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Thread: ravensfan's Account Talk

  1. #1

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    Default ravensfan's Account Talk

    On 28 Feb 2013 I joined this forum and for the past year, I have been reading, learning and listening. I've had fun responding to other peoples posts and figured it was about time I created my own thread. As far as charts go, I'll leave that to the experts. Bquat and JTH do a much better job than I can or ever hope to. The videos...nnuut is the best. What I hope to do, is give my perspective on market conditions and maybe give some folks something to think about.

    So a little about me. I started my military career in the Air National Guard back in 1978 and a year later was able to secure a position in the military technician program. I spent my entire career in the Logistics field and retired as a CSRS employee in 2011 as the Installation Traffic Manager. So from my perspective Transporters and Loggies are the best.

    My goal on this forum is to learn as much as I can about investing in the TSP, increase my bottom line and try to avoid big losses. My investment strategy is probably more along the lines of a market timer (yea I know "a fools errand") whearas I'm buying the dips and selling high.

    So with that being said, I look forward to your comments and thank those of you who have helped me along the way.
    "the biggest mistake that traders make is to let these short-term trades turn into longer-term investments when they don’t work." RevShark


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  3. #2

    Default Re: ravensfan's Account Talk

    Best of luck. I've been following the fool's errand way this year given January's instability. I want to go 100% all S and let it ride at some point, but am not sure when to time that.

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  5. #3

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    Default Re: ravensfan's Account Talk

    Quote Originally Posted by BichonFreeze View Post
    Best of luck. I've been following the fool's errand way this year given January's instability. I want to go 100% all S and let it ride at some point, but am not sure when to time that.
    Thanks for the reply BichonFreeze. I use a combination of market indicators to time my entries and exits. But it is by far a foolproof system. I nailed it in Dec gaining 3.54% but then lost out in late Jan/Feb losing .94%. Now I'm sitting on the sidelines waiting for my indicators to tell me it's safe to get back in. Hopefully there is still time to turn Feb into a positive.
    "the biggest mistake that traders make is to let these short-term trades turn into longer-term investments when they don’t work." RevShark

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  7. #4

    Default Re: ravensfan's Account Talk

    Hi Ravensfan!! Woohoo...so awesome to see you open a thread. I'm definitely looking forward to hearing from you. Best wishes ! . DBAnnie
    Don't take my comments as trading advice /IFT: 2-13-24=100G/https://www.theepochtimes.com/ & http://www.ewg.org/PermaCharts@p430#5159/strategy#4918p.410

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  9. #5

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    Default Re: ravensfan's Account Talk

    Nice to see the 88 car in victory lane last night. What an awesome race.
    "the biggest mistake that traders make is to let these short-term trades turn into longer-term investments when they don’t work." RevShark

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  11. #6

    Default Re: ravensfan's Account Talk

    Ohhh. I missed it. Saw it in the news today though. That was a big win for Dale Earnhardt Jr.!!
    Don't take my comments as trading advice /IFT: 2-13-24=100G/https://www.theepochtimes.com/ & http://www.ewg.org/PermaCharts@p430#5159/strategy#4918p.410

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  13. #7

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    Default Re: ravensfan's Account Talk

    I'm really not sure what to do with this. Perhaps it's something or maybe nothing at all. So any and all feedback is appreciated.

    I have a spreadsheet that I developed about a year ago. It's purpose is to track daily prices of the F Fund (AGG), C Fund (SPX), S Fund (DWCPF) and I Fund (EFA). In addition, I set it up to give me the daily percentage of gains and losses and 10, 20 and 50 day moving averages for each fund. I use this spreadsheet to support decisions to get in or out of the market and which funds to invest in.

    I was updating the spreadsheet at market close today and while thinking about our own sentiment survey, the thought crossed my mind, of how many times each fund was positive compared to how many times it was negative over the last 50 days.

    The results were as follows:

    F Fund - 62% Positive 38% Negative

    C Fund - 54% Positive 46% Negative

    S Fund - 70% Positive 30% Negative

    I Fund - 62% Positive 38% Negative

    So if I were a betting man, I would be invested in the S Fund as it has the highest ratio of positive days.

    So my question to the forum is; Am I on to something here or is this just gee wizz stuff? Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated.

    V/r
    ravensfan
    Last edited by ravensfan; 02-26-2014 at 04:09 PM. Reason: remove duplicate wording

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  15. #8

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    Default Re: ravensfan's Account Talk

    Previous performance is not necessarily indicative of future results - that's what makes this game so interesting. I've shied away from the TSP S fund for the last several years waiting for outperformance to pop up some place else like in the C fund and I fund. The S fund has now been running hot for nearly 15 years - at some point it will cool off and the large caps will take over leadership.

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  17. #9

    Default Re: ravensfan's Account Talk

    Hi Ravensfan,

    The S fund has the best fund in terms of overall average returns, followed by C fund and then I fund. The F and G funds don't even come close to touching any of the equity funds in the long term. So if you want long term growth, and want to use buy and hold, there is no question that the market is best long term.

    So based on that, it would not surprise me if you looked at all those years and found that overall prices were more positive than not for those funds; but I do believe there would be differences during short term 1-3 year or lesser periods because there are down trends within the overall long term secular bull cycle.

    Market is just so difficult to time short term. I'm trying to find a "sweet" spot, where I can stay invested longer midterm and only get out in time to avoid say 7% downturns or more. Still reviewing technical indicators using EMAs (daily and weekly) plus MACD and now the Full Stochastic to revamp my strategy.

    This is still a strong bull market and I do believe it will be here much longer....it's just sidestepping some of those downturns without going overboard (i.e. Being on the sidelines too long) that can be tricky. I almost feel like jumping in and reallocating to go 60S/25C/15I or 50s/30c/20i. ....and just letting it ride a few months. But I know it's gonna pullback just a little and I do think China and new earnings reports coming out later in March will have a little impact but that's a ways off. I have never much liked the I fund, but it looks really ripe as well! Best wishes!! DBAnnie
    Don't take my comments as trading advice /IFT: 2-13-24=100G/https://www.theepochtimes.com/ & http://www.ewg.org/PermaCharts@p430#5159/strategy#4918p.410


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  19. #10

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    Default Re: ravensfan's Account Talk

    Thanks to both of you for your input. I was hoping that I had identified a trend that would add to my current strategy. But as Thomas Jefferson once said; “The moment a person forms a theory, his imagination sees, in every object, only the traits which favor that theory.”

    My current strategy utilizes Bollinger Bands, RSI, MACD, Moving Averages and Slow Stoch to identify entry and exit points. It’s not perfect because I tend to jump in to early and end up paying more than I should have and jump out to early,losing out on additional profits.

    I think Clester has a strategy of being 50% invested at all times, being in stocks during upturns and in bonds during downturns. It sounds logical and had I applied that theory to 2013, I would have done much better. But the fear factor for me is; what if this downturn is the beginning of another 2008? That fear factor usually sends me back to the G Fund and into protection mode.

    I guess the best stategy is to just keep plugging away.
    Thanks again for your input. I appreciate you both.

    V/r
    Ravensfan
    Last edited by ravensfan; 02-27-2014 at 06:35 AM. Reason: Punctuation...I really need to proof read before I post!

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  21. #11

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    Default Re: ravensfan's Account Talk

    Quote Originally Posted by ravensfan View Post
    ...I think Clester has a strategy of being 50% invested at all times, being in stocks during upturns and in bonds during downturns. It sounds logical and had I applied that theory to 2013, I would have done much better. But the fear factor for me is; what if this downturn is the beginning of another 2008? That fear factor usually sends me back to the G Fund and into protection mode....

    Ravensfan
    FYI Just so you and others know, in case you want to try Clester's rules; Clester actually said, [emphasis added]

    Quote Originally Posted by clester View Post
    This is exactly why I have my rule of staying in at least 50% stocks during Bull markets. Same is true of Bear markets. I stay out at least 50%.


    The system has no warning signs but we need to get above the highs still. A failure is trouble. What constitutes a failure? I guess for my system its a drop below the 50 dma.

    I am back to about even with the C fund. That makes me smile. If I can just keep it going!

    Another sell for me would be an RSI over 70 but we have some room.
    [COLOR=#0000ff][FONT=comic sans ms][I]"In the land of idiots, the moron is King."--Unknown[/I][/FONT][/COLOR]

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  23. #12

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    Default Re: ravensfan's Account Talk

    The drop in the market today is looking good for those of us sitting on the sidelines, waiting for an entry point. However IMHO I think there is more downside to come. I think JTH's post #5785 has the numbers about right. So for now, the word for the week is patience...

    Then on the other hand, if I have a 50/50 shot at something, 90% of the time I'm wrong.

    There, that's my contrarian statement for the week. That's my story and I'm sticking to it.
    "the biggest mistake that traders make is to let these short-term trades turn into longer-term investments when they don’t work." RevShark

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ravensfan's Account Talk
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