted by marmot

It seems a bit like fantasy football, only with investments, is that correct? Does being good at fantasy football translate into market success? I drafted Drew Brees high, and so far that's working out well for me.

Good analogy. I played a lot of rotisserie baseball (the old term for fantasy baseball). You have to trade the mediocre to good players when they are hot, and obtain the good to great players when they are cold. Buy low, sell high.