TSP Funds Rebound in November

Following months of tepid performance, each of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program posted a strong month in November, erasing recent losses.

The small- and mid-size businesses in the Thrift Savings Plan’s S Fund led the way, gaining 18.26% last month. So far this year, the S Fund has increased 22.95% in value. Not far behind was the international (I) fund, which increased 15.54% in November. In 2020, the I Fund has grown 3.37%.

The common stocks of the C Fund posted a 10.95% improvement in November, bringing its 2020 gains to 13.93%. And the fixed income (F) fund gained 0.99% last month, bringing its performance this year up to 7.35%.

The G Fund, which is made up of government securities, increased 0.07% in November. So far this year, it has grown 0.89%.

All of the lifecycle (L) funds, which shift to more stable investments as participants get closer to retirement, posted gains in November. The L Income Fund, designed for people who have already begun taking withdrawals, grew 3.00%; L 2025, 6.56%; L 2030, 8.10%; L 2035, 8.92%; L 2040, 9.74%: L 2045, 10.47%; L 2050, 11.19%; L 2055, 13.55%; L 2060, 13.55%; and L 2065, 13.55%.

So far this year, the L Income Fund has increased 4.04%; L 2030, 8.24%; L 2040, 9.51%; and L 2050, 10.56%. Data on annual performance is not yet available for the L 2025, L 2035, L 2045, L 2055, L 2060 or L 2065 funds because they were only recently established in July.