All posts by John Pope

Weekend Newsletter (12/2/2023)

Weekly TSP Fund Update

The  S Fund had the week’s largest gain of 3.64%. The F Fund advanced by 1.97% while the C Fund increased by 0.83%. The I Fund had a 0.80% gain.

Current strategy allocations:

TSPKey: 50% C Fund and 50 % S Fund (YTD* return: 7.63%)

TSPKey Low Risk: 50% G Fund, 25% C Fund and 25% S Fund (YTD* return: 5.98%)

New Trades: None

* As of 12/1/2023
For contribution allocations, we recommend they match the latest IFT allocation as shown above for both the TSPKey and TSPKey Low Risk strategies.

TSP Fund Returns as of 12/1/2023

G Fund F Fund C Fund S Fund I Fund
3.84%   2.67%   21.48%   16.33% 13.30%

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Weekly Wrap Up

New TSPKey Interfund Transfer (11/30/2023)

Weekly TSP Fund Update

Please see the following allocation change as of November 30, 2023.

Current strategy allocations:

TSPKey: 50% C Fund and 50% S Fund

TSPKey Low Risk: 50 % G Fund, 25% C Fund and 25% S Fund

New Trades: Allocate TSP account to your chosen strategy above before noon EST on 12/1/2023. See below for instructions.

This new allocation is for what used to be called interfund transfers (IFTs). It’s now under “Change Your Investment Mix / Money that’s already in the plan” on the TSP website. This is to change the funds for your current account balance.

Since the TSP.gov site’s features and wording have changed, you no longer simply choose “IFTs” and “Contribution Allocations.” So we’ve provided instructions below. You may also want to watch this video (not affiliated with our service) for a helpful walkthrough. The relevant part starts at 7:10.

  1. Log into your TSP account
  2. Click “Change Investments” from the main menu at the top
  3. Click the “Get Started” button under “Change Your Investment Mix”
  4. Click “Money that’s already in the plan”
  5. Scroll past the L Fund options and add 100% for the G Fund
  6. Click “Continue”
  7. Decide if you want to do this for “Current and Future” or “Current Balance Only” (see below for our general recommendations)
  8. Click “Continue,” review your allocation on the next page and click “Submit”

Our service is for current investment accounts. However, when our strategies are invested in stock funds, we generally recommend the “Current and Future” allocations be the same. This would be 50% C Fund and 50% S Fund for TSPKey or 50% G Fund, 25% C Fund and 25% S Fund for TSPKey Low Risk.

The returns posted on our site assume a static account with no contributions or withdrawals. 

TSPKey Weekend Newsletter (11/26/2023)

Weekly TSP Fund Update

The S Fund led the way with a 1.17% gain. The C Fund moved up by 1.02% while the S Fund advanced by 1.01%. The F Fund declined by 0.02%.

Current strategy allocations:

TSPKey: 100 % G Fund (YTD* return: 7.53%)

TSPKey Low Risk: 100 % G Fund (YTD* return: 5.88%)

New Trades: None, but we may have an update after the last trading day of the month which is Thursday, November 30. If so, we will send an email to members and update this page.

* As of 11/26/2023

TSP Fund Returns as of 11/26/2023

G Fund F Fund C Fund S Fund I Fund
3.74% 0.68% 20.48% 12.25% 12.40%

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Weekly Wrap Up

Weekend Newsletter (11/19/23)

Weekly TSP Fund Update

The S Fund had the week’s largest gain of 4.64%. The I Fund moved up by 3.95% while the C Fund advanced by 2.31%. The F Fund gained 1.36%.

Current strategy allocations:

TSPKey: 100 % G Fund (YTD* return: 7.43%)

TSPKey Low Risk: 100 % G Fund (YTD* return: 5.78%)

New Trades: None

* As of 11/17/2023
For contribution allocations, we recommend they match the latest IFT allocation as shown above for both the TSPKey and TSPKey Low Risk strategies.

TSP Fund Returns as of 11/17/2023

G Fund F Fund C Fund S Fund I Fund
3.64%   0.71% 19.26% 10.95% 11.29%

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Weekly Wrap Up

Weekend Newsletter (11/11/2023)

Weekly TSP Fund Update

Only the C and G Funds moved up last week. Of the losing funds, the F Fund had the smallest drop, followed by the I Fund. The S Fund had the biggest loss for the week of 1.52%.

Current strategy allocations:

TSPKey: 100 % G Fund (YTD* return: 7.32%)

TSPKey Low Risk: 100 % G Fund (YTD* return: 6.00%)

New Trades: None

* As of 11/10/2023
For contribution allocations, we recommend they match the latest IFT allocation as shown above for both the TSPKey and TSPKey Low Risk strategies.

TSP Fund Returns as of 11/10/2023

G Fund F Fund C Fund S Fund I Fund
3.54% -0.65% 16.57% 6.03% 7.05%

Get The Full Picture

Weekly Wrap Up

Weekend Newsletter (11/5/2023)

Weekly TSP Fund Update

All of the TSP funds moved up last week. The S Fund moved up by 7.35% while the C Fund advanced by 5.88%. The I Fund gained 5.49% and the F Fund increased by 0.70%.

Current strategy allocations:

TSPKey: 100 % G Fund (YTD* return: 7.91%)

TSPKey Low Risk: 100 % G Fund (YTD* return: 5.57%)

New Trades: None

* As of 11/3/2023
For contribution allocations, we recommend they match the latest IFT allocation as shown above for both the TSPKey and TSPKey Low Risk strategies.

TSP Fund Returns as of 11/3/2023

G Fund F Fund C Fund S Fund I Fund
3.44% -0.37% 15.02% 7.67% 7.78%

Get The Full Picture

Weekly Wrap Up

New TSPKey Interfund Transfer (IFT) – 10/31/23

Weekly TSP Fund Update

Please see the following interfund transfers (IFTs).

Current strategy allocations:

TSPKey: 100 % G Fund

TSPKey Low Risk: 100 % G Fund

New Trades: See below to allocate current TSP account to 100% G Fund before noon EST on 11/1/2023.

* As of 10/31/2023

This new allocation is for what used to be called interfund transfers (IFTs). It’s now under “Change Your Investment Mix / Money that’s already in the plan” on the TSP website. This is to change the funds for your current account balance.

Since the TSP.gov site’s features and wording have changed, you no longer simply choose “IFTs” and “Contribution Allocations.” So we’ve provided instructions below. You may also want to watch this video (not affiliated with our service) for a helpful walkthrough. The relevant part starts at 7:10.

  1. Log into your TSP account
  2. Click “Change Investments” from the main menu at the top
  3. Click the “Get Started” button under “Change Your Investment Mix”
  4. Click “Money that’s already in the plan”
  5. Scroll past the L Fund options and add 100% for the G Fund
  6. Click “Continue”
  7. Decide if you want to do this for “Current and Future” or “Current Balance Only” (see below for our general recommendations)
  8. Click “Continue,” review your allocation on the next page and click “Submit”

As for Step 7, our service is for current investment accounts, but below are our thoughts for future contributions. Since we don’t give personalized advice, these are general recommendations only.

If you have a newer TSP account and contributions will add significant amounts to it, it’s probably best to select “Current and Future,” meaning new contributions will go 100% into the G Fund. If contributions are small compared to your overall account size, you may want to choose “Current Balance Only” and continue our previous allocations (50% C Fund and 50% S Fund for TSPKey or 50% G Fund, 25% C Fund and 25% S Fund for TSPKey Low Risk). This allows one to “dollar cost average” into stocks in a potential bear market while keeping the bulk of their account safe in the G Fund.

The returns posted on our site assume a static account with no contributions or withdrawals. 

Weekend Newsletter (10/28/23)

Weekly TSP Fund Update

The  F Fund had the week’s only gain of 0.67%. The I Fund fell 1.09% while the C Fund had a 2.52% loss. The S Fund declined by 3.03%.

Current strategy allocations:

TSPKey: 50% C Fund and 50 % S Fund (YTD* return: 6.00%)

TSPKey Low Risk: 50% G Fund, 25% C Fund and 25% S Fund (YTD* return: 4.16%)

New Trades: None, but we may have a change after the market’s close on Tuesday (10/31) of next week. If so, we’ll send an email that evening.

* As of 10/27/2023
For contribution allocations, we recommend they match the latest IFT allocation as shown above for both the TSPKey and TSPKey Low Risk strategies.

TSP Fund Returns as of 10/27/2023

G Fund F Fund C Fund S Fund I Fund
3.34%   -2.31%   8.64%   0.29% 2.16%

Get The Full Picture

Weekly Wrap Up

Weekend Newsletter (10/22/2023)

Weekly TSP Fund Update

All of the TSP funds besides the G Fund fell last week. The F Fund had a 1.73% loss while the C Fund declined by 2.38%. The S Fund moved down 2.52% and the I Fund had a 2.72% loss.

Current strategy allocations:

TSPKey: 50% C Fund and 50 % S Fund (YTD* return: 8.14%)

TSPKey Low Risk: 50% G Fund, 25% C Fund and 25% S Fund (YTD* return: 5.58%)

New Trades: None

* As of 10/20/2023
For contribution allocations, we recommend they match the latest IFT allocation as shown above for both the TSPKey and TSPKey Low Risk strategies.

TSP Fund Returns as of 10/20/2023

G Fund F Fund C Fund S Fund I Fund
3.25%   -2.96%   11.45%   3.43% 3.29%

Get The Full Picture

Weekly Wrap Up

Weekend Newsletter (10/14/2023)

Weekly TSP Fund Update

The  F Fund had the week’s biggest gain of 0.97%. The C Fund moved up 0.47% while the I Fund advanced by 0.13%. The S Fund declined by 1.03%.

Current strategy allocations:

TSPKey: 50% C Fund and 50 % S Fund (YTD* return: 10.15%)

TSPKey Low Risk: 50% G Fund, 25% C Fund and 25% S Fund (YTD* return: 6.84%)

New Trades: None

* As of 10/13/2023
For contribution allocations, we recommend they match the latest IFT allocation as shown above for both the TSPKey and TSPKey Low Risk strategies.

TSP Fund Returns as of 10/13/2023

G Fund F Fund C Fund S Fund I Fund
3.15%   -1.26%   14.17%   6.11% 6.18%

Get The Full Picture

Weekly Wrap Up