TSP Retirement Center Chat Room

[rondalw]

Lesson learned again from the FED.

As stated previously I retired on 1/31/2007 after 32.8 years service (10 years military) as an LEO/FF.

OPM has worked on interim payments while processing final calculations. Received email from OPM today saying the agency mis-calculated my Military re-deposit and did not include the ineterest. Needless to say, OPM now says I owe additional interest on deposits I thought were finsihed in 1999.

OPM has been very good in contacting me and keeping me informed. It was my agency (and probably me for trusting their calculations) for the mess up.

I just hope I can pay the interest and get on with it.

 

[lmorgan]

Another interesting website with good retirement information is www.federalsoup.com

 

[Spaf]

Retirement Center​

Subject: Fishing
RE:http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html

Question (Trivia): How do you tell the difference between the head of the worm and the tail of the worm?.........

 

[Spaf]

Allocation diversification
(trial allocation)​

I was looking for a good allocation, one that had diversification. This was for the not so good months of May thru Oct. (Stock Traders Almanac).

2010.. gave a allocation of 43G, 7F, 27C, 8S, and 15I.
L-Inc. gave a allocation of 74G, 6F, 12C, 3S, and 05I.

The F-Fund has not been doing well, with interest rates high.

So, I came up with a modified intermediate allocation of:
60G, 00F, 20C, 10S, and 10I....Will see how this works.....

Will be using stops of 1% alert and 2% trail. I prefer the S&P [SPX].
I'll watch the top for high resistance. But, tops are hard to find! In the meantime I'll monitor the EbbChart!
With 40% in equities, a down turn would hurt, but would not be a disaster. Anyway, if it was fast and took out the trailing stop, I always have the cash to buy in low.
[Thats my story]

Regards, and be careful!.........Spaf

 

[nnuut]

Retirement Center​

Subject: Fishing
RE:http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/worms/facts/index.html

Question (Trivia): How do you tell the difference between the head of the worm and the tail of the worm?.........

SQUEEZE them a little and you can tell!!:laugh:

 

[Spaf]

SQUEEZE them a little and you can tell!!:laugh:

Nnuut, I've been waiting!.................

You put the worm on the ground! It crawls in the direction of the head and brings up the tail.................:toung:..:laugh:.........Worm's don't have a reverse!

 

[nnuut]

How bout that, the little slippery bugies!:toung: Ya got me on that one!

 

[SkyPilot]

Y

Another interesting website with good retirement information is www.federalsoup.com

You can also find an old friend of ours posting there. She is known for her expertise regarding the I fund!

 

[roskopfm]

I got a better allocation (if you are young) 100% I Fund. I have been 100% I Fund for two years and have made off big time. I know, I know, the stock market will fall and I will lose all my money. on the TSP web site, it shows that on June 1st, 2003 the I, S, C, F, and G funds all hade a value of 10.00 per share. Today the I fund is worth $24.83 a share vs. 11.9% for G fund, thats a gain of 148% in 4 years. I know the market wasnt great in 2001 and 2002, but it is great now. I will stop investing in the I fund when I see something change in the market that shows the bull is over. If your young like me take some chances, but you have to watch the market and read everything you can to prepare yourself. GO I fund!!!!

 

[Spaf]

Allocation Diversification
(trial allocation)
Cont'd​

Diversification is an investment strategy designed to reduce exposure to risk by combining a variety of investments, such as U.S. stocks, international stocks, bonds and cash, which are unlikely to all move in the same direction.

Basically this year Dec. 31 2006 to June 3, 2007
TSP (week ending)........G=11.95..F=11.26..C=17.13..S=21.01..I=24.77
The end of 2006...........G=11.71..F=11.14..C=15.69..S=18.76..I=22.22
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Yearly results...............G=00.24..F=00.12..C=01.44..S=02.25..I=02.55

G-fund is ok, safe, over the past 12 months it produced 4.92%
F-fund is not ok. Interest rates have kept bonds out of favor.
C-fund is ok, and has the least volatility.
S-fund is ok, but can be tempermental.
I-fund is ok, but carries a double edge blade; pricing and the US$.

In retirement the TSP account is a major leg in the three leg stool of the retirement portfolio. It's a major investment, and RISK vs REWARD has to be carefully evaluated.

In your 20's and 30's you have "do-overs"! In the 50's and 60's there ain't no "do-overs"! In retirement "risk" has a different meaning (somewhat).

Personally, I like protecting the TSP principal and only using gains. 4% is the maximum recommended withdrawl, and inflation is generally +/- 3%. So the G-fund will not be a salvation, but you only need gains of about 2.08%.

2.08% does not seem to be hard, or high risk. Unless, you go high percentages i.e., 100% I-fund. Keeping 50-60% in the G-fund and diversifying the remainder should reduce your risk. Using "stops" and monitoring this web site should keep you on track.

Only buy in when stocks are oversold and sell when they are overbought. If you make a mistake, sell! Don't let a small loss turn into a big loss!

 

[Spaf]

I get no respect!

Me and R.D. have a lot in common!...."My problem is that I appeal to everyone and anything that can do me absolutely no good."

5 AM, my wife wakes me up, complaining about a racoon in her back yard bird feeder.

$50 bird feeder completly destroyed!

Off to Feed & Seed. New bird feeder $50. Animal trap $70. Two cans of tuna $5. Landscaping timber $3. Brackets $5.

5AM, my dog wakes me up, coon in the can. Take the coon to the other side of the lake; gasoline $4.

5AM, my dog wakes me up, another coon in the can! $4 gasoline, more tuna $5.

View attachment 1655​

How many Racoons does Oklahoma have?..........:notrust:

 

[Show-me]

My wive sez he looks sad. LOL I sez, of course he looks sad he got caught. LOL

 

[nnuut]

Spaf,
"$4 gasoline, more tuna $5." One can of CHEAP sardines and one #8 shotgun shell and you can save some money!! BYE BYE BICHO!:laugh:

 

[Spaf]

Norman,
Good idea with the sardines!... I take them over to the wildlife refuge and let them go! Being nearsighted I ain't to good with a gun! Might just shoot my dog or my pick up truck...:embarrest: Besides they need a life!....Just not in my bird feeder....:notrust:

 

[nnuut]

I know, I know.

 

[Spaf]

In-Fisherman Best Fishing Times​

Link --> http://www.in-fisherman.com/reference/solunar/calendars/​

Click the calendar image to enlarge​

Best Times: A for A.M., P for P.M.
Darker shades indicate best days.

​

 

[Spaf]

High Performance Trilene Knot.​

[RE: http://www.berkley-fishing.com/​

Great little knot!​

View attachment 1656​

 

[EW_ret]

Spaf,

This looks to be an improvement over the knot I use. Thanks, good idea. I'll try it out.

 

[Scout333]

What kind of bait do you use? grins

 

[Spaf]

White Bass = various runners 4 - 16 feet. Trolling!
Crappie = Jigs, or minnows.
Racoons = Tuna or sardines......