TSP Funds Stay Positive in April

All the funds in the Thrift Savings Plan were in the black in April, with international stocks seeing the highest returns last month.

The I Fund grew 5.32 percent last month, up from 0.88 percent in March. The fund rebounded this spring from its nearly 1 percent loss in February, jumping 19.75 percent during the last 12 months.

The TSP’s other offerings grew more modestly, experiencing smaller increases in April than in March. The C Fund, invested in common stocks, increased 1.93 percent in April, gaining 16.9 percent over the past 12 months. The C Fund in March was up 3.75 percent.

The S Fund -- which is invested in small and midsize companies and tracks the Dow Jones Wilshire 4500 Index -- rose 0.65 percent last month, compared to 4.69 percent in March. The fund has increased 18.76 percent during the past 12 months. The fixed income (F) fund increased 1.02 percent in April, after inching up 0.07 percent in March. The F Fund has grown 3.88 percent during the past 12 months.

The TSP’s most stable offering, the government securities (G) fund, stayed relatively flat last month, increasing 0.12 percent after a gaining 0.13 percent in January, February and March. During the last 12 months, the G Fund rose 1.43 percent.

The lifecycle funds, designed to move investors to less risky portfolios as they near retirement, continued their momentum in April. L Income -- for TSP participants who have already started withdrawing money -- earned 0.67 percent; L 2020 increased 1.58 percent; L 2030 was up 1.91 percent; L 2040 grew 2.13 percent; and L 2050 came in at 2.41 percent.

Lifecycle investments also have performed well for the past 12 months, with L Income gaining 4.84 percent, L 2020 up 10.56 percent, L 2030 increasing 12.91 percent, L 2040 bringing in 14.65 percent and L 2050 at 16.34 percent.

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