Squalebear's Account Talk

[Guest2]

This may be a good sign, the (S) Fund is taking charge early on.

 

[350zCommTech]

Friday 11/07/08:
I look at my Account Balance on the TSP Website. It confirms that my
current allocations are 92.8%(G) 2.4%(C) 2.4%(S) 2.4%(I). Because I
have the ability to round up, I can now consider doing a <1% IFT that
looks like this; 91%(G) 3%(C) 3%(S) 3%(I). Again, I'm accumulating
more shares at a higher price. I'm also putting more $$$$ into each of
the risk funds for greater possible gains or losses.

Good morning SB,

99% of my allocations have been 100% of a fund. Once in a while I will do 50/50. I've never noticed my allocations showing anything other than whole numbers.

From your statement above, are you saying that once my allocations show a point something(ie. 3.2 or 3.3), I have the ability to make an IFT to round that up to 4?

 

[luv2read]

We know that FRTIB is considering another change to IFT policy - increasing the number and charging a fee. I came across this article in April BEFORE IFT limits went into effect and FRTIB was using number of trades and fees for trades by investment companies as partial justification for the change in TSP policy. These companies were actually going in the OPPOSITE direction...more trades, and for free. With FRTIB having realized their mistake and TSP consequently going down the tubes, and now considering ANOTHER change to IFT's as a result - increasing the number allowed but charging a fee...I thought it was time to re-post this article. Here's the link.
http://www.indexuniverse.com/section...g-popular.html

I posted the whole thing in my thread but it was too long for one post so there's Part I and Part II. Here's the links:

http://www.tsptalk.com/mb/showpost.php?p=194721&postcount=176

http://www.tsptalk.com/mb/showpost.php?p=194722&postcount=177

FRTIB eyes...read it.

 

[Guest2]

Good morning SB,

99% of allocations have been 100% of a fund. Once in a while I will do 50/50. I've never noticed my allocations showing anything other than whole numbers.

From your statement above, are you saying that once my allocations show a point something(ie. 3.2 or 3.3), I have the ability to make an IFT to round that up to 4?

Actually, It's your Account Balance percentages that changes with the
market. Even if you don't want to do a IFT, try going to the IFT page like
your going to do one. You'll see the exact percentages there AND if you
check your Account Balance page, its documented there too.

Yes, the rounding up capability is what I mean and what you can do !

 

[luv2read]

Good morning SB,

99% of my allocations have been 100% of a fund. Once in a while I will do 50/50. I've never noticed my allocations showing anything other than whole numbers.

From your statement above, are you saying that once my allocations show a point something(ie. 3.2 or 3.3), I have the ability to make an IFT to round that up to 4?

350,

Yes. Check your balance daily. You should notice a change at least every 2 days or so. Rebalance accordingly. As SB says, this is similar to what Barclays is doing with L funds.

(SB, sorry for jumping in here but I know you're busy with today's summary.) Oops...we must have been posting at the same time! Sorry!

 

[Guest2]

So far, so good ! The (I) Fund just went green and I'm leaning towards
not doing a <1% IFT today. One concern though, the (S) Fund is now
lagging behind.

 

[Guest2]

350,

Yes. Check your balance daily. You should notice a change at least every 2 days or so. Rebalance accordingly. As SB says, this is similar to what Barclays is doing with L funds.

(SB, sorry for jumping in here but I know you're busy with today's summary.) Oops...we must have been posting at the same time! Sorry!

(LoL), Glad to have you back. Step on me all you want, its worth keeping
you around ! L2R, don't forget that you can do this everyday by putting
in the exact same percentages the next day. If the market goes down,
you add shares doing that too. So your not restricted to doing this every
other day.

 

[luv2read]

(LoL), Glad to have you back. Step on me all you want, its worth keeping
you around ! L2R, don't forget that you can do this everyday by putting
in the exact same percentages the next day. If the market goes down,
you add shares doing that too. So your not restricted to do this every
other day.

LOL Thanks!
Indeed. I was just pointing out that you may not see a change to your balance every day..but generally will at least every 2 days.
View attachment 5092

 

[350zCommTech]

Actually, It's your Account Balance that changes with the market. Even
if you don't want to do a IFT, try going to the IFT page like your going
to do one. You'll see the exact percentages there AND if you check your
Account Balance page, its documented there too.

Yes, the rounding up capability is what I mean and what you can do !

350,

Yes. Check your balance daily. You should notice a change at least every 2 days or so. Rebalance accordingly. As SB says, this is similar to what Barclays is doing with L funds.

(SB, sorry for jumping in here but I know you're busy with today's summary.)

OK, I get it. Finally.

SB,

This is great tool. If I understand this correctly, we can DCA back into the market up to 2.7% at a time? 2.7% could be a nice chunk for those with big balances. Do it a few times and it adds up to be big percentage.

Thank you very much for finding this.

 

[nasa1974]

SB,

I"m back!!!
The numbers are to small to even try and make an educated guess what will happen before 4pm. The market has been bouncing red and green all morning. The closer we get to noon the market may indicate which way it will finish. I was looking to make a move today also. Currently sitting at: G 79.82%, F 4.96%, C 5.29%, S 4.96%, I 4.97%. I might take a chance and adjust the F and I funds to 5%. Later.

 

[ATCJeff]

One thing to consider...

If you have a high balance, it takes a larger share price change to see one tenth of a percent change in your fund balance.

 

[FUTURESTRADER]

OK, I get it. Finally.

SB,

This is great tool. If I understand this correctly, we can DCA back into the market up to 2.7% at a time? 2.7% could be a nice chunk for those with a big balances. Do it a few times and it adds up to be big percentage.

Thank you very much for finding this.

You can do the same with the L funds, i.e., 1.05% rebalance up to 2%, allowing roughly 8% transfer into equities, at times. I'm not so convinced of the profitablity of this strategy, and I think we may be outsmarting ourselves, again i.e., I've had <1% in all L and equity funds for the past month, and it's been a slow bleed, tho minimal, vs. Poolman's patience to hold for a better buying opportunity in mid month. Kudos Poolman . The strategy does keep your head in the game, but maybe to our detriment by distracting us from determining a more patient strategy.

 

[Guest2]

OK, I get it. Finally.

SB,

This is great tool. If I understand this correctly, we can DCA back into the market up to 2.7% at a time? 2.7% could be a nice chunk for those with big balances. Do it a few times and it adds up to be big percentage.

Thank you very much for finding this.

If you do a <1% IFT when your Percentages show say 5.01% in each fund
(F)-(C)-(S)-(I) then statistically you can take a maximum 3.96% out of the
(G) Fund and add .99% to each of those funds. Bit that my friend is in a
perfect world. Hell, it sure beats sitting on our hands until December and
excepting what the Market and the FRTIB dictate. Just remember you only
add shares on a down day, and could, subtract share on a up down.

 

[350zCommTech]

You can do the same with the L funds, i.e., 1.05% rebalance up to 2%, allowing roughly 8% transfer into equities, at times. I'm not so convinced of the profitablity of this strategy, and I think we may be outsmarting ourselves, again i.e., I've had <1% in all L and equity funds for the past month, and it's been a slow bleed, tho minimal, vs. Poolman's patience to hold for a better buying opportunity in mid month. Kudos Poolman . The strategy does keep your head in the game, but maybe to our detriment by distracting us from determining a more patient strategy.

Wow! Am I the last guy here to find out about this?

Tom should put this strategy on the front page.

Thanks guys/gals.

 

[Guest2]

SB,

I"m back!!!
The numbers are to small to even try and make an educated guess what will happen before 4pm. The market has been bouncing red and green all morning. The closer we get to noon the market may indicate which way it will finish. I was looking to make a move today also. Currently sitting at: G 79.82%, F 4.96%, C 5.29%, S 4.96%, I 4.97%. I might take a chance and adjust the F and I funds to 5%. Later.

Don't forget that you must designate a whole number for each fund. With
today possibly going up, you'll take shares away and put them in the (G)
with the exception of the (C) which you can round up to 6%.

 

[nasa1974]

Don't forget that you must designate a whole number for each fund. With
today possibly going up, you'll take shares away and put them in the (G)
with the exception of the (C) which you can round up to 6%.

Thanks SB. DUH!! I forgot that I have to change all accounts. But I would be taking the .82 from the G and adding to the other funds. I would be 79,5,6,5,5 if I made the change. But the market is way to squirrelly right now so I think I will stay put. Thanks again.

 

[Guest2]

You can do the same with the L funds, i.e., 1.05% rebalance up to 2%, allowing roughly 8% transfer into equities, at times. I'm not so convinced of the profitablity of this strategy, and I think we may be outsmarting ourselves, again i.e., I've had <1% in all L and equity funds for the past month, and it's been a slow bleed, tho minimal, vs. Poolman's patience to hold for a better buying opportunity in mid month. Kudos Poolman . The strategy does keep your head in the game, but maybe to our detriment by distracting us from determining a more patient strategy.

Without a doubt, this is something new. Not etched in stone and not fully
tested. I recently asked the membership to evaluate the darn idea and
tear it apart. You make alot of sense when comparing it to poolman's
sit and wait in the (G) strategy. But if you truly believe that a huge bounce
is going to happen within the month of November, you don't want to be
locked into the (G) and miss the party. If the bounce never comes, the
only salvation to see with this method is a constant accumulation of
shares at a lower price. Some think its worth it. Others may not. Your
opinion is highly regarded and appreciated. I want everyone to point out
the downsides, as I can't see everything that would render this idea as
useless. Thanks FT, as always, you help me tremendously !

 

[350zCommTech]

Without a doubt, this is something new. Not etched in stone and not fully
tested. I recently asked the membership to evaluate the darn idea and
tear it apart. You make alot of sense when comparing it to poolman's
sit and wait in the (G) strategy. But if you truly believe that a huge bounce
is going to happen within the month of November, you don't want to be
locked into the (G) and miss the party. If the bounce never comes, the
only salvation to see with this method is a constant accumulation of
shares at a lower price. Some think its worth it. Others may not. Your
opinion is highly regarded and appreciated. I want everyone to point out
the downsides, as I can't see everything that would render this idea as
useless. Thanks FT, as always, you help me tremendously !

I'll be testing it soon.

 

[Guest2]

Wow! Am I the last guy here to find out about this?

Tom should put this strategy on the front page.

Thanks guys/gals.

(LoL), No your not the last. In fact, this has been going on, with little
attention, since September. Maybe even earlier, I can't remember when
I first posted this idea. I think it was in defense of having more IFT's in
the tracker then what was expected.

I haven't even looked at the (L) Fund aspect of this method, as the (L)
Funds consist of all related funds within. Including the (G). Boy, that is
alittle more complicated for right now. There are so many members, both
old and new, that aren't even sure about the affects of our normal IFT
abilities. Throwing this into the mix can really mess with some members
heads. I want to avoid that. So everyone should know, that each person
should feel very comfortable with their knowledge of IFT's before messing
with this.

 

[Guest2]

Thanks SB. DUH!! I forgot that I have to change all accounts. But I would be taking the .82 from the G and adding to the other funds. I would be 79,5,6,5,5 if I made the change. But the market is way to squirrelly right now so I think I will stay put. Thanks again.

If each fund rose over the 5% mark because of a up day today, you would
be lowering your dollar amount in each fund. Instead of having,,,say 5.2%
in the funds tomorrow, you'll have 5%. You'd also be taking away shares
in each fund. So, if you waive doing one today, maybe tomorrow you'll be
able to turn those 5's into 6's, just like the (C) fund has now.