TSP Retirement Center Chat Room

[Spaf]

In market talk
​

We actually had [SPX] set up a double bottom and the trigger ocurred when stocks break above the mid point peak between the two troughs. And this was confirmed with higher-than average volume.

My 2 cents.......Spaf........

 

[Spaf]

Going back to my basic TSP allocation of 60/40 (60G, 00F, 20C, 10S & 10I).
Sold [IVV] back to 20%, leaving [IJR] at 10% and [EFA] at 10%.
Dang G-Fund is at 4.92%!
Could make my goal of 7% with no risk!.... NA! to much sporting blood!

 

[Spaf]

Managed trading is like trapping
Buy-an-hold is hoping they don't get into the bird feeders.​

It's all a matter of .....the game!​

View attachment 1771​

 

[Spaf]

The Retirement Chat Room
July 26, 2007​

Patience​

Don't think we should be to hasty on this one! Last February we had an adjustment caused by a scare in the market of China. The July adjustment might turn into a correction, maybe, maybe not! But the circumstances are different. This time we have woes in the credit market and housing.

The dust hasen't cleared on this adjustment (0-10%) or is it a correction (>10%). Really need to see how this one plays out!

Right now we hear "snorts" and don't know if it's a pot-belly-pig, or a mean old wart hog?

Where will the market find support?

What does the Slow Stochastics tell us?

Do we have a good trading signal for the bottom?

Regards, and be careful!
Spaf

 

[nnuut]

Managed trading is like trapping

Buy-an-hold is hoping they don't get into the bird feeders.​

It's all a matter of .....the game!​

View attachment 1771​

Stop feeding the BIRDS and the COONS won't come!:worried:

 

[Spaf]

Retirement​

[Love it!....]​

As you slide down the banister of life, may the splinters never point the wrong way.

:laugh:

​

 

[ezmoney]

I'm two years away from retirement although I plan on working longer possible to 60/35 yrs or 62/37yrs. Should I keep my money in the TSP or would I profit more by rolling the TSP into an IRA. I guess everyones situation is different. I have not consulted financial advise from and advisor as of yet.

 

[Spaf]

ezmoney,
I opted to leave it with TSP: very low rates, good funds, trade ever day with no charge, etc.
However, you need to see a CPA to have your situation reviewed.
As you get older there can be some medical problems. For that you will probably want to itemize for tax purposes.
Spaf

 

[Rick]

Spaf
I am Thinking about doing the same thing with my TSP.
Did you take the life expectancy or the equal payments payments over 10 years?

 

[Spaf]

Rick,

Neither!

I have the withdrawl election with monthly payments on direct deposits.
I can change my election each year around the first of December, if needed!
With investing/trading my goal is 7% a year with as low of a risk as possible.
With the 7%; 3% is for inflation/cost of living, and 4% is for my election.
I'm kind of running my own annuity, but the principal is all mine.....

Regards
Spaf

Spaf
I am Thinking about doing the same thing with my TSP.
Did you take the life expectancy or the equal payments payments over 10 years?

 

[Pill]

I know the aswer but hearing it may help it make sense to my parents who are retired government employees. TSP account is small but have a good pension(CSRS)

I believe they should start a ROTH IRA. As of now they aren't investing that I know of. Is a ROTH the best thing for them? If they can afford they both should give $5k(what is the extra amount if over a certain age?) to keep it simple I was thinking a Target/Lifestyle fund. Vanguard or Fidelity most likely. Some thing that is simple for their style of investing. They are 62.

As a son I want the best for them. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

 

[Rick]

Spaf
OK I am Confused.
The TSP States only 2 options 1. Life Expecicty or 2. equal payments over 10 years to avoid the 10% penalty. where does it state that withdrawl election with monthly payments on direct deposits is an option, and what does that mean ??? I am an ATC FERS retiree @ age 50 with 30 years of gov. service

 

[Pill]

Well I tried to find the edit button but with no luck to correct my spelling on my last post.

So one of my answers to ROTH contributions is 5k plus an additional 1k if you are 50 or older.

I am still wondering what your opinions are on how they should be investions? After talking with them they are only putting money in a savings acount. I didn't ask but most likely its at their bank not doing any thing(2-3%). At the lest I know they should use a online bank offering 5% or so or a money market account doing the same. However being that they don't have much saved investing would be a better option in my opinion.

 

[budnipper1]

I'm not Spaf but hope this helps... (25 days and a wake-up)

http://www.tsp.gov/features/index.html
http://www.tsp.gov/features/chapter13.html#sub4
What are the general rules for making a full withdrawal?
If your account balance is $200 or more when you separate from service, you can leave your money in the TSP or you can request to withdraw your entire account in either a single payment, monthly payments, or for amounts of $3,500 or more, a life annuity. You may withdraw your account by using any one or any combination of these withdrawal options. For example, you might withdraw your entire account in monthly payments, or you might take half of your account as a single payment and half of your account as an annuity.

If you choose to withdraw your account in a single payment, your entire balance is paid at one time. You can have the TSP transfer all or part of any single payment to a traditional IRA or eligible employer plan. Payments to you can be deposited directly into your checking or savings account by means of EFT.

If you choose to withdraw your account in monthly payments, you must also choose whether you want the TSP to compute your payments based on the IRS life expectancy table or whether you would like to receive a specific dollar amount each month. (See "Can I change my withdrawal after I receive it?".) If you choose to receive a specific dollar amount each month, you may be able to transfer all or part of your payments to an IRA or other eligible employer plan. This will depend on the number of payments you are expecting to receive. For additional information, read the tax notice "Important Tax Information About Payments From Your TSP Account.")

Spaf
OK I am Confused.
The TSP States only 2 options 1. Life Expecicty or 2. equal payments over 10 years to avoid the 10% penalty. where does it state that withdrawl election with monthly payments on direct deposits is an option, and what does that mean ??? I am an ATC FERS retiree @ age 50 with 30 years of gov. service

 

[Spaf]

Hi Guys!

Please download the TSP-70 form as it shows your options, it explains with information the various different ways you can do things. OR you might want to call TSP and they will send you the form (it's a bugger).

I have X% withdrawn from my TSP annually. Payable monthly in $X on direct deposit. Around the 1st part of December I have the option of changing my % (annual) withdrawl.

Life expectancy is a laugh!.....:laugh:.......That is someone pushing numbers and is not reality.

Regards, and be careful out there!

Spaf

 

[clester]

Spaf
OK I am Confused.
The TSP States only 2 options 1. Life Expecicty or 2. equal payments over 10 years to avoid the 10% penalty. where does it state that withdrawl election with monthly payments on direct deposits is an option, and what does that mean ??? I am an ATC FERS retiree @ age 50 with 30 years of gov. service

I am FERS ATC also and have done a lot of research. At age 50 (Your MRA is probably 56 or higher) you can't take monthly payments for a specific dollar amount. I guess you can, but you'll pay the 10% penalty. You really have 2 options that I would recommend. Leave money in TSP and take life expectancy payments (basically minimum distribution method) or transfer it to an IRA and then use the 72(t) rule and use the amoritization method. This is an IRS rule to allow you to take money out without the penalty. Go to www.72t.net and find the calculators. Play with those to figure out your possibilities. You can use any interest rate you want up to the max listed by the calculator. One negative with using this will be that those payments are a set amount until you reach 59 1/2. So you will have about 9 years with no increases. The supplement will be the same. A set amount until you're 62. The only cola will be your FERS pension.

 

[coach222]

Maybe this total does not include agency matching?

I haven't seen the statement, yet, but based on the amount my guess would be the total is contributions without matching.

 

[EW_ret]

I just checked my Annual Participant Statement from TSP and the lifetime contribution amount is $274.41 lower than what my Quicken account shows for my total contributions from February 1988 to September 2005. I had a $4,000 loan from December 1992 to August 1994. I suspect the interest I paid on this loan was $274.41. It just shows up as additional contributions in my Quicken account. Therefore, I see the lifetime contributions being accurate for my case. I was CSRS so there were no matching contributions.

 

[Idaho Dave]

Make sure the whole thing is right, not just the $. They spelled the beneficiary's name wrong on my statement.

 

[2moryrs]

Hello,

I am getting close to retirement and am doing a lot of reading and getting more confused by the day. So maybe some of you that retired under CSRS can answer a few questions I have:
1. I will have 34 yrs in 8/2008 and will have accumulated 2087 hours of s/l as of pp 26. Will those hrs count for a full yr for length of service computation?
2. Read that you could put all your pay from last two pp's (25 & 26) into tsp before actual retirement date. Is this true?
3. If I were to go ahead and use my 208 hrs of a/l (just keep 240) and then put that amount of pay based on the a/l hours used into amy Credit Union account; does that make any sense? Credit Union pays better than most other liquid asset accounts in my local area.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts and ideas! I've never retired before and this is very scary. I want to make the best (right) decisions for my future.

2moryrs (not!)