Confused why balance did not increase

**sparksals** · 02-03-2007, 09:46 PM

I'm still wading through this entire site trying to learn as much as I can. I was too chicken to stay in the I and S funds this week to take advantage of the large increase.

Anyway, on Friday I said enough and did an IFT before noon from 100% G to
G 70%
F 5%
S 15%
I 10%

I received an IFT confirmation Friday night for the IFT prior to noon. This is where I get confused.

When I made the move, I thought I was getting the share prices from COB Thursday. When I checked my balance today for the numbers after COB Friday, there was absolutely no change to my balance despite the an increase in the F, S and I funds.

In my thinking, I bought F at 11.14 and it went to 11.15, bought S at 19.51 and it went to 19.56 and bought I at 22.66 and it went to 22.68 at COB Friday.

Have I done something wrong and am I misunderstanding how the share prices work? Why wasn't I credited for those increases?

**Rod** · 02-03-2007, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by sparksals

Anyway, on Friday I said enough and did an IFT before noon from 100% G...

I thought I was getting the share prices from COB Thursday...

Since you made an IFT on Friday prior to noon, you would get Friday's COB share prices.

If you wanted Thursday's, you would had to have made an IFT prior to noon on Thursday.

Just keep in mind, as long as you make an IFT before noon, you will get that day's COB share prices. If you make it after noon, you will get the next day's.

Hope this helps.

**sparksals** · 02-03-2007, 11:38 PM

So, then you have to plan ahead for two days instead of one?

By this logic, and I'm just making sure I understand this correctly:
On Friday 1/26 I did an IFT before noon. I had 50 G, 25 S, 25 I. Share prices for G 11.75, S 19.04 and I 22.24 as of COB 1/26.

Monday, 1/29 G was 11.76, S 19.13, I 22.32. So, I got the gain for the COB Monday by doing the IFT on Friday. Our balance reflects that.

On Tuesday 1/30 I did an IFT 100% G. Since S and I went up again to 19.35 and 22.51 respectively, I sold at the gain for COB 1/31 even though the IFT was noon on 1/30. Since G was static until I made the IFT on Friday, my balance is the same as it was for the IFT I made by noon on 1/30.

Now, I have to hope that S and I go up on Monday since I bought higher than I thought I was. Do I have that right or am I just out of my mind with confusion?

On the plus side, I thought I lost out on the S and I gain by moving to G, but because of the day delay, I got the higher selling price.

My dh just started contributing to the TSP last March, so our balance is small, but I want to figure this out since we are early in the game before dh retires 18 years from now.

**Rod** · 02-03-2007, 11:53 PM

So, then you have to plan ahead for two days instead of one?

By this logic, and I'm just making sure I understand this correctly:
On Friday 1/26 I did an IFT before noon. I had 50 G, 25 S, 25 I. Share prices for G 11.75, S 19.04 and I 22.24 as of COB 1/26.

Correct

Monday, 1/29 G was 11.76, S 19.13, I 22.32. So, I got the gain for the COB Monday by doing the IFT on Friday. Our balance reflects that.

Correct

On Tuesday 1/30 I did an IFT 100% G. Since S and I went up again to 19.35 and 22.51 respectively, I sold at the gain for COB 1/31 even though the IFT was noon on 1/30. Since G was static until I made the IFT on Friday, my balance is the same as it was for the IFT I made by noon on 1/30.

You sold at COB prices 1/30, not 1/31 UNLESS you IFT'd after noon on 1/30.

Keeping it simple: as long as you make an IFT before noon, you will sell/buy that day's COB share prices. If you IFT after noon, you will sell/buy the next day's.