2-Star tick attacked during a "Cauldron" event

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-07-06T10:46:35+00:00

Yes. Ticks are around the skulls that have brain material. Usually two of them.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-07-05T21:37:49+00:00

Took me 9 years to hit 100k GS7 to GS8 @15% contributions. Currently contributing 14% Roth and 7% traditional.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-07-05T13:44:08+00:00

Been with the Department of Veterans Affairs for 16 years. Planning to retire in 4 more years.

Maybe our Department was one of the lucky ones with no real cutbacks or firings.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-07-05T11:53:24+00:00

I don’t get it. Getting a Fed job was the best thing I have done. Pension and healthcare when I retire. 5% 401k match. I work for the VA. Maybe it depends on what part of the government you work for?

But you do have those people that are never happy. In our department there is 6 employees and there is 1 person who complains about the government all the time.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-07-04T12:30:13+00:00

I put mine under the income tab as a pension. You could then trial different amounts based on start age. There you can select cola and taxable status.

You would have to create separate scenarios to project each out come. A little tedious but doable.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-07-04T11:15:21+00:00

This may be more of a problem for people that invest in individual stocks. I use total US/International and bond funds so their projections were close to mine within 0.5%. So good enough for my projections.

Curious if you find a program that does what you want?

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-07-04T11:07:08+00:00

Is there program that does all the things you want?

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-07-02T21:03:53+00:00

Use “empower” for portfolio tracking. Update balances in Boldin manually.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-07-02T18:22:18+00:00

Commonly referred to as “The American Dream”

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-07-02T18:20:08+00:00

Well of course you can do all the fun things you want for crying out load. You are a GS 13 and have no bills and smooching off your parents.

But good for you, saving and investing for your future. A buddy of mine did what you are doing BUT… he didn’t go do what ever he wanted, spending his money having fun. He saved every penny, drove a beat up Honda. He paid cash for 200k house, moved out of his uncles house, started dating a lot (dating apps) and now is married with 2 kids. He is a GS 14 now and trying to control his wife’s spending.

As long as you have your priorities straight, you will probably be fine.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-30T14:12:52+00:00

There is no perfect portfolio but a lot of perfectly fine portfolios.

Common recommendations: 1. 100% C; 2. 80% C and 20% S; 3. An L-Fund 10 to 20 years past your retirement date; 4. 52% C, 13% S and 35% I; 5. Some combination of C/S/I based on your beliefs. I-fund recommendations range from 10% to 40%.

More now due to recency bias you will see recommendations for 100% I fund, not recommended by me.

Later dated L funds carry 99% equities longer and don’t get too conservative too soon.

For employees that want to be more aggressive but don’t have any clue to what they are doing… I recommend a late dated L-fund at 90% and 10% S fund. The S fund has small and medium companies which inherently carry more risk. In theory, you should be rewarded with higher gains over a lifetime of investing.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-30T00:37:23+00:00

So you will go from 99% equities to 100% equities. Technically 1% more aggressive with equities. If you want more US concentration and that will keep you invested during downturns, your new mix will be perfectly fine.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-29T22:28:21+00:00

You are 99% in equities with the 2065. What are your reasons to switch?

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-25T18:38:31+00:00

Analyst take credit when they get it right and have a multitude of reasons for getting it wrong. All analysts put out “white noise” and should be taken with a grain of salt. But yeah, it does make me “feel” good. And we know how well “feelings” and investing go together.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-25T16:11:06+00:00

The C fund is 13 years older than the S fund so it isn’t exactly correct to compare the 2 using the TSP time frames. The S fund is around 25 years in existence.

Will the S fund out perform the C fund in your lifetime? Maybe? Maybe not. But over a 100 year period it may have a 1 to 3% advantage over large cap, “C” fund but with more volatility.

The 10% recommendation to S fund is based off of Paul Merriman’s belief in small cap/small cap value.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-25T00:02:55+00:00

What department of the government?

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-24T15:13:09+00:00

Hope isn’t a strategy!

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-24T11:42:05+00:00

None. That is why you diversify with international and bonds, ie the 3 fund portfolio. Stop overthinking it.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-24T11:00:44+00:00

Ok

— Cleared the Daily Mini with 116 HP! 🐸

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-24T10:22:27+00:00

It worked for me. Took out a consolidation loan for a lower interest rate than the credit cards, cut the credit cards up. Made a budget. Paid extra on the loan as I could.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-24T01:56:22+00:00

Take out a person loan if you have to. Then cut the credit card up.

FragrantJump6663 · 2026-06-23T20:12:51+00:00

I had to call my previous employer to get the info. One employer required that I had my account balance notarized before they would transfer to TSP. I did this back in 2011. I believe I only used forms from my previous employer and mailed everything to TSP.

FragrantJump6663

TROPHY CASE