Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?

[Anonymous]

This will help explain some of the basics of the TSP and the TSP funds
http://www.bogleheads.org/wiki/Thrift_Savings_Plan

[Anonymous]

To those with $300k and over in less than 20 years, what funds have you been investing in and what allocation? I'm at 13 years now and just under $200k...thought I was doing ok, but I guess not! I was not maxing out (close, but not all the way) but just went to the max this year...and allocated most of my contributions to the S fund from now on. Thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those with $300k and over in less than 20 years, what funds have you been investing in and what allocation? I'm at 13 years now and just under $200k...thought I was doing ok, but I guess not! I was not maxing out (close, but not all the way) but just went to the max this year...and allocated most of my contributions to the S fund from now on. Thoughts?

Correction, C fund. Also contributing some to the C fund and L2040

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12 years with $290k. Maxed out from the start. Am I being too conservative? It seems low compared to what PPs have posted. I have a mix of G, C, and I funds. No L funds.

I would pull out of G. Either CSI or L fund. You still have a long way to go before retiring. I can't recall do they have L2040?

+1. G is awful. It shouldn't even be an option unless you're retiring tomorrow. Take the money and put it in the right lifecycle!!

+2. 13 years with $420k. I have C, S, I, and a tiny, tiny bit in F (or G, am blanking at the moment). Very similar to what my L fund would be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:To those with $300k and over in less than 20 years, what funds have you been investing in and what allocation? I'm at 13 years now and just under $200k...thought I was doing ok, but I guess not! I was not maxing out (close, but not all the way) but just went to the max this year...and allocated most of my contributions to the S fund from now on. Thoughts?

I have 380 K in 9 years. I have been investing the max (limit for 2015 is 18,000). I started out chasing returns (adjusting my allocation periodically) -- not a good strategy. It kept me from maximizing my returns. I plan to keep mine in all domestic stocks. Right now I'm 80% C and 20% S.

Like others, I think TSP is the best, because of its efficiency and low fees.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those with $300k and over in less than 20 years, what funds have you been investing in and what allocation? I'm at 13 years now and just under $200k...thought I was doing ok, but I guess not! I was not maxing out (close, but not all the way) but just went to the max this year...and allocated most of my contributions to the S fund from now on. Thoughts?

I have 380 K in 9 years. I have been investing the max (limit for 2015 is 18,000). I started out chasing returns (adjusting my allocation periodically) -- not a good strategy. It kept me from maximizing my returns. I plan to keep mine in all domestic stocks. Right now I'm 80% C and 20% S.

Like others, I think TSP is the best, because of its efficiency and low fees.

Did you have roll over? Is it even possible to get 380 in 9 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those with $300k and over in less than 20 years, what funds have you been investing in and what allocation? I'm at 13 years now and just under $200k...thought I was doing ok, but I guess not! I was not maxing out (close, but not all the way) but just went to the max this year...and allocated most of my contributions to the S fund from now on. Thoughts?

I have 380 K in 9 years. I have been investing the max (limit for 2015 is 18,000). I started out chasing returns (adjusting my allocation periodically) -- not a good strategy. It kept me from maximizing my returns. I plan to keep mine in all domestic stocks. Right now I'm 80% C and 20% S.

Like others, I think TSP is the best, because of its efficiency and low fees.

Did you have roll over? Is it even possible to get 380 in 9 years?

PP here. No rollover. Just did the max contribution (plus matching ) with aggressive investments (all stocks for the most part).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those with $300k and over in less than 20 years, what funds have you been investing in and what allocation? I'm at 13 years now and just under $200k...thought I was doing ok, but I guess not! I was not maxing out (close, but not all the way) but just went to the max this year...and allocated most of my contributions to the S fund from now on. Thoughts?

I have 380 K in 9 years. I have been investing the max (limit for 2015 is 18,000). I started out chasing returns (adjusting my allocation periodically) -- not a good strategy. It kept me from maximizing my returns. I plan to keep mine in all domestic stocks. Right now I'm 80% C and 20% S.

Like others, I think TSP is the best, because of its efficiency and low fees.

Did you have roll over? Is it even possible to get 380 in 9 years?

PP here. No rollover. Just did the max contribution (plus matching ) with aggressive investments (all stocks for the most part).

It's totally possible. After just 5 years of maxing out (plus 5% match), I'm at $160K (and totally passive investing on my part) (no rollover).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those with $300k and over in less than 20 years, what funds have you been investing in and what allocation? I'm at 13 years now and just under $200k...thought I was doing ok, but I guess not! I was not maxing out (close, but not all the way) but just went to the max this year...and allocated most of my contributions to the S fund from now on. Thoughts?

I have 380 K in 9 years. I have been investing the max (limit for 2015 is 18,000). I started out chasing returns (adjusting my allocation periodically) -- not a good strategy. It kept me from maximizing my returns. I plan to keep mine in all domestic stocks. Right now I'm 80% C and 20% S.

Like others, I think TSP is the best, because of its efficiency and low fees.

Did you have roll over? Is it even possible to get 380 in 9 years?

PP here. No rollover. Just did the max contribution (plus matching ) with aggressive investments (all stocks for the most part).

It's totally possible. After just 5 years of maxing out (plus 5% match), I'm at $160K (and totally passive investing on my part) (no rollover).

I think 380k in 9 years (started in 06?) is really impressive. Mainly due to the fact 08-09 market crash was in the middle of PP's investment period when a lot of Feds lost 1/3 or more of their nest eggs. Even in 09, people were still scared to jump back in. So, maybe PP timed it perfectly - pull out of stock funds (or didn't have much to lose) and when to jump back in full speed.

Excellent return.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those with $300k and over in less than 20 years, what funds have you been investing in and what allocation? I'm at 13 years now and just under $200k...thought I was doing ok, but I guess not! I was not maxing out (close, but not all the way) but just went to the max this year...and allocated most of my contributions to the S fund from now on. Thoughts?

I have 380 K in 9 years. I have been investing the max (limit for 2015 is 18,000). I started out chasing returns (adjusting my allocation periodically) -- not a good strategy. It kept me from maximizing my returns. I plan to keep mine in all domestic stocks. Right now I'm 80% C and 20% S.

Like others, I think TSP is the best, because of its efficiency and low fees.

Did you have roll over? Is it even possible to get 380 in 9 years?

PP here. No rollover. Just did the max contribution (plus matching ) with aggressive investments (all stocks for the most part).

It's totally possible. After just 5 years of maxing out (plus 5% match), I'm at $160K (and totally passive investing on my part) (no rollover).

I think 380k in 9 years (started in 06?) is really impressive. Mainly due to the fact 08-09 market crash was in the middle of PP's investment period when a lot of Feds lost 1/3 or more of their nest eggs. Even in 09, people were still scared to jump back in. So, maybe PP timed it perfectly - pull out of stock funds (or didn't have much to lose) and when to jump back in full speed.

Excellent return.

Um...More likely that she didn't change her allocation at all. You do know the stock market soared after the 09 crash right?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:To those with $300k and over in less than 20 years, what funds have you been investing in and what allocation? I'm at 13 years now and just under $200k...thought I was doing ok, but I guess not! I was not maxing out (close, but not all the way) but just went to the max this year...and allocated most of my contributions to the S fund from now on. Thoughts?

I have 380 K in 9 years. I have been investing the max (limit for 2015 is 18,000). I started out chasing returns (adjusting my allocation periodically) -- not a good strategy. It kept me from maximizing my returns. I plan to keep mine in all domestic stocks. Right now I'm 80% C and 20% S.

Like others, I think TSP is the best, because of its efficiency and low fees.

14:34 here. I lost more than 1/3 in 2008 along with everyone else, but it was only $20K since I was just getting started. The strong stock market years since 2009, as well as compounding, have been key. As I mentioned, if I tried to time the market, I almost always underperformed the regular fund performance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12 years with $290k. Maxed out from the start. Am I being too conservative? It seems low compared to what PPs have posted. I have a mix of G, C, and I funds. No L funds.

I would pull out of G. Either CSI or L fund. You still have a long way to go before retiring. I can't recall do they have L2040?

Yes they have up to 2050 now

[Anonymous]

$425k in 14 years. Used to max out but haven't for a while. I have a mix of all five funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:12 years with $290k. Maxed out from the start. Am I being too conservative? It seems low compared to what PPs have posted. I have a mix of G, C, and I funds. No L funds.

I would pull out of G. Either CSI or L fund. You still have a long way to go before retiring. I can't recall do they have L2040?

Yes they have up to 2050 now

L2040 is 18% G. 2050 is ~10%. G. You should have some G. There's nothing like the G fund outside of TSP: Unlike bond funds, it won''t ever go down in value.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The fund that tracks the S&P consistently returns less than the S&P - so yeah - the fund choices suck. I think many/most fed govt workers don't understand it - they're just thrilled at the amount they have after maxing out for 30 yrs. Put in the bare minimum to get the match, and then go to a Vanguard or Fidelity IRA - their funds actually manage to beat the market yr after yr, so the cost is worth it.

So clueless. So much bad advice in this post. Taxes not considered. Ignorant of difference between "Vanguard or Fidelity" funds vs. index funds. Completely wrong about any fund beating the market "year after year." Pretty much everything said in this post is wrong ... it's actually so wrong, I suspect it is a troll.