Is the TSP G fund protected?
However, G Fund investors remain fully protected and G Fund earnings are fully guaranteed by the federal government. This statutory guarantee has effectively protected G Fund investors many times over the past 25 years.
The G Fund is invested in U.S. Treasury securities specially issued to the TSP. Payment of principal and interest is guaranteed by the U.S. government. Thus, there is no “credit risk.”
A protected account is an investment account that can grow but cannot lose money. The G Fund (the G stands for Government Securities) is the only account in the TSP that is a protected account. It's a popular choice since your money is safe from market downturns.
Even the G Fund (which invests in government securities) isn't protected by the FDIC. But under federal law, the payment of G Fund principal and interest is guaranteed by the U.S. government.
The funds in your account are held in trust for you by the TSP and are protected from the claims of creditors by a law which provides that the funds “may not be assigned or alienated and are not subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process.” (See 5 U.S.C.
On the opposite side of the volatility spectrum, the S Fund (small cap U.S. stocks) has the largest annualized standard deviation: 21.44% as of this writing, and is therefore the riskiest.
If all your money is invested in the G-fund, after taking into account purchasing power, your account will grow very little. Inflation is the #1 risk people face in retirement. Now that people are living for longer, it is becoming more important than ever to find a way to make sure you don't outlive your money.
Also, when interest rates rise, the G Fund rate will rise right along with them — again, without the loss of principal that you would experience in the F Fund under the same circ*mstances. From this perspective, as far as bond funds go, the G Fund is still a better deal than just about anything else out there.
What is the safest TSP fund? The G fund is generally the safest option as it invests in government securities. Although you won't lose money investing in this fund, your rate of return will be low. This may be a good option if you are close to retirement.
Basic Info. Thrift Savings Plan G Fund Monthly Returns is at 0.34%, compared to 0.39% last month and 0.34% last year.
What is the best fund to invest in TSP?
You might consider investing more in our stock funds (C, S, and I) than in the more conservative G and F Funds at this stage of your career. Stocks present more risk but offer the opportunity for potentially higher returns over time.
Average TSP balances
The average TSP balance has grown steadily in the last decade, reaching the six-figure mark in 2013. As of 2021, the average TSP balance for FERS participants was $181,279, while the average TSP balance for CSRS participants was $194,424.
![Is the TSP G fund protected? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6wOgBZ35C6E/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLD0HVTPBMYYzUrWwRK88ZXKuWYnpQ)
Your best bet is to stick with the C, S and I Funds. Here's the ratio we recommend for your portfolio: 80% in the C Fund, which is tied to the performance of the S&P 500. 10% in the S Fund, which includes stocks from small- to mid-sized companies that offer high risk and high return.
You are taking loans from your TSP
The money you're putting into your TSP is for retirement, not for buying a new car. If you leave federal employment with an outstanding TSP loan you have to pay back the full loan balance within 90 days.
The FDIC doesn't insure retirement plans as such. But, as mentioned above, certain types of deposits held within a plan may be eligible for coverage. Not every type of retirement plan account qualifies, however.
A TSP account can be garnished with a writ, order, summons, or other similar document that acts to enforce a participant's child support or alimony obligation . The TSP calls such a document a “legal process .”
In a nutshell, Ramsey advises federal employees to invest at least 5% in a Roth TSP, then invest the rest in a Roth IRA. He also recommends investing in a handful of TSP funds -- funds C,S, and I -- with a higher percent in the C Fund (at least 60 to 80%).
After a strong finish in December 2023, Thrift Savings Plan started 2024 with negative returns in January. After a strong finish in December 2023, Thrift Savings Plan started 2024 with three funds posting negative returns in January. The remaining 12 funds posted positive returns.
With a little self discipline and the power of compound interest, millionaire status is available to federal employees who make wise use of the Thrift Savings Plan. For some advice on how to get there, the Federal Drive with Tom Temin talked with retired federal manager Abe Grungold.
As of July 31, 2023, here are the net returns for the G Fund over a multi-year period: 1-Year: 3.84% 3-Year: 2.31% 5 -Year: 2.22%
Which is better the F fund or the G fund?
The F Fund should outperform G by a bit due to the 35% or so in riskier corporate bonds. The F fund Treasury bonds and the G fund should perform similarly over long periods of time, with the treasuries going up and down due to interest rate changes, while the G fund remains steady.
So, no, TSP accounts are not insured. But as financial advisor Art Stein noted the other day on the Federal Drive, you wouldn't want to move them to a bank anyway now. In 35 years, the TSP, like private sector 401K plans, have proven valuable components in planning for the future.
The Treasury securities used in the G Fund rate calculation have a weighted average maturity of approximately 13 years.
Even though the G fund bonds are technically non-marketable, they are based on the interest rates of marketable bonds, just like the securities in a money market fund. The main difference is that the money market is short term rates and the G fund is intermediate to long term rates.
It is a government securities investment fund that guarantees against loss of principal while offering the returns of more risky, longer-term Treasury bonds. While the G Fund's returns are similar to the yield provided by 10-year Treasury bonds, the G Fund is not comparable to a bond investment.
References
- https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspfs09.pdf
- https://www.tspfolio.com/blog/25/What_are_the_riskiest_TSP_funds_
- https://federalnewsnetwork.com/tsp/2023/03/its-not-2008-but-people-worry-about-savings-and-investments/
- https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=411062
- https://www.tspfolio.com/blog/32/The_outlook_for_bonds__TSP_F_Fund_and_G_Fund
- https://meetbeagle.com/resources/post/whats-the-average-thrift-savings-plan-balance
- https://www.tsp.gov/funds-individual/g-fund/
- https://variplan.com/tsps-g-fund-has-unique-benefits/
- https://www.ramseysolutions.com/retirement/what-is-the-thrift-savings-plan
- https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retirement-planning/602593/what-not-to-do-with-your-tsp-8-thrift-savings-plan-mistakes
- https://hawsfederaladvisors.com/the-lure-of-the-g-fund-is-it-right-for-you/
- https://www.fool.com/the-ascent/buying-stocks/articles/are-you-a-federal-employee-heres-how-dave-ramsey-would-use-a-tsp/
- https://districtcapitalmanagement.com/tsp/
- https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/090115/why-my-401k-not-fdicinsured.asp
- https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tspbk11.pdf
- https://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2023/03/no-your-retirement-investments-arent-insured/384372/
- https://www.fedsmith.com/2023/08/29/understanding-tsps-g-fund/
- https://www.tsp.gov/investing-strategies/
- https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=418888
- https://federalnewsnetwork.com/tsp/2023/12/so-you-want-to-be-a-tsp-millionaire-heres-how/
- https://unitedbenefits.com/whats-a-safe-alternative-to-the-tsp-g-fund/
- https://www.tsp.gov/publications/tsplf14.pdf
- https://ycharts.com/indicators/thrift_savings_plan_g_fund_monthly_returns
- https://federalnewsnetwork.com/tsp/2024/02/tsp-funds-see-negative-returns-to-begin-2024/