Happy Trails to you

[Happy_Trails]

Hello,

I have decided to actively mange my TSP account. I have been a buy & hold investor for many years with a basic asset allocation of 50% stocks and 50% bonds. This is not a bad way to go if you do not care about drawdowns - it will perform well in most markets but gets hammered during protracted bear markets. My goal in switching to an active approach is to substantially decrease drawdowns while maintaining comparable returns to the basic 50/50 buy and hold asset allocation. I am following a very basic strategy based on ideas presented by Mebane Faber in his book "The Ivy Portfolio." Also, there is an article on Fedsmith dated 7/28/10 regarding the approach. In a nutshell, I expect to be in the market so long as the price of C,S,& I are above their 10 month simple moving averages at the beginning of each month. If they are not, I will move all funds to the G fund for that entire month. I will check the simple moving averages at the beginning of the next month and if prices have moved back above the 10 month simple moving averages, I will be back 100% invested in stocks. Very simple and easy to implement even with the two transfers per month limitation. I am also watching the TSPTalk sentiment system very closely.

[tsptalk]

Welcome Happy Trails. I like the approach. Not overly active - but still pro-active.

Best of luck and we hope to see you around the forums.

[FAB1]

Until we meet again...

Welcome aboard

[Happy_Trails]

Until we meet again...

Welcome aboard

Thanks

[Handballer]

Welcome Happy Trails. I seem to remember some movies from the long ago past about some cowboys and Happy Trails.

Happy gains to you.

[nnuut]

Welcome to the Board Happy Trails, I see you have a plan that's a good sign.
Should be interesting, I'll be watching and see how you do.
Best of luck.
Norman

[ken1222]

Good luck. I just joined yesterday. I like your plan, and hope it does well for you.

[charley]

Hi Happy Trails, I'm looking at similar strategies also, trying to decide what's best. You mention you follow a system similar to Mebane Faber's. What is your allocation to each of the TSP funds (assuming they are above their SMA value)?