OBXTrader's Account Talk

  • Thread starter Thread starter OBXTrader
  • Start date Start date
Sort by newest Sort by date
O

OBXTrader

Guest
Greetings to all. Finally registered, but was a forum troll for more than a year. Enjoyed reading the regulars and their account talks too, but got tired of not seeing posted charts since I wasn't registered. Former US military and not a current federal employee, so not active contributing to TSP. I had it on autopilot in 2020 doing DCA until 2010. At heart a conservative investor/saver, but taking an active role in the TSP for over a year now has taught me a lot.

Made several IFT's over the period and did real well considering my risk tolerance (over 13% PIP), then I lost traction when this rally began in January 2013. I was not a believer and missed out on much of the gains. I did not lose money, but a big missed opportunity.

I picked Friday as my exit and went 100G yesterday (Friday July 5th) for my first July IFT from the L Income fund. I jumped into C/I/S on the June 5th dip and went into L Income on June 7th and sat there until yesterday. Caught a short bump for June and missed most of the downside, and my account did go up into July to it's highest balance ever.

With one more IFT, I will wait for an entry point later in the month. Here is my June PIP. Thanks!

Your Personal Investment Performance (PIP) for the past 12 months ending 06/30/2013 is 7.62%.
(Your PIP is posted by the 3rd business day of each month.)
 
Welcome to the zoo OBX. There is lots of good advice here, none of which is mine. There is also a social aspect as I consider TSPTalk to be one big family. But that's just me. I do read everything but rarely follow through as I am largely a buy and holder with 4.something years left until retirement.

Thanks for your service.

Good move keeping the TSP account. I do know some who have left government service and were done with TSP too. A few rolled it to a tax deferred device, most withdrew it, accepted the penalties and spent it.

PO
 
Thanks Gentlemen, I never considered pulling my money out of TSP, but certainly not now since mutual fund companies don't want you trading more than once in a 30 day period. I enrolled in the TSP when it was made available for military back in October 2001. Never maxed it out, but a a few hundred a month adds up after a while. Until I transitioned out of the military, I was buy and hold for 9 years, and in the L2020 whenever it came out. It took me a while to realize that's it, no more DCA when I got out.

I actually read this site for a while before deciding to actively manage my account. When I saw my TSP account hemorrhage in the down market of summer/fall 2011, I realized that "buying and holding" in an account where you can no longer contribute may or may not be the best strategy.

I started doing research and found this site among others to help answer my question. In great part to what I read here, when I felt the market bottomed in 2011, I moved into the L2030. Doesn't sound like much, but for me that was a big step buying into a more aggressive fund when others were selling. That move and others since had worked well until this January-May 2013 rally. I got an early piece of the January move, but like others, I fought the Fed and only did some dip buying.

We'll see if my July 5th exit was ill-timed but I left the casino ahead after the June dump.
 
Last edited:
Welcome OBX,

You must be down the road, based on your name. RMI and myself like to meet up and discuss things from time to time. So, if you are in the area up here around Norfolk, let me know!
 
Welcome to the Forum OBX. Thanks for your thoughts sharing is where it's at.
Best of luck,:D
Norman
 
Thanks for the warm welcome Gentlemen. My 100%G move on Friday may have been premature, but we have to stick with our comfort level and I have an IRA outside of TSP, so some chips are on the table.

After this year, I will stop contributions to the IRA and face the same dilemma as the TSP. One can do a similar move in a mutual fund as TSP, but more than one trade in a 30 day period and one becomes an excessive trader. Trades are meant to "rebalance", not time the market.

Outside of TSP, most here seem to own stocks or ETF's, so might not face the same buy and hold limitations. Any thoughts?
 
OBXTrader said:
After this year, I will stop contributions to the IRA and face the same dilemma as the TSP. One can do a similar move in a mutual fund as TSP, but more than one trade in a 30 day period and one becomes an excessive trader. Trades are meant to "rebalance", not time the market.
Click to expand...

Sounds like you need to move that IRA to someone that doesn't limit you like that...
 
Indeed, we do get into comfort zones.

Frixxx - I am just down the road from Hampton Roads! I guess I made that one obvious, want to buy a lighthouse?

RealMoneyIssues said:
Sounds like you need to move that IRA to someone that doesn't limit you like that...
Click to expand...
 
I went 100% cash in the last of my equities yesterday so we can simplify our finances with a fresh start.

I was approximately 50/50 until last night (100% G in TSP as of July 5th). The date I picked was based on no technical analysis or gut feeling. I used market Euphoria, CNBC/Magazine Cover "sell signal" to pick the date to go cash. Now, we can start fresh with rollovers from scattered mutual funds and let the markets do what they want.

That said, I am not rolling over my TSP account, that stands alone even though I can never contribute again. Once your gone, you can't come back! I have one IFT left in TSP.


Frixxxx said:
Can I change the light to the "Bat Signal"?
Click to expand...
 
OBXTrader said:
I went 100% cash in the last of my equities yesterday so we can simplify our finances with a fresh start.

I was approximately 50/50 until last night (100% G in TSP as of July 5th). The date I picked was based on no technical analysis or gut feeling. I used market Euphoria, CNBC/Magazine Cover "sell signal" to pick the date to go cash. Now, we can start fresh with rollovers from scattered mutual funds and let the markets do what they want.

That said, I am not rolling over my TSP account, that stands alone even though I can never contribute again. Once your gone, you can't come back! I have one IFT left in TSP.
Click to expand...
I rolled over most of my TSP account when I left, but left a chunk in there just so I'd have a TSP account to trade. Certainly more risk outside the TSP, but more options / flexibility in an IRA.

No AutoTracker account yet, OBX?... http://www.tsptalk.com/mb/tsp-talk-...tracker-rules-how-get-started.html#post241655
 
Good news is bad news?

CNBC market hype sell signal worked (this time). I regretting less and less my going 100% cash on Monday to streamline accounts.

Then again, the market can go all Birchtree on me.

OBXTrader said:
I went 100% cash in the last of my equities yesterday so we can simplify our finances with a fresh start.

I was approximately 50/50 until last night (100% G in TSP as of July 5th). The date I picked was based on no technical analysis or gut feeling. I used market Euphoria, CNBC/Magazine Cover "sell signal" to pick the date to go cash. Now, we can start fresh with rollovers from scattered mutual funds and let the markets do what they want.

That said, I am not rolling over my TSP account, that stands alone even though I can never contribute again. Once your gone, you can't come back! I have one IFT left in TSP.
Click to expand...
 
Looks like the Monday consolidation exit from remaining equities was the day. Unless we rebound today, my former portfolio only got within .35% of my current cash position. Is today a day to IFT? Friday's tend to carryover to Monday's.

OBXTrader said:
Good news is bad news?

CNBC market hype sell signal worked (this time). I regretting less and less my going 100% cash on Monday to streamline accounts.

Then again, the market can go all Birchtree on me.
Click to expand...
 
Well, the consolidation of accounts is nearly complete.

I went 100% in the L2030 yesterday from G Fund. Charts aside if the tapering comments by a couple voting member of the FOMC could only cause that small of damage, yesterday was the day to move back into equities and bonds. Also all IRA's are in one American Century fund now and that I will transfer to Schwab for management.

I am still 100% cash in non-tax deferred accounts right now. But, that will come later.
 
So far, going from 100% cash to 50/50 equites/bonds in my IRA and from G Fund to L2030 on Aug 7th was the right day.

I didn't wait for a "5% correction" like I did in June (but got out too quick after quick profit). I got tired of shaking my fist at a market I disliked and of course that can blow up in my face.
 
I went 100%G COB 10 September with a similar view as TSP Talk. After market dropped further in August, went from L2030 to the L2050 and came out somewhat ahead all said and done yesterday. Not great timing overall. I cashed out of our IRA mutual funds yesterday and all is in cash with a brokerage account. That was a 1% monthly loss due to the heavy weighting in bonds. I will sit on sidelines for a bit with 100% cash in all accounts.


OBXTrader said:
So far, going from 100% cash to 50/50 equites/bonds in my IRA and from G Fund to L2030 on Aug 7th was the right day.

I didn't wait for a "5% correction" like I did in June (but got out too quick after quick profit). I got tired of shaking my fist at a market I disliked and of course that can blow up in my face.
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

V
Valleymd blog (the international question)
Replies
2
Views
154
tsptalk
tsptalk
TommyIV
July Contest In Progress
Replies
5
Views
2K
TommyIV
TommyIV
tsptalk
New TSP L-fund
Replies
1
Views
7K
JTH
JTH
UNIX84
UNIX84 Account Talk
Replies
14
Views
3K
tsptalk
tsptalk
RevShark
End-of-year tax planning notes - RevShark
Replies
2
Views
218
felinecrl
F
Back
Top