Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast
Results 13 to 24 of 30

Thread: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

  1. #13

    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    North Carolina
    Posts
    24

    Default Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    Great info James. What you have written is one of, if not THE BEST explaination of how the TSP works.

  2.  
  3. #14

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    14,678
    Blog Entries
    13

    Default Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    Bump-

    If you are new to the TSP, be sure to read this thread from the beginning for a fresh perspective on things.

    thanks- and good luck.

  4.  
  5. #15

    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    The Windy City
    Posts
    110

    Unhappy Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    Excellent Advice James, and one that everyone NEEDS to hear, and DO !!!

    Case in point.....

    There are 2 guys that work with me, both came in around the same time. I begged and pleaded with them to put in AT LEAST what would give them the max gov't contribution. Well, one guy listened, and the other went for almost 6 years with the agency just putting in 1%.

    I just spoke with the second guy last week, and he complained about how he WISHED he had listened to me. The guy who put in and got the MAX gov't contribution has over 200K, and the 2nd guy has about 56K.

    Like I told them, it'd difficult to make up the money, and IMPOSSIBLE to make up the time.

    He figures he'll have to work an additional 5 or more years now.
    38 Years @ age 57 in 2012
    God Bless President Obama and the ACLU !!!

  6.  
  7. #16

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    14,678
    Blog Entries
    13

    Default Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    Bump up a notch to the top of the stack--

    If you are new around here, and have not yet read this thread, please go back to the first post in this thread and settle in for a warm welcome, and a tip or two on how to become a millionaire.

    Here's the tip - it takes TIME, and it takes EFFORT. You have to put your money in to win, and you have to be willing to leave in in there for while. Anyway- that's the tip of the day- go to the first post in this thread and read all about it. Welcome aboard new TSPTALKERS. Enjoy.

  8.  
  9. #17

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    14,678
    Blog Entries
    13

    Default Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    It's been about five months since this was last bumped up.

    But if you are a newer federal employee, please take a moment to read the first post in this thread. You may find it useful.

    Thanks

  10.  
  11. #18

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    14,678
    Blog Entries
    13

    Default Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    Bump.

    If you are new to this board in the last five months, or a newer federal employee, I encourage you to go to the first post in this thread, and start reading there. Lots of good information for newer TSP investors.

    Thanks, and good luck.


  12.  
  13. #19

    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Posts
    14,678
    Blog Entries
    13

    Default Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    Bump.

    We seem to be getting a lot of fresh faces this week, so...if you are new around here, welcome aboard.

    Please take five minutes, go to the start of this thread, and read the first few messages. It's good information for those who are now examining the TSP as an investment vehicle- new employees especially.

  14.  
  15. Default Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    Message reviewed and received, James... I thank you.

  16.  
  17. #21

    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    West of Atlanta
    Posts
    2,580

    Default Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    Quote Originally Posted by James48843 View Post
    Bump.

    We seem to be getting a lot of fresh faces this week, so...if you are new around here, welcome aboard.

    Please take five minutes, go to the start of this thread, and read the first few messages. It's good information for those who are now examining the TSP as an investment vehicle- new employees especially.
    Check your emotions at the door and good luck in 2010.

    http://timing.typepad.com/


    Markets go up. Markets go down.

    It shouldn't matter much, but many new market timers find that their own personal mood fluctuates with the markets, moving from extreme euphoria as the markets soar to new heights to deep despair when the markets plunge to abysmal lows.

    Why do market trends have such power over emotions?

    Moods And Decisions

    They don't need to, but many new market timers have difficulty keeping an objective mindset. They allow fear and greed to influence their trading decisions. They tend to follow the masses, and when they go with the crowd, they soon find that market trends not only influence their moods but their account balance as well.

    There's a strong tendency to follow the crowd. There is a feeling of safety in numbers.

    When you see a steady upward trend, you feel secure. Everyone is buying. They are all doing the same thing. When other people offer confirmation of your decisions, you feel safe and assured.

    In a bull market, it isn't so bad to follow the crowd. When it's a strong bull market, the crowd is often right, and it makes sense to follow them. However, when the market turns around, feelings of safety and security can turn instantly into fear and panic.

    Disappointment And Despair

    Why? An obvious reason is that many new market timers don't have the ability or financial resources to sell short, and take advantage of a bear market. Using bear funds does level the playing field, but there is a psychological issue as well. It is difficult to know how to handle falling prices.

    ""Trading by the seat of your pants is NOT the way to profits. It is, however, the way to ruin."
    For example, humans tend to be risk averse. When one is in a long (bullish) position and the markets suddenly turn, it's hard to accept losses, and even harder to execute a sell signal to protect capital before more damage is done.

    Denial and avoidance set in. At that point, a market timer with a losing position panics, hopes that things will turn around, and waits for events that are unlikely to happen.

    Usually market prices continues to fall, heavy losses are incurred, and as expected, disappointment and despair set in.

    Think Of The Big Picture

    It's critical to your survival as a market timer to stay calm and objective. Don't let your emotions interfere with your decision-making.

    How do you stay detached and relaxed?

    First, it's important to accept the fact that you will likely see many small losses as a market timer and that you should "expect" to see the markets turn against you.

    Second, it's important to manage risk. Assume that the markets are likely to go against you occasionally. Don't risk too much on a single trade. Diversity has a place in market timing as well as all trading. Most of FibTimer's strategies have diversity built into them. Be sure to follow them as they were designed to be followed.

    Think of the big picture; the long-term profits across a series of trades are all that matters, not the result of a single trade.

    Third, follow a timing strategy with discipline. Trading by the seat of your pants is NOT the way to profits. It is, however, the way to ruin.

    Conclusion

    Don't allow your moods to fluctuate with the ups and downs of the markets. By trading in a disciplined manner, you can cultivate an unemotional, logical mindset that isn't overly influenced by market moods.

    Armed with the right mindset and a disciplined timing strategy, you will be able to realize the huge profits that winning market timers achieve over time.

  18.  
  19. Default Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    Hey just wanted to say thanks. and I read a couple of your posts good insights

  20.  
  21. #23

    Default Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    Great post!!
    I am new to the MB and appreciate the shared information

  22.  
  23. #24

    Default Re: Brand new to TSP- or just starting...

    I'll bump this...good information posted in a very accessible manner. Thank you James.

  24.  
Page 2 of 3 FirstFirst 123 LastLast

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
S&P500 (C Fund) (delayed)
Brand new to TSP- or just starting...
(Stockcharts.com Real-time)
DWCPF (S Fund) (delayed)
Brand new to TSP- or just starting...
(Stockcharts.com Real-time)
EFA (I Fund) (delayed)
Brand new to TSP- or just starting...
(Stockcharts.com Real-time)
BND (F Fund) (delayed)
Brand new to TSP- or just starting...
(Stockcharts.com Real-time)

Yahoo Finance Realtime TSP Fund Tracking Index Quotes