Sensei's account talk

[GUCHI]

rmi
that is a fabulous place i was there with my pops(air force) in 70-74. it was a beautiful place to be during that time, i have alot of fond memories. of course 365 yen to the dollar was the norm, you could buy alot of akadami wine $1.00/ bottle back then.

 

[Sensei]

rmi
that is a fabulous place i was there with my pops(air force) in 70-74. it was a beautiful place to be during that time, i have alot of fond memories. of course 365 yen to the dollar was the norm, you could buy alot of akadami wine $1.00/ bottle back then.

GUCHI - do you remember any of your teachers from those days? There were 2 that just retired from the high school last year that had been around since the late 60s. You might have been too young to have them though.

 

[GUCHI]

sensei were you there? i played football and we were island champs 1 year.
i was still in middle school then. but there were a couple teachers i remembered for unsaid reasons hee hee. my pe teacher ms. black and another teacher ms motifah. i will have to look at my school pics., if i can find them.

 

[Sensei]

sensei were you there? i played football and we were island champs 1 year.
i was still in middle school then. but there were a couple teachers i remembered for unsaid reasons hee hee. my pe teacher ms. black and another teacher ms motifah. i will have to look at my school pics., if i can find them.

Yeah, I'm the one. I'm in Oki now. I don't know the teachers you mentioned, and don't know if I should mention names - as this is a public board and teachers contribute to TSP. Anyhow, it is still nice over here. I don't know the akadami wine you mentioned, but awamori is a pretty popular Okinawan liquor. Like Korean soju/Japanese shochu. A slightly watered down vodka, if you will.

Anyway, Asian stocks were all up, but the Nikkei went down hard at the end. I wonder why? We'll see if Europe and the U.S. follow the Nikkei down, or the rest of Asia up. I guess I'm being Captain Obvious with that statement.

 

[nasa1974]

Anyway, Asian stocks were all up, but the Nikkei went down hard at the end. I wonder why? We'll see if Europe and the U.S. follow the Nikkei down, or the rest of Asia up. I guess I'm being Captain Obvious with that statement.

Interesting on how hard the Nikkei sold off. Kind of looks like the US markets sometimes. At least it finished positive. If it was bad news you would think that Europe would have reacted by now. Most major European markets hanging around 1%. Let's hope for a good day today.

 

[Sensei]

Yesterday surprised me. Now I'm getting nervous. Many of the major indices have cleared psychological hurdles point-wise. DOW over 13000. Nasdaq over 3000. Nikkei over 10000. DAX today cleared 7000. The S&P is right up against 1400 - will that be resistence? With so many members talking about how the VIX might be nearing a bottom, and Tom's indicator regarding the Nasdaq/5% drop after hitting new highs after losing 1% etc..., I'm nervous. The European indices are up, but many look like they're making H&S formations. They'll probably start their descent just as our market opens in about 25 minutes...
:blink:

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

SPX-1500 or Bust !!

 

[bjean]

Yesterday surprised me. Now I'm getting nervous. Many of the major indices have cleared psychological hurdles point-wise. DOW over 13000. Nasdaq over 3000. Nikkei over 10000. DAX today cleared 7000. The S&P is right up against 1400 - will that be resistence? With so many members talking about how the VIX might be nearing a bottom, and Tom's indicator regarding the Nasdaq/5% drop after hitting new highs after losing 1% etc..., I'm nervous. The European indices are up, but many look like they're making H&S formations. They'll probably start their descent just as our market opens in about 25 minutes...
:blink:

I am elated..............I have finally reached a milestone and my balance is few hundred over the high it reached in late Jan 2011. I made some bad moves and painfully watch my balance go in the wrong direction ending with big negative returns last year.

I want to thank everyone in this group for their valuable insight as I dont understand the market at all and am learning alot. I still dont have a clue about the graphs though. I wanted to play conversative this year due to my losses last year and buy low, but the opportunity never arose so I jumped in.

Now I am nervous too and am thinking about reducing my exposure in the market. I really want to retire this summer, I dont think I can stick it out til the end of year as my job starts cranking up before the end of the fiscal year and this is a thankless job and crew anymore. I have learned the hard way you have to look out for yourself! Life is too short to show up to what it feels like lock down everyday .............bj

 

[Sensei]

Disappointed that, on a day when most other indices were basically flat, the S fund would lose .74%. Maddening in fact. I had half my allocation in C back in January when S was taking off, then went 95% S just as the small caps started running out of steam. So I figure if I sold now, they'd start off on a tear again. I'll just ride it out.

Today was either the beginning of a top, or healthy consolidation that might last a couple more days before continuing up. Since the SMAs are all still looking good, and price is still above the 20, I'm staying in to see how it plays out.

 

[Sensei]

Oh, and I meant to mention that according to Ocean's list, 50% of the herd is still in G or F. The tracker shows about 80-90 members who've been parked in those funds since January 1st, which accounts for about 10% of our tracker. Still lots of money on the sidelines?

 

[Sensei]

Considering putting in for a transfer for a job that would pay an extra $9K/year. My job now is very easy for me - right in my comfort zone. But they say moss doesn't grow on a rolling stone, and sometimes I just feel mossy. Over the course of my career, the extra money would total about a quarter of a million dollars (before taxes). I'd probably become much more busy and stressed, though that might subside after the initial learning curve. Gotta decide by COB Friday EST. :worried:

 

[daze823]

Sensei, if the position is a competitive opening, I say put in for it, you'll be forced to update your resume and keep your interviewing skills sharp and can always turn down the position if you decide u don't want it. If its something you will automatically get if you want it (non-competitive) then u have to decide, but my thought is if your getting bored now, how are you going to feel in a year, or two... Stress isn't good, but a challenge keeps you sharp and focused..

 

[RealMoneyIssues]

Considering putting in for a transfer for a job that would pay an extra $9K/year. My job now is very easy for me - right in my comfort zone. But they say moss doesn't grow on a rolling stone, and sometimes I just feel mossy. Over the course of my career, the extra money would total about a quarter of a million dollars (before taxes). I'd probably become much more busy and stressed, though that might subside after the initial learning curve. Gotta decide by COB Friday EST. :worried:

Is the extra money worth the extra work and stress?

If you are happy with your job and the money it provides, then I think you have already answered your own question.

If you want to start moving up in your career, then a some extra work and stress may be what is required.

If it was me, I would evaluate my goals and current work/family situation. If you like your life and don't feel the need to move up; stay. If it was me now, I would stay. I have been stressed and goal oriented, and it isn't fun (on me OR the family). Now, for full disclosure, I am military, not civilian.

Good Luck Brother !!

Faith-Family-Finances

 

[Sensei]

Sensei, if the position is a competitive opening, I say put in for it, you'll be forced to update your resume and keep your interviewing skills sharp and can always turn down the position if you decide u don't want it. If its something you will automatically get if you want it (non-competitive) then u have to decide, but my thought is if your getting bored now, how are you going to feel in a year, or two... Stress isn't good, but a challenge keeps you sharp and focused..

Thanks for the feedback.

It's non-competetive, in the sense that I'm qualified for it based on my credentials, and there is no interview involved. It's a matter of whether there are others out there who are qualified, interested, and outrank me by seniority. It's not a slam-dunk, but there's a strong possibility I'll get it. If I do, I have to own it, as turning it down would be equivalent to quitting my job. For now, I've put in my application. I have until 20 MAR to withdraw if I get cold feet. I definitely appreciate what you say about the downside of getting bored and the upside of a challenge.

 

[Sensei]

Is the extra money worth the extra work and stress?

If you are happy with your job and the money it provides, then I think you have already answered your own question.

If you want to start moving up in your career, then a some extra work and stress may be what is required.

If it was me, I would evaluate my goals and current work/family situation. If you like your life and don't feel the need to move up; stay. If it was me now, I would stay. I have been stressed and goal oriented, and it isn't fun (on me OR the family). Now, for full disclosure, I am military, not civilian.

Good Luck Brother !!

Faith-Family-Finances

Thanks RMI! I'm definitely considering all those factors. The stress I don't think would be unmanageable, as it will be a job I've trained for and have a little experience with already. It just won't be the walk in the park my current job has become. But I guess sometimes I just get tired of walking in the same park everyday. Know what I mean?

Sounds like I've talked myself into this deal. Of course, the deal isn't done. All I've done so far is apply - shouldn't put the cart before the horse!

 

[jkenjohnson]

Thanks for the feedback.

It's non-competetive, in the sense that I'm qualified for it based on my credentials, and there is no interview involved. It's a matter of whether there are others out there who are qualified, interested, and outrank me by seniority. It's not a slam-dunk, but there's a strong possibility I'll get it. If I do, I have to own it, as turning it down would be equivalent to quitting my job. For now, I've put in my application. I have until 20 MAR to withdraw if I get cold feet. I definitely appreciate what you say about the downside of getting bored and the upside of a challenge.

I'm not SES but I have a fairly high grade job as a program manager - non supervisory. I am bored to death. It makes for a long day and I don't want to come to work. It has been this way for several years and I am really tired of it. I could move, but don't care too. I'm just waiting until my time is up. Just another perspective for you to think about.

 

[Sensei]

I'm not SES but I have a fairly high grade job as a program manager - non supervisory. I am bored to death. It makes for a long day and I don't want to come to work. It has been this way for several years and I am really tired of it. I could move, but don't care too. I'm just waiting until my time is up. Just another perspective for you to think about.

Thanks Ken. I'm only 36 - don't see myself retiring before 65. I don't think it would be good for me, or the kids I work with, if I was just going through the motions for the next 28 years. Believe it or not, there are some teachers who do just that.

 

[Khotso]

Considering putting in for a transfer for a job that would pay an extra $9K/year. My job now is very easy for me - right in my comfort zone. But they say moss doesn't grow on a rolling stone, and sometimes I just feel mossy. Over the course of my career, the extra money would total about a quarter of a million dollars (before taxes). I'd probably become much more busy and stressed, though that might subside after the initial learning curve. Gotta decide by COB Friday EST. :worried:

My advice: Go with your gut Sensei! There are big plusses and big minuses. Because my wife would not move, I stayed in place geographically for many years (about 20) which limited my promotion opportunities though I did lateral into a couple of different jobs just for a change. "Mobility" is an important criterion for getting to the next level from where I was in my organization. Even though I live in a great place for me and my family personally, it was a ver-r-ry lon-n-n-ng 20 years (obviously, I love my wife more than my career). To get through it, I focused my personal goals and energy on pursuits outside of work and obtained a lot of reward and self-gratification in that way. Doing so also helped me maintain a positive attitude about work and my personal career plight. Ultimately, I finally got the promotion I had first wanted and felt ready for some 16 years ago right here in place. I endure way more stress in these past 4+ years than I ever did before. Sometimes, often I wake up and sleep restlessly at night thinking about situations at work. That's the down side. On the upside, I am way more engaged on a day-to-day basis than I had been in years. I'm also convinced that the promotion it has extended my career by at least three years -- which is financially a great thing. So there's definitely a very real trade-off. For me, it was the right thing. I probably would have left gov't, drawn my pension and found another way-lower paying job to cover my financial needs. Now, I feel I can retire comfortably in a year or so.

 

[Sensei]

Thanks to all for sharing your insight and experience regarding the career situation. I'll let you know over the next month or so how it all plays out.

As for the TSP, I clucked.

100% G

 

[vic]

I was right there with you 100 g. Next week did not look very good.