Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?

[Anonymous]

New federal employee and I am thinking the TSP is a joke and treats gov't employees like a bunch of idiots who can't make financial decisions and thus have to be limited to 5 funds. I'm in my early 30s and with my prior retirement plans -- which always had 15-30 options -- I had a growth allocation. What % combo of funds can get me to something like that with the TSP? I don't want to put everything into the fund that resembles S&P -- bc the S&P hasn't done so great YTD; yet I have no idea what the "smaller companies" funds represents and am not sure what combo of that + S&P will get me some kind of growth allocation.

[Anonymous]

If you don't know anything about investing, stick with the TSP. it's one of the lowest cost options, and you get the matching, so it's free money that you leave on the table.

Every Fed I know is sitting on way north of half a million with years to go to retirement.

[Anonymous]

It's one of the best investment options out there. There are several great choices, lifecycle funds, and matching. Just max it out and you'll do great. If you are that interested in doing better than TSP, you should be working in private finance, not the fed govt.

[Anonymous]

Wow op, you sound like you are not very savvy with investments. The TSP by far offers the best index funds.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow op, you sound like you are not very savvy with investments. The TSP by far offers the best index funds.

+1

OP, you are your own worst enemy. Get thee into a lifecycle fund and forget all this for a few years until you learn more about investing.

[Anonymous]

I just passed 750k. hoping to pass 1 mil next 3-4 years.

[Anonymous]

OP, every credible source I have ever read has stated that actively managing investment funds is a big, big waste of time. You may make some money in the short run, but in the long run you will be either worse off or the same as people who just stick to index funds and passively invest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I just passed 750k. hoping to pass 1 mil next 3-4 years.

How many years in? I'm at 14 years and have $375k.

[Anonymous]

Just curious, PPs, what did you have at 5 and 10 years?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, every credible source I have ever read has stated that actively managing investment funds is a big, big waste of time. You may make some money in the short run, but in the long run you will be either worse off or the same as people who just stick to index funds and passively invest.

You may have read that but it hasn't proven true for me -- I'm not the OP. I mean I don't trade every day but I do switch up contribution weight to an extent based on what's happening in the market in any given year or quarter; it works if you're already plugged into the market. I don't understand the "throw in your money and forget about it" view that so many take.

[Anonymous]

I'm in L2040 (higher growth) and just got a 3.65% return for the last year. Yay....

Ugh. It's like I can't make money anywhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:New federal employee and I am thinking the TSP is a joke and treats gov't employees like a bunch of idiots who can't make financial decisions and thus have to be limited to 5 funds. I'm in my early 30s and with my prior retirement plans -- which always had 15-30 options -- I had a growth allocation. What % combo of funds can get me to something like that with the TSP? I don't want to put everything into the fund that resembles S&P -- bc the S&P hasn't done so great YTD; yet I have no idea what the "smaller companies" funds represents and am not sure what combo of that + S&P will get me some kind of growth allocation.

If you prefer active management then you might want to contribute the minimum to get the match and invest any excess the same way you've been doing so far.

[Anonymous]

read bogleheads forum and relax.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just passed 750k. hoping to pass 1 mil next 3-4 years.

How many years in? I'm at 14 years and have $375k.

NP. I'm 15 years and $450,000. Too conservative early on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I just passed 750k. hoping to pass 1 mil next 3-4 years.

How many years in? I'm at 14 years and have $375k.

NP. I'm 15 years and $450,000. Too conservative early on.

375k here. I wasn't conservative but started at a gs-9. Took a while before I could max out.