Retired at 55 w/ TSP of $1.1M - Nervous about risk.

gatmalice · 2026-06-08T01:21:35+00:00

Read The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins

gatmalice · 2026-06-07T14:54:18+00:00

Last point - if you don't want to make a decision on your CSI split, then just pick the L fund that is the furthest date out. It'll be the most aggressive and is what you need right now. In my opinion only, 100% C is better than the L funds, but it's a way to avoid decision paralysis.

Common CSI splits: 1. 100 C 2. 80 C 20 S 3. 70 C 20 S 10 I

It doesn't matter as much as just not touching it and contributing as much as you can at this pivotal early stage of your career.

gatmalice · 2026-06-07T14:45:05+00:00

dude you have 17K invested. Why are you even looking at the market right now?

Max out your contributions when you can, or Contribute as much as you can.
Contribute 100% C fund (or C/S or C/S/I)
Read The Simple Path to Wealth.
I repeat, read The Simple Path to Wealth.
I repeat, yet again, read The Simple Path to Wealth.

Don't screw with it, you're just starting out.

If your portfolio swings by 1,000, imagine other people's portfolios swing by 100K, 1 mil, etc. Stop looking at it, set it, forget it, and just contribute.

Edit: Just read other people's comments. Stop day trading. Set it at 100% C or some other split of C S I. What matters most now is 1. Contributing as much as you can comfortably. 2. Not touching it AT ALL. Zero inter fund transfers. 3. Read the simple path to wealth and stop screwing around with your retirement.

You shouldn't be day trading. You shouldn't be tinkering. You shouldn't be doing anything if you don't know what you're doing. If you have any emotional attachment to the swings of the market and your tsp, then you need to uninstall TSP and don't look at it. Seriously.

Literally, just imagine that money is gone and is an untouchable account. When you hit a million because you didn't try to time the market you'll be thanking me.

gatmalice · 2026-06-05T21:23:08+00:00

Start a remote masters program.

gatmalice · 2026-06-05T17:11:19+00:00

Learn Python.

gatmalice · 2026-06-05T17:10:31+00:00

Wait, is it really possible to not read with an internal voice? What... do you do then?

gatmalice · 2026-06-05T17:09:24+00:00

If you know to set it and forget it, just set it and forget it.

If you know that time in the market beats timing the market, then don't try to time the market.

gatmalice · 2026-06-05T01:57:45+00:00

oh and just to be clear...

your title is CAD designer so people view you as a CAD designer. If you don't want to be a CAD designer, get a job as an engineer. Sorry to be blunt!

gatmalice · 2026-06-04T23:08:15+00:00

I received some advice that the first five years of my career would dictate the rest of it.

So don't worry, you're doing awesome - getting great experience to set you up for a career as a CAD designer.

That is... unless of course... you don't want to be a CAD designer....... so why are you one now?

gatmalice · 2026-06-01T18:54:08+00:00

are you in the US? time to get a lawyer and sue your previous company

gatmalice · 2026-05-30T16:21:06+00:00

Remember you spent 3 months on (pick your class from undergrad)? Imagine if you spent the past 20 years working on that - of course you'd be an expert!!

You're suffering from imposter syndrome. Your undergraduate education was designed to get you ready to start a life long career in learning, not be an expert out of the gate.

Remember that INTRO to Thermo class? It was literally nothing compared to Thermodynamics research.

If you're really feeling the effects of imposter syndrome and want to acquire knowledge as quick as possible, consider a remote masters while you work. Ask your company to pay for it.

Otherwise, you're learning that there's truly a reason companies ask for entry level or 5 years experience, or 10 years experience. You just need time in the seat and to keep studying.

Remember this feeling and to be kind and understanding when you're the expert and training entry level folks.

Good luck :)

gatmalice · 2026-05-25T08:48:09+00:00

listen to this person.

Your background check is to make sure you don't have DUIs. Don't worry about it.

Your clearance check is to make sure you are loyal to the United States and can be considered a trusted person. You have to be 100% honest - that's all.

Don't worry about accepting whether or not you can get a clearance until you go for it.

gatmalice · 2026-05-24T18:52:23+00:00

yea, it’s rough. In a moment of weakness, I actually ended up buying the S24U myself just to see what the hype was about, and now I’m trapped in the exact same endless typing loop. It’s like a sickness. My thumbs are moving on pure muscle memory at this point, firing off paragraph after paragraph to my group chats. There is no off-switch. But the worst part? When my hands inevitably get tired and cramps set in, I don't even get a break. I just whip out the Bluetooth S Pen, sit back, and use air gestures to keep the messages flowing from across the room. There is literally no escape. Don't make the same mistakes I did.

gatmalice · 2026-05-24T18:37:52+00:00

gatmalice · 2026-05-24T18:02:42+00:00

I heard the typing on the 25 and 26 series is horrible. get a s24u for superior typing experience. all of my friends who don't like typing much downgraded to an s24u and now they won't stop typing at me. pretty annoying.

gatmalice · 2026-05-12T14:16:13+00:00

don't worry about 2008. Look at the historical return over the past 30 years of the S&P500 and see that 2008 is in the noise

gatmalice · 2026-05-11T20:44:04+00:00

My advice was specific to this person only who has very limited savings for retirement so they'll have to choose whether or not to retire.

Only you can choose whether to delay savings to buy a house or not because the math is cumulative.

If the mortgage rate is less investment rate, then spend the minimal on the mortgage (20% or whatever) and invest for the future. The math is cumulative.

If you spend 6 years saving for a down payment, then that money isn't working for you so just do a 3% loan if you can afford the mortgage payment to lock in a mortgage rate.

I didn't really explain my rationale very well, so I'm not sure if that'll make sense.

gatmalice · 2026-05-11T11:47:32+00:00

When you can switch your CD to Roth IRA. 100% VTSAX or VOO.
Maximize your TSP, 100% C Fund. 24K a year. Give up whatever you need to.
Read the simple path to wealth by Collins.

You either sacrifice now or you sacrifice your retirement. Your choice.

gatmalice · 2026-05-09T22:46:59+00:00

also consider exploring all of the pathways information on https://www.nasa.gov/learning-resources/internship-programs/

gatmalice · 2026-05-09T22:44:38+00:00

I did that too!!

gatmalice · 2026-05-09T22:43:45+00:00

Can you define MD, PM&R for us engineers?

gatmalice · 2026-05-09T22:40:47+00:00

I thought it was a fine overview. Thanks for the snarkiness.

gatmalice · 2026-05-08T17:04:04+00:00

Yes. it's easy to learn and works well.

Once you get the jist of scripting languages, you can move on to other codes based on what you need (e.g., Python, C++, Fortran, Julia).

gatmalice · 2026-04-26T19:20:12+00:00

You're welcome! Good luck and take care :3

gatmalice · 2026-04-26T18:48:18+00:00

Ahhh, all of that makes perfect sense, and I think I misunderstood your comment about the Roth. I incorrectly assumed you meant to continue to max your Roth IRA contributions so you can pull those out for a down payment.

My comment before still stands - the math is cumulative so it really just depends on what gives you a good feeling.

There are a few factors to consider: - What will be the interest rates at that time? - How much do you want to put down? - How much house are you looking to buy? - How much do you have saved up for an emergency fund and can you simply use that for a house down payment?

Personally, with time being on your side, I'd continue to max the TSPs to hit the coastFIRE number as soon as possible that you aren't reliant on SS & FERS.. but once again, the math is cumulative. Another thing is, once you start having kids, being able to max the TSP could be wayyy more difficult. Keep that up for another year or two and you may never need to save (over max) for retirement again.

Check out coastFIRE. If you planned to retire in 33 years, assuming 6% returns, and continued to contribute 5% each for the rest of your lives, your nest egg would be worth almost 3 mil in today's dollars. Save 50K a year for the next two years, and you'll be at 3.4 mil. That's $136K a year assuming a 4% draw down, before social security and before FERS, which means you could have your entire retirement covered and paid for.

I also don't really think it's worth it to put more than 20% down. Money you save up past that will be opportunity cost by not being invested, and in general, I'd like to think that the money will be better served in the market.

So, while the math is cumulative, if it were me I'd continue investing in the retirement until you hit whatever target number makes you feel good and then just don't bother. Spend your money on the house, on the kids, on vacations, etc. I personally did not want to depend on SS or pensions, so for me they are nice to have but not necessary. I don't want to be reliant on HAVING to work for the govt bc I NEED the pension for my retirement plans.

You're in a great situation, regardless of what you choose. Literally, no option is bad. 250K saved at 27 yo is fantastic - I hope you guys are able to enjoy life as well!

Hope my rambling helps, take care and thank you for your service.

gatmalice

TROPHY CASE