TSP purchase dates

[F18Lumpy]

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I'm a member of the US Military and am having a tough time trying to determine when my TSP purchase occurs. It seems to hit on the 2nd or 3rd of each month but not in any consitent pattern that I can discern. Currently the only way I can track my purchases is wait for a quarterly statement to be posted then I can back date the purchases into Quicken.

Does anyone know the rhyme or reason behind when DFAS sends TSP my money? I'd like to be able to keep my TSP info in Quicken more current that the 3 month lag it seems to be in right now.

Thanks
Lumpy

 

[GTO1970]

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Hey Lumpy,

It sound like you need to log in on the TSP Web site and get a PIN# and then you can check you account balance daily and see when your contribution deposits

My Mil TSP deposits the same day my MIL check deposits

Maybe you have tried this and I dont understand what your asking

GTO

 

[Rolo]

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Ya, get a PIN for online access like GTO (nice ride) said.

How I update Quicken:

1. Note the balance of shares on the TSP site.

2. Note current balance of shares shown in Quicken, which is the balance before pay day.

3.The difference between #1 and#2 is how many shares you purchased that pay day. Let Quickencalculate the share price, only enter shares purchased and total cost (from your pay statement). Ensure the shares aredead-on accurate at all times since that, combined with share price, determines your account value. The share price will give away the date they were purchased by viewing the current rates on the TSP site.

4. Make sure you have done this before you initiate a transfer.



What I do when I did not do #4 above:

heh, I just did this yesterday 'cos I goofed. There is no way to tell which shares were transferred and which were purchased and the balance gets horked. If someone knows a better way, please share, I'm all ears.

1. Sell all shares in all funds in question (in Quicken, not in TSP!) on the day prior the date shown on your account balance ("yesterday"). (i.e. I did a transfer from I to S and did not track my prior purchase of S shares. I had to entersell all shares of I and S in Quicken.) You may have to tailor the total cost to match the actual totalbalance of your TSP account, for the goal is to get the dollar amount to match what you really have.

2. Enter purchases for all funds using current ("today's") TSP prices and share quantities for the date shown on your account balance. Your Quicken is now current and you have reset the cost basis (and gains calculated henceforth).

 

[F18Lumpy]

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Thanks for the advice guys. I already have a login and pin number for the TSP site. I was kinda hoping there was an easy, not so involved, way to figure all this out. If only TSP could provide a more comprehensive set of features for its web users. Every other investment vehicle I have lets me see the entire account history at once. No waiting for quarterly statements to easily and accurately figure out what is going on.

Thanks again,
Lumpy

 

[tsptalk]

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I guess that's what we get for the relatively low fees we pay.:?

 

[Rolo]

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hehehehe, or, "Close enough for government work!" :dude:

Lumpy, once you get your Quicken lined up to your TSP, it's easy to maintain, only takes five minutes a month, and becomes mindless routine work, like sealing an envelope andlicking the stamp.

And putting the stamp on the envelope.

Okay, weird analogy, but first thing that came to my mind.

 

[BarryKevin]

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Here's a dumb question :?. What is the procedure in setting upa TSP Account in Quicken 2004? Would anyone be able to help me out here? Thanks in Advance.

Barry