Glad I found you all!

[Willwork4Alpha]

After 11 years as a Fed and TSP participant, I was pleasantly surprised to find this group! It's been great to read up on your blogs and message boards and find folks with great ideas and info. That said, I started contributing to the TSP heavily right after I was hired in 1999. As a young gun with my sights set on a muti million dollar 401K account I pumped everything I had into the C (S, I and L funds weren't available) and watched as my contributions got pummeled from 99-02. Frustrated but undeterred I kept bumping my contributions up and rode the climb up pushing almost everything into S and I when these funds became available. I started smelling an overheated market in 2006 but failed to pull the trigger and take any risk off, instead I rode the ride all the way back down in early 2009. Seeing my TSP get cut nearly in half and realizing all of my gains since I began contributing were freaking gone. I began to question my approach. At that point I pushed everything into the L2040 funds and said to h*ll with it, I'll just stop paying attention. Well finding this site, I've changed my mind. I'd really like to try to take some steps to minimize some risk going forward. I'm hoping to catch some signals earlier this cycle and maybe avoid another long ride on the downside. I'm still pumping in 13% and am more motivated than ever to push that up to 15% and beyond. Looking forward to chatting with you all!

 

[tsptalk]

I'll just stop paying attention. Well finding this site, I've changed my mind.

Just when you thought you were out, they drag you right back in. Sorry about that.

Welcome!!

 

[Scout333]

Welcome to the site WillWork! Sounds like you'll fit right in!

 

[Birchtree]

Willwork,

Unfortunately your critical error was abandoning your position at the market lows. You were perfectly set up to really benefit from dollar cost averaging in a golden way. The number of shares you had acquired over the years were still intact - they were simply devalued. The market arena is never easy - so welcome to the cash bar.

 

[JTH]

Willwork,

Unfortunately your critical error was abandoning your position at the market lows. You were perfectly set up to really benefit from dollar cost averaging in a golden way. The number of shares you had acquired over the years were still intact - they were simply devalued. The market arena is never easy - so welcome to the cash bar.

If I'm reading this right he stayed invested, just switched funds.

 

[FAB1]

Glad I found you all

So what took you so long?

Hey BT he was always invested

Read what he posted: I rode the ride all the way back down in early 2009. :notrust:

Seeing my TSP get cut nearly in half and realizing all of my gains since I began contributing were freaking gone. :blink:

I began to question my approach. At that point I pushed everything into the L2040 funds

 

[nnuut]

Willwork4Alpha, your story sounds familar to me, too familar.
Welcome and best of luck, make money!!!!
Norman

 

[Frixxxx]

Welcome Willwork4Alpha,

Stayed involved in your investments forever......


Set goals,

Make decisions and dodge the big drops in the market,

Reap rewards......

Frixxxx

 

[Willwork4Alpha]

JTH and FAB1 are correct, I just switched funds to the L2040 around May 09 so I was able to stay almost fully invested in the market.

What do y'all think, are we looking at a 5%-10% correction soon? I'm not betting on it but I could see it as a possibility. Seems to me that the big money is staying invested for now.

 

[Birchtree]

Good to see you stayed invested making you smell like a rose I'm sure. It would appear right now that the only fundamental that counts is the amount of money that is flowing into the markets. Money coming out of bonds in droves and heading for equities - I want my equity asset bubble.

 

[FAB1]

JTH and FAB1 are correct, I just switched funds to the L2040 around May 09 so I was able to stay almost fully invested in the market.

What do y'all think, are we looking at a 5%-10% correction soon? I'm not betting on it but I could see it as a possibility. Seems to me that the big money is staying invested for now.

It doesnt seem so with all the QE2$$$$$$$$$$ floating around. However for my myself I am waiting for a sizable dip to use an IFT.

My goal is 2% a month, if I get the % I get back out except for DCA'ing till the next month as any additional profit doesnt hurt. Do I miss some greater gains?

Maybe so, and maybe not but my main concern is a clear goal of 24% per yr and that aint hay, brother!

 

[Intrepid_Timer]

It doesnt seem so with all the QE2$$$$$$$$$$ floating around. However for my myself I am waiting for a sizable dip to use an IFT.

My goal is 2% a month, if I get the % I get back out except for DCA'ing till the next month as any additional profit doesnt hurt. Do I miss some greater gains?

Maybe so, and maybe not but my main concern is a clear goal of 24% per yr and that aint hay, brother!

Hey, good goal!! Where did you come up with such a great idea??

 

[Frixxxx]

My goal is 2% a month, if I get the % I get back out except for DCA'ing till the next month as any additional profit doesnt hurt. Do I miss some greater gains?

Actually, 2% a month (literally) equals 27% in a year:
Principal----Interest---Growth

$10,000.00 - $200.00----$10,200.00
$10,200.00 - $204.00----$10,404.00
$10,404.00 - $208.08----$10,612.08
$10,612.08 - $212.24----$10,824.32
$10,824.32 - $216.49----$11,040.81
$11,040.81 - $220.82----$11,261.62
$11,261.62 - $225.23----$11,486.86
$11,486.86 - $229.74----$11,716.59
$11,716.59 - $234.33----$11,950.93
$11,950.93 - $239.02----$12,189.94
$12,189.94 - $243.80----$12,433.74
$12,433.74 - $248.67----$12,682.42

 

[FAB1]

Hey, good goal!! Where did you come up with such a great idea??

Milkman - It wasnt Mindylou

Frixxxx - get technical, willya? :nuts:

BTW why does your handle have 4 X's...hmmm?

 

[nasa1974]

Willwork4Alpha welcome aboard. Don't feel bad. A lot of us road the rollercoaster down that 2009 hill.

 

[Frixxxx]

Milkman - It wasnt Mindylou

Frixxxx - get technical, willya? :nuts:

BTW why does your handle have 4 X's...hmmm?

Frix - Nickname in school.

Frixx - I used this in AOL a lot of years back.....

Frixxx - I used this temporarily when Yahoo first started

I ended up with the 4, because I forgot my passwords for Frixxx, Frixx, and Frix and here we are.....:laugh:

 

[FAB1]

Frix - Nickname in school.

Frixx - I used this in AOL a lot of years back.....

Frixxx - I used this temporarily when Yahoo first started

I ended up with the 4, because I forgot my passwords for Frixxx, Frixx, and Frix and here we are.....:laugh:

Oh okay. I thought maybe you added on a new X everytime you banned someone from the MB.

 

[pokerstar629]

Frix - Nickname in school.

Frixx - I used this in AOL a lot of years back.....

Frixxx - I used this temporarily when Yahoo first started

I ended up with the 4, because I forgot my passwords for Frixxx, Frixx, and Frix and here we are.....:laugh:

I thought the last 3 x's on your handle was referenced to the movie genre of your liking.

 

[Frixxxx]

I thought the last 3 x's on your handle was referenced to the movie genre of your liking.

:toung:What movie genre covers XXX?:toung:​

 

[Frixxxx]

Oh okay. I thought maybe you added on a new X everytime you banned someone from the MB.

LOL FAB1, no bans from me!