AutoTracker's IFT Deadline Poll

[tsptalk]

Welcome barbarajean!

I think we are talking about a couple of different things here.

One question is, does anyone feel they need more time to post their IFT in the autotracker? Perhaps they made their IFT on the TSP thriftline (while at lunch or whatever) and need time to get back to their office to enter it into the AutoTracker. If we give 30 minutes instead of 10 minutes, it helps members keep their TSP account and Autotracker account as accurate as possible.

On the other hand, if someone you like to follow is waiting until the last minute to make their decision, it may be a sign that they are not overly confident in their decision. With only 2 transfers a month, perhaps being a day behind them in this case is not a bad thing.

Preferably, members would post their IFT into the autotracker right after they make the change in their TSP account. That is why 10 minutes is normally fine.

So, are we more interested in helping people post in the AutoTracker timely - having the same COB date in their TSP as their AutoTracker account, or are we more concerned with members seeing the transfers of other members as close to the deadline as possible?

 

[bjean]

yes, why wouldnt u want to help your fellows with your expertise and a little bit of luck?

 

[nasa1974]

For me the when I first joined up I watched the IFT tracker to see what some of the respected members where doing with their accounts and would base my decision on what they did. It was the learning curve of when and why (if you made an error you could always change it tomorrow). You could play follow the leader. But that was back when we could do a daily change. Now with only 2 IFT's I think a lot of changes are being made real close to the noon limit so it makes it more difficult to also get the information into the IFT tracker before noon. We can't play follow the leader anymore. I guess it would reduce some of the stress if the deadline was move back some. Just my opinion.

 

[tsptalk]

I'm sorry, I didn't word the question right.
I understand a time allowance is needed between entering the IFT in tsp.gov by 12:00 noon and posting that ift into 'talk.

But why was it only 10 minutes? why not 15, or 30 or 45 minutes?
I'm not following how others could be `piggy-backing' because the IFT had to be in at .gov by noon.

Yeah, I guess it didn't matter 10, 15, 20, 30... A minute after the deadline and the piggy-backing would be a day off.

But we were more concerned with accurate reporting than piggy-backing. Most people make their transfers before noon on the TSP and here, but it's nice to have that cushion (here) if you are waiting until 11:59 to make your painful IFT decision (on the TSP site). With only 2 per month, they are a lot more important than they used to be, and sometimes we need every minute, just to be sure.

 

[nnuut]

Originally, prior to the Auto Tracker, the time limitation was there to discourage Members from
Monday Morning Quarterbacking, If I remember correctly?

 

[grandma]

To give those who waited until the last minute to make their decision, a few extra minutes to input their TSP IFT into the autotracker.

I'm sorry, I didn't word the question right.
I understand a time allowance is needed between entering the IFT in tsp.gov by 12:00 noon and posting that ift into 'talk.

But why was it only 10 minutes? why not 15, or 30 or 45 minutes?
I'm not following how others could be `piggy-backing' because the IFT had to be in at .gov by noon.

 

[tsptalk]

So, I'm seeing about 60% of the people would like to see the moves, but 40% would not.

Is the reasoning behind not wanting the change because of what fedgolfer said about piggybacking? If not, what are the other issues? 40% is a lot to be against it.

Thanks

 

[tsptalk]

What was the rationale for the 10 minute deadline?

To give those who waited until the last minute to make their decision, a few extra minutes to input their TSP IFT into the autotracker.

 

[nasa1974]

I say it should be changed closer to 1:00 EST. People out west don't have near as much time to make an educated transfer. Retirement shouldn't be depending on luck. If the deadline can't be changed then they should go for more realtime changes. After all, a time stamp is posted with each change. Why can't they use that stamp at the end of the day to say where your position was. Lots of ways to make this better.

The Autotracker is just a tool for the members of TSPTalk. It has no bering on the IFT noon deadline impossed by the FRTIB and our real accounts.

I think many members would be very pleased if the FRTIB changed the IFT deadline closer to the market closing time.

 

[hotshot]

I say it should be changed closer to 1:00 EST. People out west don't have near as much time to make an educated transfer. Retirement shouldn't be depending on luck. If the deadline can't be changed then they should go for more realtime changes. After all, a time stamp is posted with each change. Why can't they use that stamp at the end of the day to say where your position was. Lots of ways to make this better.

 

[Boghie]

Since I must post an IFT by 0900 here on the west coast it does make it a bit difficult to also post to TSPTalk. But I've gotten it done.

The extra time would probably help west coasters. There is no way for us to avoid posting our IFTs during work time - so a slightly larger spread will help.

And, I voted no.

And, Birch does all his best work in the dark

 

[Birchtree]

I usually post my IFT the night before in the dark so the time change doesn't bother me.

 

[fedgolfer]

on second thought, the downside to a later IFT will prevent people from piggy-backing on some of the better performers. I'm not too proud to admit I've done that a few times. If it's 12:30 the followers will always be a day late, at least. Maybe a 11:45 deadline is the real answer Ha! I know, causin' trouble.

 

[grandma]

What was the rationale for the 10 minute deadline?

 

[tsptalk]

True. I guess some folks use the Thrift Line to make their IFT and may not have access to the autotracker. But in that case 10 minutes or 30 minutes probably wouldn't matter.

 

[grandma]

Originally Posted by FireWeatherMet
If you make your move at 1159...all you need to do is take another 60-90 seconds to make your TSPTalk input. But given unexpected phone call etc...a change to 1215-1220 should be good....in my opinion.

Is not most everyone of our members at work at that noon IFT bell?
I don't understand how this "all you need to do is take another 60-90 seconds..."
can be considered a blanket for every tsp'er, for every job, for every circumstance.
For some, just having a chance to do the post may be an unexpected circumstance....
- that may be why some others are Not part of the tracker; because if you can't guarantee yourself to be able to take part on every IFT, why take part at all?

 

[tsptalk]

If you make your move at 1159...all you need to do is take another 60-90 seconds to make your TSPTalk input. But given unexpected phone call etc...a change to 1215-1220 should be good....in my opinion.

That is the intent - 10 minutes should be plenty of time, but lately people have been having problems getting their IFT into the tracker at that time because of system issues. The new deadline just provides a buffer, but you are right, some may procrastinate because of the buffer causing more problems.

I like to think that all of us here are a lot more interested in tracking our true performance then trying to get a free t-shirt...and that most if not all of us would adhere to the honor system.

You'd be surprised. It's more of an ego thing than getting a T-shirt. Rarely has anyone ever asked me to change their IFT when the change hurts their return.

I recommend that people still use the excel spreadsheets to track their actual returns. That's what is important. The AutoTracker is really just a game and a tool to help others watch what others are doing.

Thanks for the input folks!

 

[tsptalk]

It's pretty good right now. Must be your mobile FAB.

 

[FAB1]

um its really slow right now and its 2 est. I can only see the last 4 IFTS but maybe that b/c im on a mobile?

 

[nnuut]

Sounds fine!!