Retiring and Drawing Dawn vs. Premium Services/AutoTrackers

[atcshane]

(I originally posted this in the PS services area, not going to get much views over there...)

I'm just curious how many people who retire and begin drawing down their TSP continue to follow the suggestions of one of the Premium Services or Auto Trackers... As opposed to switching to the typical 60/40(ish) conservative, re-balance annually, rinse repeat technique? I understand many people are concerned about protecting their assets for the long term, but it seems each of the Premium Services for the most part are taking this into account and moving to the G fund when necessary during market downturns.

 

[mmk119]

I'm not retired yet; but, all my friends that are, mostly stay in G. people get very conservative very fast when they retire. I have one friend who is thinking of the "very risky" move of putting 5% in the C fund while keeping the rest in G - "but only when the market is right". I don't know if this is a generational thing or money education (or both).

Me, I like the idea of where you are going with your question and am interested in the responses. I think you can take a conservative approach and still be active in your account. but if you're going to move any - you need to move enough to count. My thoughts on the G is that its a good place to park your money until the market is right for re-investment. but, long term, I think its false security. If you just put it in G and "walk away" you might not be loosing your principle investment - but, your still bleeding money due to inflation.

 

[turbo23dog]

I’ve been subscribed to a premium service for ~10 years. I retired about 2 years ago and I think the risk of substantial loss right now is as high as its been over those years.

My choice is to hide out in the L-Income fund. It’s ~70% G with the remaining 30% in F, C S and I in a conservative spread. The way I look at it, I make a bit of return if the market goes down (F fund) and get upside with C, S and I. It’s what I’m comfortable with given my age and the turbulent economic/geopolitical conditions right now.

 

[2moryrs]

Good question!
I have been retired since 2009. I "found" tsptalk about 4 years before I retired and started to increase my TSP funds. Until then I was parked in the G fund and going nowhere monetarily.
When the market flared up I sucked it up and road out the losses but came out on the other side with my account on the rise with no infusions from me.

With the information that is shared here, I hope to have a sizable account to draw from when I have to at age 72. I am CSRS so TSP is icing on my retirement cake.

Hope this helps a bit. Never completely take your funds out of TSP because you can never come back. Just my 2 cents worth!

My Vanguard advisors would like to get their fingers on my account but I am doing TSP on my own (somewhat following what they are doing with my Vanguard account.) My Vanguard account is thanks to my parents that left my brother and I a small inheritance.