The Retirement Kingdom - July 2007

[Aviator_Guy]

You have a point, I have never seen a retirement plan that keeps the Members in the dark like the TSP. You think it's bad now, think about when it first started, it was a secret I think?

I joined Fed Civil service back in 1985, and at that time we were in flux on having a specific fed retirement system. We didn’t have CSRS or FERS. When they decided to go with the FERS, I had many questions, but few intelligent answers. Almost all of my CSRS co-workers kept bragging about retiring with their “high three” 80% of their base pay. Most of the old timers told the new fed workers we had a really bad retirement plan. Fortunately for me, I had a good friend (non-fed worker) who understood investing and took his advice about maximizing my contributions and letting it ride in stocks. I took his advice and ran with it.

My agency offers TSP seminars, but they only allow fed workers who are within five years of their retirement date to attend!!!! The time you need good investment advice is when you start TSP and no one seems to grasps that concept. Anyway, the official TSP website (www.tsp.gov) offers some great downloads, but I personally prefer face to face training. Good luck with your personal TSP investment plan.

 

[Wethammer]

Man.....I've got a real baaaad feeling about this. Thanks for posting TSP's phone number. We, (Border Patrol mushrooms) weren't told anything about having to withdraw $$ from TSP. They said, "just keep it in there and watch it grow." Well, that's what I did and it's grown quite respectfully. Now I'll probably have to forfeit a large chunk. Darn!!!

Thanks for being there. I'll definitely be here more often.

 

[Spaf]

The Retirement Kingdom
July 2007 Edition
Sunday July 22, 2007​

Yak, Le Charts, Doodles, Tea Leaves, The Tin Box and The Lilly Pad

Kingdom Yak:
Yak.....................................Things are getting a bit volatile! Some of the earnings were disappointing. Pricing closed below the 13 day moving average which could mean a possible bearish trend. As a trend develops the Bollinger bands tend to get wider. The Stochastics oscillator was registering a bearish signal with %K under %D, however it was no longer in the overbought range (above 80).

Will be staying at 100% G-fund for a better signal. All trading funds have been returned to cash.

Le Charts

Charts courtesy of www.StockCharts.com​

Doodles:
Stops..................................................Alert (-1%)....Trail (-2%)
.....SPX....1534.10 -18.40 for the week....X1537.............1522

Lube (NYMEX) Closed at..............75.57 +1.64 for the week ending...NYMEX
Oil Markers................................<65= ok, 65-75= worry, >75= panic (maybe).

Tea Leaves:
Yakndoodles...............................Hold.

Tin Box.
TSP (week ending)........G=12.03..F=11.30..C=17.14..S=20.89..I=25.28
....(end of 2006)...........G=11.71..F=11.14..C=15.69..S=18.76..I=22.22

The Lilly Pad
Location....................................100%-G.

 

[Spaf]

The Retirement Kingdom
Periodical
July 23, 2007​

Yak, Doodles, Tea Leaves, The Lilly Pad, and a laugh!

Kingdom Yak:
Yak.......................................The market returned to a bullish trend, however it remains disturbed over the subprime loans. The Stochastics oscillator is still registering bearish with %K under %D, but is moving from overbought conditions.

Doodles:
Stops.......................................Alert (-1%)....Trail (-2%)
.....SPX........1541.57 +7.47..........1524............1509

Lube (NYMEX) Closed at...............74.89 -0.90 for the day.
Oil Markers.................................<65= ok, 65-75= worry, >75= panic (maybe).

Tea Leaves:
Yakndoodles...............................Hold.

The Lilly Pad
Location....................................100%-G.

Laughs from the desk of senior citizens

"LOST IN THE DARNDEST PLACES"

An elderly Lady called 911 on her cell phone to report that her car has been broken into. She is hysterical as she explains her situation to the dispatcher: "They've stolen the stereo, the steering wheel, the brake pedal and even the accelerator!" she cried.

The dispatcher said, "Stay calm. An officer is on the way."

A few minutes later, the officer radios in. "Disregard." He says. "She got in the back-seat by mistake."


"I CAN HEAR JUST FINE!"

Three retirees, each with a hearing loss, were playing golf one fine March day. One remarked to the other, "Windy, isn't it?"

"No," the second man replied, "it's Thursday."

And the third man chimed in, "So am I. Let's have a beer."


"OLD FRIENDS"

Now this one is just too Precious...LOL!

Two elderly ladies had been friends for many decades. Over the years, they had shared all kinds of activities and adventures. Lately, their activities had been limited to meeting a few times a week to play cards. One day, they were playing cards when one looked at the other and said, "Now don't get mad at me .. I know we've been friends for a long time, but I just can't think of your name! I've thought and thought, but I can't remember it. Please tell me what your name is."

Her friend glared at her. For at least three minutes she just stared and glared at her. Finally she said, "How soon do you need to know?"


"SENIOR DRIVING"

As a senior citizen was driving down the freeway, his car phone rang. Answering, he heard his wife's voice urgently warning him, "Herman, I just heard on the news that there's a car going the wrong way on Interstate 77. Please be careful!"

"Heck," said Herman, "It's not just one car. It's hundreds of them!"
..........................................................

Regards and be careful out there!

 

[Wolverine]

Funny stuff thar Spaf....... with the senior stuff. LOL

 

[Wethammer]

Call TSP and talk to them. Get it straight from the horses mouth. I've talked to them several times. They are nice and very knowledgeable. <>877-968-3778<>

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Y'all helped greatly. Called TSP as directed and found out I was worried for nothing. Can keep $$ in TSP until I'm 70.5 with no problemas. Thanks to all who responded to my post with advice. Y'all are GREAT!

The Hammer

 

[Spaf]

The Retirement Kingdom
Periodical
July 25, 2007​

Yak, Doodles, Tea Leaves, and The Lilly Pad.

Kingdom Yak:
Yak..........................................The market sure is volatile!

Doodles:
Stops.......................................Alert (-1%)....Trail (-2%)
.....SPX........1518.09 +7.05.........X1538...........X1523

Lube (NYMEX) Closed at...............75.88 +2.32 for the day.
Oil Markers.................................<65= ok, 65-75= worry, >75= panic (maybe).

Tea Leaves:
Yakndoodles...............................Kripes!

The Lilly Pad
Location....................................100%-G.

 

[Spaf]

The Retirement Kingdom
Periodical
July 26, 2007​

Yak, Doodles, Tea Leaves, and The Lilly Pad.

Kingdom Yak:
Yak.........................................Well, we are heading back to the oversold areas! Next, we gotta find the bottom!

Doodles:
Stops.......................................Alert (-1%)....Trail (-2%)
.....SPX........11482.66 -35.43......X1538...........X1523

Lube (NYMEX) Closed at...............75.33 -0.55 for the day.
Oil Markers.................................<65= ok, 65-75= worry, >75= panic (maybe).

Tea Leaves:
Yakndoodles...............................Wow, what a day!

The Lilly Pad
Location....................................100%-G.

 

[Spaf]

The Retirement Kingdom
July 2007 Edition
Sunday July 29, 2007​

Yak, Le Charts, Doodles, Tea Leaves, The Tin Box and The Lilly Pad

Kingdom Yak:
Yak.....................................Continued selling prevailed on Friday. For the S&P The Stochastics Oscillator is still bearish with %K below %D and now below 20 which is the start of the oversold range. The Bollinger Bands have grown into a large width which means possible increased volatility. SPX is trading below the lower band, now somewhat overextended to the down side. Expect a pause or a retracement. We need to watch what is happening, keeping a eye on the pricing. There are several factors that have influenced this downward adjustment: energy, earnings, credit and housing. It could take a while to get the market back on track. Fishing for a bottom will only spell trouble. Averaging down is throwing good money after bad. But averaging up makes sense, it's called "pyramiding". However, we first would like to see a double bottom reversal, a clear indication of a bearish trend ending (see March below). Then by pyramiding we can capture gains at a lower risk.

Le Charts

Charts courtesy of www.StockCharts.com​

Doodles:
Stops.................................................Alert (-1%).....Trail (-2%)
.....SPX....1458.95 -75.15 for the week....X1537............X1522

Lube (NYMEX) Closed at..............77.02 +1.45 for the week ending...NYMEX
Oil Markers................................<65= ok, 65-75= worry, >75= panic (maybe).

Tea Leaves:
Yakndoodles...............................Observation and patience.

Tin Box.
TSP (week ending)........G=12.04..F=11.35..C=16.30..S=19.61..I=23.69
....(end of 2006)...........G=11.71..F=11.14..C=15.69..S=18.76..I=22.22

The Lilly Pad
Location....................................100%-G.

 

[Birchtree]

It might be a good time to go noodling - what do you think?

 

[Spaf]

Lakes and rivers are too high!.....Need a Racoon?.....

It might be a good time to go noodling - what do you think?

 

[Spaf]

The Retirement Kingdom
Periodical
July 30, 2007​

Yak and The Lilly Pad.

Yak.................A bounce off an apparent bottom is unconvencing!..... Still need some reliable indicators.

Lilly Pad...........100% G-fund.

Regards and be careful!
Spaf