Squalebear's Account Talk

Hi SqualeBear :)

I haven't voted in the poll, but I'll throw in my 2 cents. I haven't played the I-Fund much since the downtrend, so I don't look at the information daily. If I was playing the I-Fund I would weigh the data, but it would be hard to make it useful because we can't predict when they balance the funds.
 
Yeah, new roof on my mansion and new liner in the pool, with a little MAD money to take a trip to Vegas!!
Hey those Postal Folks get to carry over more than 700 hours, I think!!! :notrust:

I'm really Jealous ! BOP has 240 Max Carry Over or Lose the excess. (Use or Lose). :sick:
 
Hi SqualeBear :)

I haven't voted in the poll, but I'll throw in my 2 cents. I haven't played the I-Fund much since the downtrend, so I don't look at the information daily. If I was playing the I-Fund I would weigh the data, but it would be hard to make it useful because we can't predict when they balance the funds.

Although I'm a little confused about the "Balance the Funds" part, I can
more then understand about not finding the information useful during this
Bear Market. Now that the figures have become more stable, we can all
look forward to a Bull Market and take advantage of the O/D Tracker as
once before. I found it a very useful tool in combination with all of the
other tools at our disposal.

Still, I would like you to participate in the Poll anyway. Even if you
don't use the O/D information very much. I'm sure there's a catagory
which meets your usage factor. Either way, I appreciated you sharing
your thoughts. I hope you had a Great Thanksgiving too ! ;)
 
Stocks: Brace for a rocky week ahead:worried:
Investors await retail sales figures, and the latest readings on
the health of the economy, with a close eye on the labor market.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/29/markets/sunday_weekahead/index.htm

Holiday shopping off to higher start
Reports show Black Friday gains, but caution that key retail season
may still end up weak.:worried:
http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/30/news/economy/holiday_shopping_sun/index.htm?postversion=2008113016

Partridge, pear tree, etc.: $86,609
Index of 'Twelve Days' song items' cost rises 10.9% in 2008.
http://money.cnn.com/2008/12/01/new...edays.cos.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008120103:suspicious:
 
Fund Managers Keep It Close to Zero But The
Market Takes It's Toll Anyway !

The .62% Deficit that the Fund Managers gave back to us didn't help
the pain of a -7.55% loss. But, I guess it beats the -8.17% loss that
it might have been otherwise. For Tuesday, the O/D Tracker is close
to the zero mark, which is within its ultimate goal range. Please take
note that the O/D Tracker has been in the "Black" area since 11/17.
This is what we are looking for, stability. Unfortunately, the market
itself isn't cooperating and were still seeing extreme swings. When
Market and Fund Manager Stability returns together, I can't help but
think that the tracker will become what it was for me over the past
three years. Until such time arrives, even a "Red" type deficit as
seen on 11/13/08 can't be used as it use to be.:suspicious:

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/10/08)+0.4357%+0.0029 tsp cents
(11/11/08) -0.4275%+0.0606 tsp cents (TSP Holiday)
(11/12/08)+0.5121% -0.0083 tsp cents
(11/13/08) -1.5707%+0.2074 tsp cents
(11/14/08)+0.4616%+0.1363 tsp cents

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/17/08)+0.2385%+0.1035 tsp cents
(11/18/08)+0.0615%+0.0958 tsp cents
(11/19/08)+0.7053%+0.0048 tsp cents
(11/20/08)+0.4283% -0.0446 tsp cents
(11/21/08) -0.9898%+0.0732 tsp cents

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/24/08)+0.8559% -0.0785 tsp cents
(11/25/08) -0.4855% -0.0155 tsp cents
(11/26/08) -0.8046%+0.0909 tsp cents
(11/27/08) -0.8046%+0.0909 tsp cents (Holiday)
(11/28/08) -0.1318%+0.0735 tsp cents

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(12/01/08)+0.6216% -0.0081 tsp cents:)

THE KEY:
------------------------------------------------- THEY OWE US ----
+.2000 thru+.2500 Elavated Deficit, (Windfall Coming)
+.1500 thru+.2000 High Deficit (Rarely Goes Higher)
+.1000 thru+.1500 Medium Deficit (Flip A Coin)
+.0000 thru+.1000 Low Deficit (Goal is Met) :)

------------------------------------------------- WE OWE THEM ---
- .0000 thru -.1000 Minimum Overpayment (Goal is Met)
- .1000 thru -.1500 Low Overpayment, (Flip A Coin)
- .1500 thru -.2000 Medium Overpayment (Rarely Goes Higher)
- .2000 thru -.2500 Elavated Overpayment, (Payback Immanent)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
YTD IDX returns: YTD TSP returns: YTD SB current returns:
SPX= -44.41%.....C=...-43.24%....-12.80% (my figures):worried:
DW.= -48.48%.....S=.. -47.42%....
EFA= -51.18%......I=...-50.56%...
AGG= -01.72%.....F=.. +02.07%...
...........................G=...+03.51%...

MTD IDX returns: MTD TSP returns: MTD SB current returns:
SPX= -08.93%.....C=...-08.95%....+00.01%(my figures):worried:
DW.= -10.41%.....S=...-10.78%....
EFA= -08.17%......I=...-07.55%...
AGG=+01.00%.....F=...+00.41%...
...........................G=...+00.01%..

CURRENT PORTFOLIO: 100% (G)
 
I POSTED THIS ON ANOTHER THREAD AND I
THOUGHT IT WAS WORTH MENTIONING HERE.;)

Corvette, I noticed a post of concern around Thanksgiving about FV not
being what it should. My Tracker incorporates FV, Dividends and anything
else which make the EFA and the (I) Fund different. Please take note of
the "Pink"days below. Each day represents a similar situation that we
face today (being almost at a zero TSP Cent difference). On November
13th we got a .2157 tsp cent increase. On the 21st we got a .1178 cent
increase and on the 26th a .1064 cent increase.

......DATE.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/10/08)+0.0029 tsp cents
(11/11/08)+0.0606 tsp cents
(11/12/08) -0.0083 tsp cents
(11/13/08)+0.2074 tsp cents (Large Up day after large loss)
(11/14/08)+0.1363 tsp cents

......DATE.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/17/08)+0.1035 tsp cents
(11/18/08)+0.0958 tsp cents
(11/19/08)+0.0048 tsp cents
(11/20/08) -0.0446 tsp cents
(11/21/08)+0.0732 tsp cents (Large Up day after large loss)

......DATE.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/24/08) -0.0785 tsp cents
(11/25/08) -0.0155 tsp cents
(11/26/08)+0.0909 tsp cents (Minor Up day before Holiday)
(11/27/08)+0.0909 tsp cents
(11/28/08)+0.0735 tsp cents

......DATE.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(12/01/08) -0.0081 tsp cents

I guess what I'm saying is that even with a UP Day today, I believe the
Fund Mgrs. will stay as consistant as they have been. This translates into
a increase in the (I) Fund returns (over and above the EFA) of between
+0.10 and +0.20 TSP Cents. That is only assuming that they give us any
increase at all. It wouldn't be beyond them to simply give OR take a few
pennies just to keep close to their Goal of $0.00. One last thing, please
take note of the lack of change between the day before and the day
after Thanksgiving Day. I saw no discrepancy, only consistancy.

In any case, I thought I'd throw that in the mix and it most certainly will
be interesting to see how it works out at the end of the day.
 
What is Your "High-3 Average Salary" and How Is It Computed?
Edward A. Zurndorfer, CFP


All retiring federal employees -- those covered by the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), CSRS-Offset, the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), or a combination of CSRS and FERS ("trans" FERS employees) will receive a CSRS and/or FERS annuity that is computed based on their length of federal service and their high-three average salaries. This column discusses what the high-three average salary is and how it is computed.

The high-three average salary is the largest annual rate resulting from averaging an employee's basic pay in effect over any period of three consecutive years of creditable civilian service, with each rate weighted by the length of time it was in effect. Each year's an employee's basic pay is shown on the employee's SF 50 (Notice of Personnel Action). The three-year period in which the average pay is computed starts and ends on the dates that produce the highest average pay. Note that the period need not start on the first day of the month or the date of a pay change.To determine the beginning date of the three year period, follow these steps:
Step 1. If the employee's retirement date is something other than the last date of the month, add one to the day of the month. If the employee retires on the last day of the month, use that day.
Step 2. Subtract three years, zero months and zero days from the retirement date in Step 1 (year-month-day).
Note: In computing retirement benefits, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) uses a 30 day per month / 12 months per year calendar or a 360 day a year calendar.

An exception to using the employee's salaries coinciding with the last three years of federal service occurs when the employee had higher pay rates during a prior three year period of service. Then the latter three year consecutive period should be used.

The three years of service used for the high-three average salary calculation need not be continuous, but must be a consecutive period of service. Two or more separate periods of employment may be combined provided there is no intervening service.

To compute the high-three average salary, the periods 6-22-1999 to 5-21-2000 and 10-15-2006 to 11-14-2008 are used to equal three years, 0 months and 0 days total time of service.
Service that is creditable for entitlement purposes - but not for computation purposes may be used in determining the high-three average salary. This type of service includes:
(1) Temporary CSRS service time on or after Oct. 1, 1982; or (2) CSRS service time ending on or after Oct. 1, 1990 for which employee retirement deductions - approximately seven percent of the employee's salary - were refunded and not re-deposited.


The following types of salary are included in the computation of an employee's high three average salary. Salary can include various types of pay for which retirement deductions are withheld:
  1. regular pay;
  2. locality pay;
  3. environmental differential pay;
  4. premium pay for standby time;
  5. law enforcement availability pay;
  6. night differential pay for wage grade employees only; and
  7. special pay rate for recruiting and retention purposes.
The following types of pay are not included in the computation of the high-three average pay:
  1. a lump sum payment for accrued and accumulated annual leave;
  2. bonuses and overtime, holidays, Sunday premium and military pay;
  3. general schedule night differential pay and foreign of non-foreign post differential pay;
  4. travel allowances;
  5. recruiting or retention bonuses
  6. geographic post differential; these are cost of living allowances for employees working an Alaska and Hawaii;
  7. payment for credit hours; and
  8. retroactive pay granted to a retired or deceased employee pursuant to a wage survey.
The salary that is used in calculating the high-three average salary is shown for each relevant year on the employee's SF-50 Because an employee's salary may change in the course of a leave year - for example, a step increase - more than one SF-50 in any leave year will be needed to calculate the high-three average salary. Here are the steps used in calculating it.
Step 1. Enter the annual salary/rate of pay for the time period.
Step 2. Multiply the annual rate/salary by a time factor* by the annual rate for the basic pay.
Step 3. Add the entries in the total basic pay column.
Step 4. Divide the sum of the basic pay in step 3 by 3 to determine the high-three average salary.

EXAMPLE TABLES CAN BE FOUND WITH THIS ARTICLE AT THE FOLLOWING LOCATION:
http://www.myfederalretirement.com/public/310.cfm
 
Fund Managers short the (I) Funders by driving
up the deficit to Friday's Level !

With such a good day in store for the (I) Funders, its down right
ignorant to take part of the returns and hold onto them. Instead
of keeping the O/D Tracker close to zero, Barclays decided to hold
$.0734 TSP Cents for a rainy day. Hopefully tomorrow will more then
make up for the courtesy we provided. During the height of the
liquidity crisis, Barclays opted to pay back Deficits or Overpay the
(I) Fund on down days. We can only hope that this crap doesn't
start up again. Being down -48.19% already hurts bad enough, no
less add insult to injury. :suspicious:

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/10/08)+0.4357%+0.0029 tsp cents
(11/11/08) -0.4275%+0.0606 tsp cents (TSP Holiday)
(11/12/08)+0.5121% -0.0083 tsp cents
(11/13/08) -1.5707%+0.2074 tsp cents
(11/14/08)+0.4616%+0.1363 tsp cents

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/17/08)+0.2385%+0.1035 tsp cents
(11/18/08)+0.0615%+0.0958 tsp cents
(11/19/08)+0.7053%+0.0048 tsp cents
(11/20/08)+0.4283% -0.0446 tsp cents
(11/21/08) -0.9898%+0.0732 tsp cents

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/24/08)+0.8559% -0.0785 tsp cents
(11/25/08) -0.4855% -0.0155 tsp cents
(11/26/08) -0.8046%+0.0909 tsp cents
(11/27/08) -0.8046%+0.0909 tsp cents (Holiday)
(11/28/08) -0.1318%+0.0735 tsp cents

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(12/01/08)+0.6216% -0.0081 tsp cents
(12/02/08) -0.6385%+0.0734 tsp cents:suspicious:

THE KEY:
------------------------------------------------- THEY OWE US ----
+.2000 thru+.2500 Elavated Deficit, (Windfall Coming)
+.1500 thru+.2000 High Deficit (Rarely Goes Higher)
+.1000 thru+.1500 Medium Deficit (Flip A Coin)
+.0000 thru+.1000 Low Deficit (Goal is Met):)

------------------------------------------------- WE OWE THEM ---
- .0000 thru -.1000 Minimum Overpayment (Goal is Met)
- .1000 thru -.1500 Low Overpayment, (Flip A Coin)
- .1500 thru -.2000 Medium Overpayment (Rarely Goes Higher)
- .2000 thru -.2500 Elavated Overpayment, (Payback Immanent)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
YTD IDX returns: YTD TSP returns: YTD SB current returns:
SPX= -42.19%.....C=...-40.97%....-12.79% (my figures):worried:
DW.= -46.09%.....S=.. -44.91%....
EFA= -48.54%......I=...-48.19%...
AGG= -01.62%.....F=.. +02.34%...
...........................G=...+03.52%...

MTD IDX returns: MTD TSP returns: MTD SB current returns:
SPX= -05.29%.....C=...-05.32%....+00.02%(my figures):)
DW.= -06.27%.....S=...-06.52%....
EFA= -03.19%......I=...-03.12%...
AGG=+01.10%.....F=...+00.67%...
...........................G=...+00.02%..

CURRENT PORTFOLIO: 100% (G)
 
100% (I) Fund for tomorrow ;)
12/4/2008 12:00 UK BOE ANNOUNCES RATES (expected)2.50% (current) 3.00%
12/4/2008 12:45 EU ECB Announces Interest Rates (expected) 3.00% (current) 3.25%
 
Last edited:
Playing for a -FV today?

I believe that the Fund Managers will likely give up some of the $0.07 TSP
Cents it owes us today (if not all). That might lead to a underperforming
(I) Fund against the EFA come tomorrow. But I'm also counting on a day
before upswing in the (I) Fund, before the Friday Unemployment figures are
due out. Should the Fund Managers add to the deficit, tonight, then it is
even better for tommorow possible payback. Something also tells me that
today will be down. I guess we'll just have to wait and see. I can only hope
that it wasn't the evil Bear sitting on my left shoulder. :worried:
 
Besides the European Rate Announcements coming tomorrow, we have the
Initial Unemployment Claims Figures coming out (830am). Economist are
calling for 540K (11k more then last reported). Factory Orders are due out
as well (10am). The call is for a huge 1.50% decrease. I'm thinking we'll
get bad news. But better then expected, maybe a 1.25% decrease. That
would be nice. 15 Earnings Reports will be out before the bell. I'm not too
worried about Earnings tomorrow, however, 2009 outlooks have killed even
the greatest of Earnings Reports so far. So thats a concern too. Lets hope
that the Market climbs on a wall of worry tomorrow and I wish everyone
the best of Luck ! ;)
 
Besides the European Rate Announcements coming tomorrow, we have the
Initial Unemployment Claims Figures coming out (830am). Economist are
calling for 540K (11k more then last reported). Factory Orders are due out
as well (10am). The call is for a huge 1.50% decrease. I'm thinking we'll
get bad news. But better then expected, maybe a 1.25% decrease. That
would be nice. 15 Earnings Reports will be out before the bell. I'm not too
worried about Earnings tomorrow, however, 2009 outlooks have killed even
the greatest of Earnings Reports so far. So thats a concern too. Lets hope
that the Market climbs on a wall of worry tomorrow and I wish everyone
the best of Luck ! ;)

SB,

Good luck my Jedi master. I followed your move last time and we both did well. I was busy today and missed the information or I may have followed you off the lilly pad. I guess I will wait for poolmans lead this time. This market is so squirrelly good news and the market tanks. Bad news and the rally train leaves the station.
I wish the FRTIB would loosen the strings a little bit and give us at least 2 more IFT's for the next couple of months or at least make the cut off time closer to 4pm EST. Then we might be able to get our TSP's back into the green.:) That's what I am going to ask Santa for.:D
 
SB,

Good luck my Jedi master. I followed your move last time and we both did well. I was busy today and missed the information or I may have followed you off the lilly pad. I guess I will wait for poolmans lead this time. This market is so squirrelly good news and the market tanks. Bad news and the rally train leaves the station.
I wish the FRTIB would loosen the strings a little bit and give us at least 2 more IFT's for the next couple of months or at least make the cut off time closer to 4pm EST. Then we might be able to get our TSP's back into the green.:) That's what I am going to ask Santa for.:D

Everyone I've read or heard from says Friday is going to be ugly. Today,
I thought the market would end up mixed or down. So far, not making a
decision might be your best decision. After hours trading hasn't been too
cooperative either. I'm still expecting the (I) Fund will lag behind the EFA
in daily returns. Even the Fund Managers have managed to lag abit behind
in their updating the prices. My IFT was more of a Gut Move as everything
said not to. Cross your fingers for me and I'll put 4PM on my Xmas List as
well. Honestly, I never asked Santa for a Jaguar, but its pretty cool to
dream of such things. Duty Calls and Updates are now in. Good Luck ! ;)

Wouldn't 4:00 pm be nice? [sigh......]
Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus ! But not at the FRTIB ! :nuts:
 
Fund Managers drive the O/D Tracker into the
"HighDeficit" area and brings it to Double Digits!

The last time this type of Double Digit Deficit occurred (11/13/08)
the Fund Managers spent the two following days paying it back. It
may not happen that way, but the odds are in favor of a payback.
Wouldn't it be nice to see a $0.016 TSP Payback for tomorrow. I'm
hoping so ! At minimum, it could cushion a fall should things go in
the negative direction come tomorrow. Good Luck To Us All ! :worried:

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/10/08)+0.4357%+0.0029 tsp cents
(11/11/08) -0.4275%+0.0606 tsp cents (TSP Holiday)
(11/12/08)+0.5121% -0.0083 tsp cents
(11/13/08) -1.5707%+0.2074 tsp cents
(11/14/08)+0.4616%+0.1363 tsp cents

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/17/08)+0.2385%+0.1035 tsp cents
(11/18/08)+0.0615%+0.0958 tsp cents
(11/19/08)+0.7053%+0.0048 tsp cents
(11/20/08)+0.4283% -0.0446 tsp cents
(11/21/08) -0.9898%+0.0732 tsp cents

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(11/24/08)+0.8559% -0.0785 tsp cents
(11/25/08) -0.4855% -0.0155 tsp cents
(11/26/08) -0.8046%+0.0909 tsp cents
(11/27/08) -0.8046%+0.0909 tsp cents (Holiday)
(11/28/08) -0.1318%+0.0735 tsp cents

......DATE.....DLY % DIFF.....YTD TSP CENTS.....
(12/01/08)+0.6216% -0.0081 tsp cents
(12/02/08) -0.6385%+0.0734 tsp cents
(12/03/08) -0.6890%+0.1629 tsp cents:D

THE KEY:
------------------------------------------------- THEY OWE US ----
+.2000 thru+.2500 Elavated Deficit, (Windfall Coming)
+.1500 thru+.2000 High Deficit (Rarely Goes Higher):D
+.1000 thru+.1500 Medium Deficit (Flip A Coin)
+.0000 thru+.1000 Low Deficit (Goal is Met)

------------------------------------------------- WE OWE THEM ---
- .0000 thru -.1000 Minimum Overpayment (Goal is Met)
- .1000 thru -.1500 Low Overpayment, (Flip A Coin)
- .1500 thru -.2000 Medium Overpayment (Rarely Goes Higher)
- .2000 thru -.2500 Elavated Overpayment, (Payback Immanent)
--------------------------------------------------------------------
 
YTD IDX returns: YTD TSP returns: YTD SB current returns:
SPX= -40.70%.....C=...-39.42%....-12.78% (my figures):worried:
DW.= -44.75%.....S=.. -43.50%....
EFA= -47.81%......I=...-47.82%...
AGG= -01.61%.....F=.. +02.34%...
...........................G=...+03.53%...

MTD IDX returns: MTD TSP returns: MTD SB current returns:
SPX= -02.85%.....C=...-02.83%....+00.03%(my figures):)
DW.= -03.94%.....S=...-04.12%....
EFA= -01.82%......I=...-02.42%...
AGG=+01.11%.....F=...+00.72%...
...........................G=...+00.03%..

CURRENT PORTFOLIO: 100% (I)
 
Back
Top