Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 12:37     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
OP: if you think you can do better than TSP no one forces you to use it. Just contribute 5% to take advantage of the matching then do your own investing outside TSP.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 11:51     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
Anonymous wrote:
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Dear New Federal Employee,

You may want to actually meet with a financial advisor. I am over million dollars with my TSP fund and have other investments as well. Your statement "I have no idea" and yet you are bashing the fund. Maybe do a little research before posting on DCUM and you can find out about the funds. Or better yet, don't invest - who cares.

Signed,

"Old Federal Employee"


If you don't care - why post?? Fed employees are a cult - god forbid you bash any aspect of their job or comp, they must ALL come out and attack.


A cult? That's something new. How is that related to TSP/investment discussion anyway?
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 11:48     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
Anonymous wrote:
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.


Dear New Federal Employee,

You may want to actually meet with a financial advisor. I am over million dollars with my TSP fund and have other investments as well. Your statement "I have no idea" and yet you are bashing the fund. Maybe do a little research before posting on DCUM and you can find out about the funds. Or better yet, don't invest - who cares.

Signed,

"Old Federal Employee"


If you don't care - why post?? Fed employees are a cult - god forbid you bash any aspect of their job or comp, they must ALL come out and attack.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 11:44     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
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.


This is a really bad advice.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 11:31     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
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.


Dear New Federal Employee,

You may want to actually meet with a financial advisor. I am over million dollars with my TSP fund and have other investments as well. Your statement "I have no idea" and yet you are bashing the fund. Maybe do a little research before posting on DCUM and you can find out about the funds. Or better yet, don't invest - who cares.

Signed,

"Old Federal Employee"
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 11:28     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
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.


No don't do this. TSP is pre-tax, and Vanguard/Fidelity is after tax and you will be taxed again on your earnings when you cash out.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 11:25     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
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.


could you recommend some funds? thx
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 11:23     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
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.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 11:00     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
Get into private equity investments. That's where money is made.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 10:57     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
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!!
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 10:54     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
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?
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 10:49     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
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.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 09:18     Subject: Re:Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
Having all of those choices in non-TSP retirement plans is very costly (and that cost is passed on to you). The TSP has limited choices, but that helps to maintain incredibly low operating expenses.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 08:55     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?

I wish I were in the TSP! I have choices, but my husband is a federal employee. Guess which one of us is doing WAY better? He has 26 years in and is above 800K. The fees in TSP are low, low, low.
Anonymous
Post 07/21/2015 08:10     Subject: Hating the TSP -- opinions on how to invest?
Anonymous wrote:
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.


750k poster here. I am at 27 years but, like some of you, made mistakes early on - didn't start right away (waited until year 4, I think) and even when I got going, i didn't max out. Max out, be patient is my recommendation to young feds.