gunsmokex's account talk

[gunsmokex]

Okay just found this website and forum, so I apologize for posting this late and not on the day of my transaction. I'm not trying to monday morning QB here. Just started getting very serious about my retirement, I'm 30 years old. Just upped my contribution to 5% in June and started a Roth IRA in late May as well.

Previous to 6/22 100% G

IFT 90% S and 10% C
effective 6/22

Allocation change 75% S and 25% C
effective 6/22

I decided to go with the majority 90% into the S fund because I was looking at share prices and i noticed that the share prices for S fund were pretty much at a 6 month low, the time the S fund prices were at 16.30-16.50 was at the beggining of the this year.

S shares 6/22 16.51

The C fund same story the last time the C shares hit the 13.50's was around the new year.

As for why I'm 75% in the S and 25% in the C I guess its just a gut feeling. The S fund just seems a little more stable to me right now.

The reason I've left alone the I fund is because right now I am investing 100% of my Roth IRA in an international index mutual fund, NFSAX to be exact.

Happy 4th of July!!

 

[gunsmokex]

IFT 100% S before noon on July, 6th

Just a gut feeling that the Wilshire 4500 will outperform the S&P 500 today.

 

[gunsmokex]

I'm very new at making changes in my TSP. If any one has any opinions, please let me know good or bad. I'm still learning.

 

[gunsmokex]

Re: gunsmokex's account

Well as you might have noticed in my member allocation talk page, I said I'd stay out of the I fund, well I lied and changed my mind

 

[Dave M]

Make Few Changes

G-X, you will derive little benefit from making changes in your TSP allocation. The most important thing you can do is to maximize your contributions. Since you are at 5% currently, you have a lot of 'upside potential' there.

Use your COLA's and step increases. If you get 3%, give 2% to the TSP. Work it up to $15,000 gradually. When you get it maxed, you will probably feel as I do, that after all that work and struggle it is just too painful to watch it disappear due to a poorly timed move.

My answer was to decide on a level of anxiety I could live with and which would still allow me to reach my goal. I keep my personal contributions in the G-fund, usually. They amount to 35-40% of my balance, and I protect them absolutely. The rest I diversify among the funds. I re-balance monthly to account for new contributions and market gains.

This has kept me off the floor and in the middle of the pack. I am only in the upper echelons now due to the misfortune of others, not my own investing prowess. It does show the usefulness of avoiding losses, however.

Good luck!
Dave

 

[gunsmokex]

Effective July 7th before noon. 25% C 25% S and 50% I.

Thanks for the reply Dave, I hear what you are saying. But I'm sticking with 5% right now, I've gotta get my '80 CJ-5 done one of these days and that thing will be a $$ pit. That plus paying off $100 extra on my house will help too in the long run.

If I figured everything out right on the calculator I'm at a 5.65% return right now, which isn't too bad for a newbie. I was just waiting for the right time to dump my G funds get into the C S and I funds.

I decided I will play I funds though, the Roth I may change into a plan similar to say the L 2040, because I can't do transfers with that like I can with my TSP.

 

[EW_ret]

You are correct! I had you down for the wrong starting allocation? Thanks for pointing that out. My error was in not reading the post carefully. I have a habit of using the last number mentioned in a post, and I am not accustomed to members posting their contribution allocation changes. We do not incorporate contributions into the TSPTalk Weekly Tracker.

I will correct the TSPTalk Weekly Tracker and post in the next installment dated July 14th. Your fund allocation from July 5th to July 6th COB will be 10% C and 90% S, rather than 25% C and 75% S.

 

[gunsmokex]

IFT 75% C and 25% S before noon July 18th. I'm getting out of the I fund for now too much stuff going on overseas. For the year I'm at 0.07% right now. If I stick with I much longer that'll -1.0% or -2.0%. I guess I just feel that the bigger companies can absorb the high gas prices a little better than the small-medium sized companies, it wouldn't take much right now to take out the oil supply over there.

 

[gunsmokex]

Crap I think I jumped the gun too soon by getting outta the I too soon should have held steady

 

[gunsmokex]

Hmm, now looking at the 5 day chart comparing the MSCI EAFE and S&P b/n 7/14 and 7/17 I remember why I got out of I. That and I should have stuck with my mind to begin with and kept out of the I and let the Roth handle that index.

 

[gunsmokex]

Oh well I'll just have to make a decision and stick with it next time. Sucks getting outta the I the day before it spikes like this, dammit.

 

[Birchtree]

Be right and sit tight is what I say. Sitting tight is the easy part - being right requires work.

 

[gunsmokex]

100% G before noon July 24th.

 

[gunsmokex]

60% G
15% C
25% S
before noon 8/1/06

I've been waiting for a drop in the market, this might be the time to get back in. Just testing the water.

 

[gunsmokex]

40% F
20% C
40% S
IFT before noon 8/2/06

Getting out of the G and getting into the F. F looks pretty decent looking at the 3 month trend, if the Fed doesn't hike the interest rate as expected its an added bonus.

 

[gunsmokex]

20F
30C
50S
IFT before noon 8/21/06
Hopefully little dip today and then a nice rebound.

 

[Birchtree]

Take a walk on the wild side and come deeper into the C fund - you'll not be sorry. Let the Ghost Riders chase the I fund. As a disclaimer my noise doesn't offer any refunds.

 

[gunsmokex]

Well I'm now 50I and 50C I like that mixture. The S fund I like to stay out of right now. Anyways FYI since I've been tracked on Tsptalk I'm @ -0.26 but for the year I'm @ 5.63 as of right now. Props to everyone though this site rules. Also Tspgo isn't a bad site either. I read the thing on the interview with the tsp talk director and its BS. Why should I just stick my $$ into a fund and let it sit there and have no choice in it. That's BS, its my $$ and no one elses, I decide how it gets invested if I want to change my allocation and make an IFT then I damn well better be able to because its my $$ and no one elses.

Ok I'll shut up now, just had to vent. Thanks Birchtree though I do like the C fund better than the S fund, S fund is just so damn tempting though but right now the most stable fund is the C fund but that'll change here in a week or two.

Later,
Justin