TSP funds keep up their strong performance
Every investment option grew in February, and all are in the black for the year.
The investment options in the federal employee retirement savings plan performed well for the third month in a row, with each fund experiencing small growth in February.
The Thrift Savings Plan's S Fund, which invests in small and midsize companies and tracks the Dow Jones Wilshire 4500 Index, grew the most in February, increasing 4.52 percent. The C Fund -- invested in common stocks of large companies on the Standard & Poor's 500 Index -- increased 3.42 percent, with the I Fund, which invests in international stocks, close behind at 3.33 percent.
The C Fund has gained 5.87 percent this year to date, followed closely by the I Fund at 5.82 percent and the S Fund, up 5.81 percent so far this year.
The fixed income bonds in the F Fund saw a small monthly gain of 0.26 percent, while the stable government securities (G) fund had the lowest monthly growth for February, at 0.22 percent. The fund has increased 0.46 percent so far this year. The F Fund gained 0.39 percent during the same period.
All the life-cycle funds, designed to move investors to less risky portfolios as they get closer to retirement, saw gains for the third month in a row. The L 2040 rose 2.95 percent in February; L 2030 increased 2.60 percent; L 2020 gained 2.15 percent; and L Income, for people who have reached their target retirement date and have started withdrawing money, rose 0.90 percent. The new L 2050 Fund, which opened on Jan. 31 after the L 2010 closed at the end of last year, grew 3.28 percent.
L 2040 is up 4.75 percent so far this year, with L 2030 close behind at 4.21 percent. L 2020 gained 3.53 percent in that time, and L Income grew 1.54 percent.