Posted on 04/14/2011 1:10:14 PM PDT by hattend
I started a new government job last October (Sorry that I went to the dark side, but I have to work!)
I am participating in the Thrift Savings Plan and would like your opinion on which fund you would choose given the choice.
The choices are:
Government Securities Fixed Income Index Common Stock Index Small Cap Stock Index International Stock Index
I currently have 100% contribution going to Government Securities but that just scare the crap out of me with Obama in charge.
Which fund, in your opinion, would you consider the safest. I realize the tanking economy will affect all funds listed but would like to hear other FReepers' opinions.
Thanks
The choices are:
Government Securities
Fixed Income Index
Common Stock Index
Small Cap Stock Index
International Stock Index
Personally, I’d go with 100% in the International Stock Index fund.
Like Pimco, I’ve come to the conclusion that investing in US government treasuries is foolhardy, and investing in anything denominated in US dollar is nearly as bad.
Given the course that our country is taking, I think it’s important to get wealth out of dollars.
If you are in DC, no. At least none that you'd ever want to use unless bankruptcy is your goal.
Get the Cash and invest it in Mattress Savings and Loan.
I would take a certain amount each month out of the Gummint Securities and dollar cost average into the 2 domestic stock funds and the international fund.
Gov’t securities and Fixed income will be made up entirely or partly of FED and MUNI bonds. Although I think the scare over MUNI’s recently is overdone, nonetheless, what upside is there? Interest rates are at historical lows. Yes, we may bounce along the bottom with years of low rates (like Japan), but what’s the point of locking in crappy interest rates? With the fees the fund manager might charge, you may not have any upside at all, but a lot of potential downside.
I would prefer international stocks (some diversity to US markets) or small cap stock funds, given the limited choice you have.
Forget the Government Securities and Fixed Income Index.
Split the money among the remaining three ?
Any free advice you get is worth what you pay for it.
I would get out of all Government Securities (I am assuming they are Treasury Notes) and distribute between the other 4 choices - not evenly across the other 4, you have to do it based on your age & years to retirement.
Bill Gross, who runs one of the biggest mutual funds has sold all of his Government Securities.
Oh, I know that, Daveinyork.
Just interested in others opinions of what’s available.
Will I take action based on this thread? Who knows?
Buy Libyan Rebel War Bonds
BTW: I am working for the National Weather Service in the Alaska bush.
The only connection I have to DC is my Dept of Commerce paycheck.
Are they for sale? ;-)
Well, I can't "get the cash" until I have been working 3 years (vested) or until I quit/get laid off.
My only option right now is to work within the system so I only have the 5 choices.
If you are putting your money in government securities don’t expect much growth from capital appreciation. Bonds can only go down from here in value since interest rates are extremely low. Market values of bonds are inversely associated with interest rates.
HOWEVER, that being true if you are intending to work a long time for the government that will not affect you that much over the long run since the interest will compound without taxes.
Most financial theory indicates you should diversify your holdings so perhaps you should consider splitting your contributions with a couple of more choices.
That is conditioned on how long you anticipate before retirement and the longer that period is means you would profit from weighting toward the more speculative investments.
My buddy just retired from the feds and he did extremely well by investing heavily in the standard and poor’s index funds even after the market collapse after 911 and 2008.
It’s a difficult investment environment.
I like them in the reverse of the order in which they are listed.
I’m putting everything in Gov’t Secs now because that is the “default” starting position when the account is started.
But, now that it is established, I can move it around into the 5 choices given.
Thanks for the input!
My financial advice is to get a financial adviser. Web forums are not a good source.
That being said, you could do a lot worse than FR.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.