New Tracker Wanted!

**ChemEng** · 07-13-2007, 12:27 AM

Originally Posted by tsptalk

I guess it wouldn't hurt to program it in in case we change our minds, but we'd want to comment out the display of those fields on the screen so no one uses them.

I guess I see it somewhat differently though. This website isnt about informed day trading, its about informed investing through TSP. And BAH is a popular investing option. Its no different that tracking members who choose to stay in C for years, right?

Not to mention that the L funds will get a lot more attention should congress ever approve the boards recommendation to make the L funds the default funds much like G is now.

Its your barbecue Tom, but Im going to give you my opinion.

**ocean** · 07-13-2007, 01:05 AM

I tend to agree with ChemEng on this one. The tracker is for information only and day trading or not is up to the individual. The intent of this site is to provide whatever information that is available to all members.

Ocean

**tsptalk** · 07-13-2007, 01:19 AM

Playing devil's advocate, buy and hold is not something others will sit by and follow. The tracker is designed so others can watch those that are managing their accounts well. And I agree, someone who sits in the C fund for years isn't imparting any knowledge to those looking in, even if it does well. We can all see what the C fund and the L funds are doing.

I worry about those who trade the L-funds - and split them up (ie 20% L20, 30% L10, 50% C). I'm also worried about the TSP folks getting P.O.'d enough that they take away the daily transfers. I don't want anyone pointing to this site saying we are encouraging trading the L-funds. The men in black already want to shut us down.

Can we make it so that anyone who uses the L-funds can only be 100% in that one fund?

**ocean** · 07-13-2007, 02:14 AM

Tom,

I see your point now. OK, we will stick with the original plan and just use G/F/C/S/I and will not touch the L funds at all.

Ocean

**tsptalk** · 07-13-2007, 02:51 AM

Take the poll... http://www.tsptalk.com/mb/site-news-announcements/4577-should-new-tsp-talk-tracker-software-contain-l-funds.html#post103282

**EW_ret** · 07-13-2007, 03:32 AM

I have used a single L fund and mixed with G because its convenient, and easier, to place 30% L2020 and 70% G. Its just simpler than making five allocations. I do not think we should discriminate on what TSP funds a member uses. I agree it makes no sense to use multiple L funds. I do not see why we should not allow trading the L funds, just as we do G, F, C, S, and I funds. Are we going to stop tracking the L fund return performance? Is so, then we can not compare member performance against the L fund returns.

**tsptalk** · 07-13-2007, 04:23 AM

I was thinking we were not accepting transfers into the L-funds currently? Am I wrong about that?

I can be persuaded - But I am worried about the TSP folks most of all.

**James48843** · 07-13-2007, 04:26 PM

Alright- here is a twist to think about:

I DO want to include the "L" funds, and here is why.

Several times, I've run close to the deadline, and had to decide what I was going to do.

I had a gut feeling about where to go, but also harbored "regrets" before pulling the trigger. I would debate myself for a few minutes about how "sure" I was that I was making the right move to go to "X" positions.

But what I really wanted to do was to move to L income, for instance. If I was moving from a fully invested stock position, to a "G" fund position, but was not real sure, I would have to think about how much did I want to split where, and move it there in little pieces.

IN fact, I have intentionally NOT split with an "L" fund, when I wanted to, specifically because it was not trackable in the tracker.

If I guessed wrong, by having some portion in the "L" funds (Example- L income if I was 95% sure I was better off in "G", but would want to use the L2020 if I was only 60% sure- thereby reducing the risk if losing an upside if it came the next day, but still fairly well protected against a large downside move).

I'm all for including "L" funds.

I think a lot like EWGuy. I'd use only ONE of the "L" funds for a secondary placement, most likely on days when I REALLY don't want to go 100% "G" fund, but want to protect against a huge downside risk the next day.

Today is a prime example.

I was 100% "I" yesterday. I debated about following Ebb into "G", or leaving it where it was, and was persuaded to leave it be when I saw that Japan would probably react favorably, and saw that Ebb had said Monday was looking "I" green.

I ended up not touching anything, being 100% "I".

If I had an "L" option, I probably would have gone 50% "I", 50% L2020, as that affords some consierable downside protection, with considerble uprisk reward potential should the maket go up today.

And it could be done with a simple split, rather than having to figure out how much did I want in five different funds.

Quick. easy, dirty.

Count me as a vote for "L".

**James48843** · 07-13-2007, 04:39 PM

I would only ever use ONE "L" fund at a time as a possible safe harbor.

Most likely it would be the "L INCOME" or the "L 2020", depending on how much downside risk I wanted to avoid.

I would never split between multiple "L" funds.