Show of Hands

Damn!

My 10 month return in just growth stocks is 36 percent.

That is great for you all.

Will check that out. Thanks for the input.

Here's a shortcut into the summary of returns, but there is a whole lot more on the site to take a look at:

www.tsp.gov/InvestmentFunds/FundPerformance/returnSummary.html

Thanks!

Still have a while. I am just starting to look how to make it grow. Thanks for the advice.

I plan to. Just want to maximize the potential as I have about 20 years to grow it.

With that much time get out of bonds and other fixed income and get into stocks.

Sound somewhat conservation for the last couple of years. Generally the return is a little higher. Mine is like Squids. I was 18%, 14 and 10% depending on my broker. I guess the key is risk vs reward. Check to see the percentage of stocks vs bond. I you have a lot in bond then move some to stocks. A balanced portfolio doesn’t mean 50/50 stocks and bonds. A lot has to do with sectors, types of stock, long or short term bonds, metals, and government security. Good luck. Nice going Squidboy!

Ok....this got me curious do I looked it up. My IRA has been with the same people since 2011. My average since then has been 12.7%....that is extraordinary in itself. I’m in 4 different index funds, they range from 16 to an insane 29% ytd return. Nice while it lasts.....but it’s going to hurt when it pops.
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Squid, that’s one heck of a nice job they are doing for you. Index funds were the place to be but you had to have a of faith that the market would go nuts. I was pretty much conservative because we were concerned about losing our principle. Hell, I retire 20 years ago at 55 without a nice pension. I had medical. But when the feds dropped the interest rates to nothing and starting printing money then the only place to go was the Markets. But nobody expected this!
You have to plan life hoping as you grow older you’ll have a nest egg. Thru the years I’ve hit a 10 Anniversary birthday. Each decade you looked at life a little differently. Somewhere along the line you start thinking about the future. It came fast.

@rons I’m still at least 10 years from retirement so I can take the risk. In fact...I needed the risk if I ever had any hope of a decent retirement. I saw the sub prime bubble popping ahead of time in 2008 and switched to bonds....minimizing my losses. I also stopped monthly contributions for the second half of 08. I caught up on contributions in 12-08....and doubled down in 2009 when the market was at bottom. I flipped back to index funds then too. I normally don’t time the market....but both moves paid off handsomely. I’ve been staying the course since then. I’m fully expecting a big correction of 30% or more within in the next 18 months. So I’m going to try to stay a step ahead like I did last time. Until then, I’m enjoying the ride. These are heady numbers. I ‘made’ $2,500 yesterday. It’s mind boggling.
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I can gain or lose 5-8 grand on any give day. But like you I’m waiting for a shoe to drop. From 1998 on my portfolio looks like the Alps!

Yeah.....some crazy highs and lows over that period

Damn. I have about 17-20 more years on the civilian side, so I am just trying to maximize the potential. I did not contribute like I should have to my military TSP, so it is going to be a pittance compared to what I am hoping for on the civilian side.

I will also have military retirement pay @ 55. Between this my government TSP and pension I hope to live comfortably. If SS is still there I want it to be a bonus, not necessity.

Good philosophy.

Don’t disregard that military pension, it’s not a lot but it has value. When I was 30.....my net worth was probably about $20k. Since that point I’ve been steady, brave and disciplined in my saving until it hurt. It helps big time that I’ve had a high income the last 15 years. The tipping point is when your investments start making more each month than you are putting in. I’m at that point most months now.....then it turns into a snowball of wealth. 20 years later....my net worth is 7 figures.
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An annual 10% is 10% of a greater and greater number every year

I doubled up savings the last 10 years. Kids were gone, mortgage paid, no loans.