TSP Funds End May Mostly in the Red

All but two of the funds in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program lost ground last month, reflecting volatility throughout the stock market.

Only the government securities of the Thrift Savings Plan’s G Fund and the fixed income bonds in the F Fund ended May in the black. The G Fund increased 0.21% last month, bringing its 2019 gains to 1.09%.

The F Fund grew 1.77% last month. So far this year, the fund has increased 4.79%.

The small- and mid-size businesses of the S Fund performed the worst of the TSP options, tumbling 6.99% last month. Despite the downturn, the S Fund still is 11.87% in the black so far this year. The common stocks of the C Fund fell 6.36% in May, bringing its 2019 gains down to 10.73%.

The I Fund, which is made up of international stocks, lost 4.69% last month. So far in 2019, it has gained 8%.

All of the TSP’s lifecyle (L) funds, which shift toward more stable investments as participants get closer to retirement, lost ground last month. The L Income Fund fell 0.98%; L 2020, 1.42%; L 2030, 3.36%; L 2040, 4.06%; and L 2050, 4.67%.

So far in 2019, the L Income Fund has gained 3.09%; L 2020, 3.96%; L 2030, 6.65%; L 2040, 7.71%; and L 2050, 8.61%.