Amount in TSP? Age? Years in Government? GS Level?

[Anonymous]

I started as a GS-11 at age 25, and they told us at orientation to put in 5% to get the 5% match, and put all into the G fund, especially with a lot of law school loans. I didn't understand. I'm a bit more financial savvy now, and have moved everything to the life cycle fund 2050. I'm at 6% and 5% match, as we were saving for a house (just bought 6 months ago), and had a baby. I have $30K in TSP after 3.5 years, and am now a GS-14. My goal is to increase my percentage with each step increase.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I started as a GS-11 at age 25, and they told us at orientation to put in 5% to get the 5% match, and put all into the G fund, especially with a lot of law school loans. I didn't understand. I'm a bit more financial savvy now, and have moved everything to the life cycle fund 2050. I'm at 6% and 5% match, as we were saving for a house (just bought 6 months ago), and had a baby. I have $30K in TSP after 3.5 years, and am now a GS-14. My goal is to increase my percentage with each step increase.

Time is your best friend. If I could go back, I'd do my best to max out. At your age, no need for G or F funds. Go with C/S/I.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started as a GS-11 at age 25, and they told us at orientation to put in 5% to get the 5% match, and put all into the G fund, especially with a lot of law school loans. I didn't understand. I'm a bit more financial savvy now, and have moved everything to the life cycle fund 2050. I'm at 6% and 5% match, as we were saving for a house (just bought 6 months ago), and had a baby. I have $30K in TSP after 3.5 years, and am now a GS-14. My goal is to increase my percentage with each step increase.

Time is your best friend. If I could go back, I'd do my best to max out. At your age, no need for G or F funds. Go with C/S/I.

PP here. So, I was in C, S, and I funds for all of last year, but my performance statement says I only got like a 2% return. That's when I learned about the lifecycle funds, and that it'll do it all for you. So, I moved into that one.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started as a GS-11 at age 25, and they told us at orientation to put in 5% to get the 5% match, and put all into the G fund, especially with a lot of law school loans. I didn't understand. I'm a bit more financial savvy now, and have moved everything to the life cycle fund 2050. I'm at 6% and 5% match, as we were saving for a house (just bought 6 months ago), and had a baby. I have $30K in TSP after 3.5 years, and am now a GS-14. My goal is to increase my percentage with each step increase.

Time is your best friend. If I could go back, I'd do my best to max out. At your age, no need for G or F funds. Go with C/S/I.

PP here. So, I was in C, S, and I funds for all of last year, but my performance statement says I only got like a 2% return. That's when I learned about the lifecycle funds, and that it'll do it all for you. So, I moved into that one.

Max in. Be patient.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I started as a GS-11 at age 25, and they told us at orientation to put in 5% to get the 5% match, and put all into the G fund, especially with a lot of law school loans. I didn't understand. I'm a bit more financial savvy now, and have moved everything to the life cycle fund 2050. I'm at 6% and 5% match, as we were saving for a house (just bought 6 months ago), and had a baby. I have $30K in TSP after 3.5 years, and am now a GS-14. My goal is to increase my percentage with each step increase.

Time is your best friend. If I could go back, I'd do my best to max out. At your age, no need for G or F funds. Go with C/S/I.

PP here. So, I was in C, S, and I funds for all of last year, but my performance statement says I only got like a 2% return. That's when I learned about the lifecycle funds, and that it'll do it all for you. So, I moved into that one.

That's likely bc the S&P had a negative return last yr (and a return just over 1% when you took into account the dividend reinvestment). So it's not you or your funds, it was market performance. Sadly not every year will involve a 15% gain.

[Anonymous]

I'm in c, s and I, and have been disappointed in I. Since its inception, the I fund has underperformed compared to c and s. Am I reading these returns correctly? Should I just put everything in c? (Am 39, not going to retire for over 20 years)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how 3 consecutive posters above are mid-30's (35-37) but have varying amounts in their TSP/401(k):

$110,000
$220,000
$330,000

This is why it matters when you start contributing; whether you max out or not; your match, if any; and how aggressive or conservative your fund choices are. Here you can see a 220k differential.

I am the $110K poster. I agree with you but my response did not include my 401k from my first 7 years out of college. The $350k number is very impressive, but my number would be a lot closer to $220k if I included my previous 401k, which I have not yet rolled over.

I think that the overall intention of the thread was to see what feds have in their TSP/401(k)/IRAs, since people join the federal government at different times. So thanks for adding in your other piece. Anyone else?

[Anonymous]

I am 44, New GS-14, 6 years fed service $75K in TSP and $150K in other retirement funds (from old jobs) so $225K total - I have been slowly increasing my max contribution to coincide with my step increases and promotions (not ideal but I took a big pay hit to take the fed job)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm in c, s and I, and have been disappointed in I. Since its inception, the I fund has underperformed compared to c and s. Am I reading these returns correctly? Should I just put everything in c? (Am 39, not going to retire for over 20 years)

I posted earlier. I have very little directed to I, my H historically had more directed to it than me, but I beat his performance every year, so he recently stopped directing anything to it and outperformed me in the last year cycle. I do the vast majority of mine into C and S at age 36, with no plans to retire for probably 30 years, so I won't go more conservative for a very long time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's interesting how 3 consecutive posters above are mid-30's (35-37) but have varying amounts in their TSP/401(k):

$110,000
$220,000
$330,000

This is why it matters when you start contributing; whether you max out or not; your match, if any; and how aggressive or conservative your fund choices are. Here you can see a 220k differential.

I am the $110K poster. I agree with you but my response did not include my 401k from my first 7 years out of college. The $350k number is very impressive, but my number would be a lot closer to $220k if I included my previous 401k, which I have not yet rolled over.

I think that the overall intention of the thread was to see what feds have in their TSP/401(k)/IRAs, since people join the federal government at different times. So thanks for adding in your other piece. Anyone else?

I am the 110k pp and I agree. I read the post too literally. And really, I should have rolled over my last 401k year ago. The low fees associated with the TSP my inaction pretty inexcusable.

[Anonymous]

2 fed family as well. 1.6M combined. 14/10 and 15/8 both with 28 years in although I took a few years of lwop with no contributions. Maxed out contributions for the majority of those years and it has been sitting in the C fund.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:2 fed family as well. 1.6M combined. 14/10 and 15/8 both with 28 years in although I took a few years of lwop with no contributions. Maxed out contributions for the majority of those years and it has been sitting in the C fund.

New fed here, so you've been in C fund the whole time?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow - I feel really lame. I am 43 with 5 years in and have $300k in TSP (I rolled in an IRA). I started as a 14 and now a 15. I definitely regret the years before I maxed out my contributions but I was so poor and had so many student loans that it was hard to prioritize the power of compounding at that time.

You're doing great! Seriously!

[Anonymous]

Almost 250K, 35 years old, about 13 years in and currently a GS-14, step 4. My contributions are in C/S/I, almost evenly, but I'm going to check into the Life funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:2 fed family as well. 1.6M combined. 14/10 and 15/8 both with 28 years in although I took a few years of lwop with no contributions. Maxed out contributions for the majority of those years and it has been sitting in the C fund.

New fed here, so you've been in C fund the whole time?

Yes, there is a very small percentage of one account in G but all the rest has been riding the C rollercoaster. When they started adding the S, I, and L funds we never bothered moving it; I am first to admit we could have done things differently but we are close to retirement and we will have to make changes now.