Only one fund finished the month in the black. jayk7/GETTY IMAGES
Most TSP portfolios stumbled in August
The only fund in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program that finished last month in the black was the G Fund, which increases at a statutorily mandated rate each month.
Most of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program lost ground in August, with only one fund finishing the month in the black.
The Thrift Savings Plan’s G Fund, which is made up of government securities and grows at a statutorily mandated rate each month, gained 0.35% in August, bringing its gains since January to 2.62%. But every other fund in the program fared worse.
The small- and mid-size businesses of the S Fund saw the worst declines, falling 4.06% last month. So far this year, the S Fund has gained 14.45%. And the common stocks of the C Fund lost 1.58% in August, although it retains the best performance so far this year, growing 18.71% since January.
The fixed income (F) fund lost 0.63% in August, bringing its 2023 gains down to 1.53%. And the international (I) fund finished last month 3.90% in the red. So far this year, the I Fund has increased 10.83% in value.
Each of the TSP’s lifecycle (L) funds, which shift toward more stable investments as participants get closer to retirement, lost ground in August. The L Income Fund, designed for individuals who have already begun making withdrawals, lost 0.46%; L 2025, 0.81%; L 2030, 1.55%; L 2035, 1.74%; L 2040, 1.92%; L 2045, 2.09%; L 2050, 2.24%; L 2055, 2.71%; L 2060, 2.71%; and L 2065, 2.71%.
Since January, the L Income Fund has grown 5.70%; L 2025, 7.40%; L 2030, 10.25: L 2035, 10.99%; L 2040, 11.73%; L 2045, 12.36%; L 2050, 13.00%; L 2055, 15.31%; L 2060, 15.31%; and L 2065, 15.31%.