Why Federal Employees Choose TSPFundTrading.com

Successfully managing a Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account is one of the most important aspects of preparing for retirement. While the TSP offers simplicity and low costs, determining when and how to allocate assets among the available funds can be challenging. TSPFundTrading.com was created to provide federal employees and members of the uniformed services with the analysis, tools, and guidance needed to make more informed investment decisions.

1. Professional Market Analysis

TSPFundTrading.com provides detailed technical analysis of the TSP funds, offering insights into market trends, risk levels, and potential opportunities. Our objective is to help members make informed decisions regarding their TSP allocations based on a disciplined and systematic approach.

2. Established Track Record

Since its launch on January 1, 2005, TSPFundTrading.com has been committed to helping federal employees and members of the uniformed services pursue superior long-term returns while emphasizing capital preservation during periods of heightened market risk. Over the years, the service has developed a long-term record of performance that has consistently compared favorably to traditional buy-and-hold approaches.

3. Timely Interfund Transfer (IFT) Alerts

Members receive timely Interfund Transfer (IFT) alerts designed to help them respond to changing market conditions. These alerts provide guidance regarding TSP fund allocations and are intended to assist members in navigating both bullish and bearish market environments.

4. Comprehensive Weekly Newsletters

Subscribers receive detailed weekly newsletters containing professional chart analysis and commentary for each of the TSP funds. Topics include trend analysis, chart patterns, support and resistance levels, momentum indicators, and risk-to-reward considerations, providing members with additional perspective on current market conditions.

5. A Service Dedicated Exclusively to TSP Participants

Unlike many financial services that cover thousands of securities and investment products, TSPFundTrading.com focuses exclusively on the unique needs of federal employees and members of the uniformed services. This specialized focus allows us to provide analysis and guidance specifically tailored to the Thrift Savings Plan.

6. Independent Performance Verification

Performance results are independently tracked and monitored by third-party verification services, providing members with an additional level of transparency and accountability.

By becoming a member of TSPFundTrading.com, participants gain access to professional analysis, timely allocation guidance, and educational resources designed to help them pursue their long-term retirement objectives with greater confidence and discipline.

Why Trade?

Originally published: November 22, 2001 (Updated: 11/20/08, 03/25/12, 05/11/17, and 2026)

During the 1980s and 1990s, the buy-and-hold approach proved to be an effective strategy as the stock market experienced one of the strongest secular bull markets in history. However, periods of prolonged sideways and declining markets have also occurred throughout history, demonstrating that no single investment strategy is appropriate for all market environments.

To better understand these long-term trends, we can examine more than a century of historical data for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. The charts below illustrate that the market has experienced alternating periods of prosperity and stagnation, often lasting many years or even decades.

When the same data is displayed on a logarithmic scale, long-term market trends become much clearer. Logarithmic charts provide a more accurate representation of percentage changes and allow investors to better visualize secular bull and bear markets.

By annotating the chart, we can identify historical periods characterized by strong long-term advances as well as extended periods of consolidation and stagnation. During secular bull markets, buy-and-hold investing has historically performed well. In contrast, periods of prolonged sideways or declining markets have often rewarded investors who emphasized risk management and active portfolio allocation.

Update to the Dow Jones chart (November 6, 2014)

Periods of Market Stagnation

History shows that investors have experienced several extended periods in which market returns were modest and volatility was elevated. Examples include the Great Depression, the 1973-74 bear market, and the secular bear market that encompassed the technology bust and financial crisis between 2000 and 2009.

These periods illustrate the importance of risk management and highlight some of the limitations of relying exclusively on a passive buy-and-hold strategy.

Periods of Long-Term Growth

History has also demonstrated that secular bull markets can provide exceptional opportunities for long-term investors. Notable examples include the 1942-1966 advance and the powerful bull market that extended from 1983 to 2000. Since March 2009, the market has generally remained within another secular bull market, although shorter-term bull and bear cycles continue to occur along the way.

Even within secular bull markets, investors must contend with corrections, heightened volatility, and periods of increased risk. Effective risk management remains an important component of long-term wealth accumulation.

Additional charts illustrating historical secular bull and bear markets, valuation trends based on price-to-earnings ratios, and the application of a simple price and moving average crossover technique are available elsewhere on this site.

We hope this information provides visitors with a better understanding of our investment philosophy. Our objective is to help members pursue long-term capital growth while emphasizing risk management and capital preservation during periods of market stress.