Hi all,
Decided I wanted to get into tracking my TSP more. Right now I'm a 25 year old with 2 years of federal service. Currently have ~$9000 in my TSP and contributing into the L2050.
My goals as of right now are to get out of student loan debt. Did a good job this past year cutting down that debt. If I continue my current plan I should be debt free by late 2019. After my student loan is paid off my next goal is home ownership.
Saving for retirement has been on my mind the past few weeks and I wanna make sure I have more than enough to retire on. I've been looking at different post on here and other sites and for the most part L funds aren't seen as the best investments. What funds should I look into researching and investing. I'm young and willing to take risks now than later on in life and trying to play catch up.
Appreciate the help.
Hello all
Moderator: Aitrus
Re: Hello all
Welcome Nckpat!
You've got an awesome start on your retirement. I'm 36 and started at about 23 or so. I didn't get really interested in what my TSP was doing until 2012, and then only started really understanding what was going on around 2014 after I did a ton of research and learning. You're in a great position to be able to retire early if you play your cards right.
My advice: go to the tsp.gov website and read everything you can about the various Funds. This will give you a good foundation for everything else you'll find us talking about here.
After that, it all depends on what you want to do - timing the market, going with seasonal trends, or looking at the really long-term goals and just riding the market. Each method of investing requires that you put forth some time learning and researching. Just let us know which one interests you and we'll either give you advice or point you to some resources to check out.
You've got an awesome start on your retirement. I'm 36 and started at about 23 or so. I didn't get really interested in what my TSP was doing until 2012, and then only started really understanding what was going on around 2014 after I did a ton of research and learning. You're in a great position to be able to retire early if you play your cards right.
My advice: go to the tsp.gov website and read everything you can about the various Funds. This will give you a good foundation for everything else you'll find us talking about here.
After that, it all depends on what you want to do - timing the market, going with seasonal trends, or looking at the really long-term goals and just riding the market. Each method of investing requires that you put forth some time learning and researching. Just let us know which one interests you and we'll either give you advice or point you to some resources to check out.
Seasonal Musings 2022: viewtopic.php?f=14&t=19005
Recommended Reading: http://tspcenter.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=13474
Support the site by purchasing a membership at TSPCalc! https://tspcalc.com
Recommended Reading: http://tspcenter.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=13474
Support the site by purchasing a membership at TSPCalc! https://tspcalc.com
Re: Hello all
Hello Nckpat1990, from a fed who is closer to the other end of his career. Please keep in mind that the L funds all have a mix of the 5 letter funds. They are comprised of portions of the G, F, C, S, and I funds. L2050 has the highest portion of C, S, and I, and less G and F. Truthfully, for 96% of federal employees, L funds are good investments because they can set it and forget it. However, if you are one of those who wants to study the stock markets and profit from it, you may be able to perform better than the L funds, and in any case, you'll know that the fate of your funds is in your hands. Some, but not all members, have outperformed all the L funds and letter funds by large margins. Find them. (I am not one of them.)
-
RangerDave
- Posts: 375
- Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:20 pm
Re: Hello all
1990,
Max out your TSP allocation, which is I think $674 per pay check. Leave your money where it is, L2050, unless you think you can do better. At 30 you should have close to $100K. When you do, drop back your allocation to 10%, or more if you have it, buy your house, have kids and live your life dollar cost averaging through your career, retiring a millionaire! The sooner you mass that 100K, the quicker you will reach your goals. If you wait, you will always have something important to spend your money on and you will never catch up when you finally realize you have too!
Check the interest on your student loans. It may work for you to pay the minimum on them while you amass your early fortune in the TSP! Good luck!
Max out your TSP allocation, which is I think $674 per pay check. Leave your money where it is, L2050, unless you think you can do better. At 30 you should have close to $100K. When you do, drop back your allocation to 10%, or more if you have it, buy your house, have kids and live your life dollar cost averaging through your career, retiring a millionaire! The sooner you mass that 100K, the quicker you will reach your goals. If you wait, you will always have something important to spend your money on and you will never catch up when you finally realize you have too!
Check the interest on your student loans. It may work for you to pay the minimum on them while you amass your early fortune in the TSP! Good luck!
Re: Hello all
Nckpat1990 wrote:Hi all,
Decided I wanted to get into tracking my TSP more. Right now I'm a 25 year old with 2 years of federal service. Currently have ~$9000 in my TSP and contributing into the L2050.
My goals as of right now are to get out of student loan debt. Did a good job this past year cutting down that debt. If I continue my current plan I should be debt free by late 2019. After my student loan is paid off my next goal is home ownership.
Saving for retirement has been on my mind the past few weeks and I wanna make sure I have more than enough to retire on. I've been looking at different post on here and other sites and for the most part L funds aren't seen as the best investments. What funds should I look into researching and investing. I'm young and willing to take risks now than later on in life and trying to play catch up.
Appreciate the help.
The fact you are taking debt into account puts you light years ahead of your peers. Keep researching, keep learning, and keep asking questions.
Fund Prices2024-05-13
| Fund | Price | Day | YTD |
| G | $18.25 | 0.04% | 1.58% |
| F | $18.88 | 0.11% | -1.77% |
| C | $81.80 | -0.02% | 10.00% |
| S | $80.29 | 0.05% | 4.15% |
| I | $42.83 | 0.10% | 6.58% |
| L2065 | $16.32 | 0.03% | 7.94% |
| L2060 | $16.32 | 0.03% | 7.95% |
| L2055 | $16.32 | 0.03% | 7.95% |
| L2050 | $32.63 | 0.04% | 6.60% |
| L2045 | $14.87 | 0.04% | 6.27% |
| L2040 | $54.26 | 0.04% | 5.98% |
| L2035 | $14.32 | 0.04% | 5.62% |
| L2030 | $47.62 | 0.04% | 5.28% |
| L2025 | $13.17 | 0.04% | 3.59% |
| Linc | $25.67 | 0.04% | 3.05% |