Being a financial planner, I give all sorts of advice. In reality, my entire profession is based around the advice I give, and because of that, I take it very seriously. As you’ve likely noticed, I rarely throw out broad statements because usually, they aren’t all that helpful. Every client, as well FRP Community Member, is certainly unique. Whether they’re a Physician at the VA Hospital or a Mail Handler at the Post Office, they all have differences in their values, thoughts, feelings, and finances. My goal in working with federal employees is to get to the bottom of their why’s. These includ ..read more

Far and away, the question I get most often is, “Cooper, what is the best investment strategy for my TSP?” Seriously, I get it nearly every day. Go to my YouTube Channel, and you’ll see the comments littered with questions just like this: I get so many of these (especially through email) that I am in the process of writing a book dealing with the subject (let me know in the comments what types of information you’d like to see.) The problem though, and something I’ve tried to avoid since beginning this blog is making blanket suggestions. There are an abundance of financial “experts” who w ..read more

Ahh, retirement. The light at the end of the tunnel that we are all chasing. For most, this is a far off concept that always seems distant until your 62, and it’s staring you in the face. Unfortunately, I’ve found that this is the reality for most people. The thought of retirement and preparation for it is absolutely overwhelming, and rather than do something about it, they just avoid thinking about it at all costs.But, as readers of this blog, you’re not that type. You’re a go-getter and are willing to put in the time and effort in preparation for that glorious day. But, what if I told you ..read more

Can you imagine having $1,00,000 in your TSP account? For many federal employees, this is the pinnacle of their careers; to be able to look at their Thrift Savings Plan account and see seven figures. Many think it’s not possible or only achievable by the few who are the ultra-high income earners. But, the reality of the situation is, becoming a TSP millionaire requires hard work, dedication and a little bit of luck. As of late 2016, there were nearly 10,000 TSP Investors with a balance of $1,000,000 or more in their account. That is nearly triple what it was in early 2016. This shows a few th ..read more

Warren Buffett is undoubtedly the greatest investor of all time. Thankfully, despite him being very reserved and largely keeping life to himself, he has laid out many different pieces of advice over the years for the average investor. To me, the majority of federal employees invested in the TSP would be characterized as “average investors.” They have some knowledge on their investments, but not too much, and frankly, don’t care to know more. Even though this is true, they do want to make sure their investments perform and provide a stable income for retirement. Reading through Berkshire H ..read more

The Thrift Savings Plan is one of, if not THE cheapest retirement plan in the United States. There is not a plan that I know of (feel free to let me know in the comments section if you do) that offers lower fees than the TSP. That said, TSP fees continue to increase, and to be honest, may never stop (just like inflation.) The cost of the TSP is something I believe that every federal employee should keep their eye on. Over time, I am of the opinion that the TSP will increase in cost. Not just for its current benefits, but also because I believe that the Thrift Board is likely to add new feature ..read more

The C-Fund is the most heavily invested fund in the Thrift Savings Plan, excluding the G-Fund. There are reasons so many federal employees invest in the C-Fund, and it’s not just due to the returns. In this guide to the C-Fund, we will go through the companies that make up the C-Fund, what stock market index it is most similar to, the type of investor that should have the C-Fund in their portfolio, and a whole lot more. Also, just so you’re aware, this is a COMPREHENSIVE guide, thus the reason for the name “The Ultimate Guide to the TSP C-Fund.’ This means it will be rather long and consistent ..read more

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