OleyOlson's Account Talk

**OleyOlson** · 12-30-2009, 05:42 PM

Hi,

I registered and logged in to Auto Tracker a week ago. Reading the rules today and specifically #2 requires a post to introduce myself and a little about my strategy.

I'm an engineer, with 27 years in fed service, turning 50 in the next year, and have a family, in addition to myself, I have a wife and 2.25 children. I travel on the job quite a bit. The children are college age, one goes, the other is looking into it. Not considering retirement till at least 60 years, maybe more, knocking on wood that my health holds out.

My strategy is Capital Preservation and Income Growth. Traveling makes it difficult to stay tuned, so I need something that can absorb losses and benefit from gains. I've found I'm most comfortable maintaining between 35 and 75% in the G-fund, depending on my bearish or bullish sides, currently a bear. I've always been disappointed when putting dollars into the F fund so a almost hard fast rule is to stay out of it. After that I spread the rest over C, S and I. With the dollar still shrinking I put a little more in the I, and as that changes I divert my favor to the S-fund. After that I almost never change the rules to put 100% into any single fund, last time I did we were hurt pretty bad (fall of 2008). But if the timing looks to be a sure thing...who knows.

Current allocation is G-65% F-0%, C-10%, S-10% and I-15%.

I last changed my allocation on 28 Nov, having made 14 changes over the last year, I calculated about a 20% overall gain for the year. Would like to do better. Traveling takes a toll in trying to track the market.

I've been reading the TSP Talk on as frequent basis as possible for a long time now (call me a lurker). Did I mention I travel alot? But, this is the most active part I've taken. I'm hoping to pick up some tips using the Auto Tracker.

How's that for a strategy.

thx,

OleyOlson

**Uptrend** · 12-30-2009, 05:46 PM

Welcome Oley! Sounds like you have been doing just fine!

**nasa1974** · 12-30-2009, 06:00 PM

Almost 20% for 2009, not bad with 35-75% always in the G fund. On travel a lot or not.

If you do not mind me asking, what does your .25 child do?
Maybe just a little too much information.

Welcome aboard.

**nnuut** · 12-30-2009, 06:02 PM

Welcome to the Message Board OleyOlson. Happy to have you Posting, join in when you can, the more members posting the better.
Best of luck

Norman

**WorkFE** · 12-30-2009, 06:03 PM

Originally Posted by nasa1974

If you do not mind me asking, what does your .25 child do?

I wanted to ask that also

but I figured I would just sound stupid.

Welcome Double O

**OleyOlson** · 12-30-2009, 06:25 PM

Originally Posted by Work FE

I wanted to ask that also

but I figured I would just sound stupid.

Welcome Double O

Thanks for the welcoming, and BTW the 0.25 is our pet goldfish named Sushi.

Maybe you're not old enough to remember the old car commercial with the reference to the Standard American Family having 2.25 children where two kids and a dog got in the back seat.

We used to have a dog, for now we just have Sushi.

thx

Oley

**WorkFE** · 12-30-2009, 06:33 PM

Our cat won't let us get a gold fish. Or actually having the cat makes it unwise to get a goldfish

**Birchtree** · 12-30-2009, 06:40 PM

Welcome to the MB. Unfortunately with all the time you spend in the G fund you may need more than ten years to have a comfortable TSP balance. Now that you are 50 you can bump up your contributions to max out at $22K. Even an extra $220K won't carry very far - plan to be a lifetime investor until the thrill is gone. That's the only way to make gains - capital appreciation.

**FAB1** · 12-31-2009, 04:34 PM

I love Sushi, it tastes real good!

My "strategy" is to be the luckiest old S.O.B. on this board

so stand back and gimme room in 2010.

**Steadygain** · 01-04-2010, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by OleyOlson

I'm most comfortable maintaining between 35 and 75% in the G-fund, depending on my bearish or bullish sides, currently a bear.

Yeah that's too bad -- the Markets turned a lot of us that way.

I've been reading the TSP Talk on as frequent basis as possible for a long time now (call me a lurker).

Wow, I'm surprized you never heard of me -- but that's cool

That was an excellent introduction. With 10 years to go we both should probably 'force' ourselves to be more of a Bull. Given the substantial dive everything took until 3/09 it would seem the BEST is to be yet to come.

So I'm still trying to shake off the bear crap as well.

Well WELCOME !! and GL