Most TSP funds took a tumble in October

After three consecutive months of steady growth, most of the portfolios in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program lost value last month.

The small- and mid-size businesses of the Thrift Savings Plan’s S Fund was one of only two bright spots for the program, gaining 0.59% last month. So far this year, the S Fund has grown 12.35%. And the G Fund, which increases on a statutorily mandated rate, grew 0.33% in October, bringing its 2024 return to 3.65%.

The common stocks in the C Fund lost 0.91% in value last month. Since January, the C Fund has increased 20.93% in value. The international (I) fund fell 5.17%, dragging its gains so far this year down to 7.31%.

The fixed income (F) fund finished October 2.48% in the red. Since January, the F Fund has grown 1.93%.

And each of the TSP’s lifecycle (L) funds, which shift toward more conservative investments as participants get closer to retirement, lost value last month. The L Income Fund fell 0.50%; L 2025, 0.61%: L 2030, 1.36%; L 2035, 1.54%: L 2040, 1.70%: L 2045, 1.83%; L 2050, 1.95%; L 2055, 2.21%: L 2060, 2.21%; L 2065, 2.21%; and L 2070, 2.22%.

Since January, the L Income Fund has grown 6.48%; L 2025, 7.36%; L 2030, 10.39%; L 2035, 11.02%; L 2040, 11.66%; L 2045, 12.21%; L 2050, 12.76%; L 2055, 14.82%; L 2060, 14.82%; and L 2065, 14.81%. The L 2070 fund will not have year-to-date statistics until January, since the portfolio only launched in July.