TSP Portfolios Report a Mixed Bag of May Returns

The federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings plan struggled in May, in part due to fears that the United States could breach the debt ceiling, although a couple of Thrift Savings Plan funds posted minor gains.

The common stocks of the TSP’s C Fund gained 0.43% last month, bringing that fund's performance since January up to 9.63% growth. And the small- and mid-size businesses of the S Fund increased 0.44% in May. So far this year, the S Fund has gained 4%.

The G Fund, which is made up of government securities, gained 0.31% last month. Since January, the G Fund has increased 1.59%.

The fixed income bonds in the F fund, however, lost 1.1% in May. That fund's 2023 performance remained in the black, at 2.62%. The international stocks of the I Fund dropped 4.01% last month. Despite those losses, the I Fund remains 7.26% to the good for the year.

All of the TSP’s lifecycle (L) funds, which shift to more stable investments as participants get closer to retirement, suffered losses in May. The L Income Fund, which is designed for people who already have begun making withdrawals, fell 0.12%; L 2025, 0.3%; L 2030, 0.63%; L 2035, 0.72%; L 2040, 0.81%; L 2045, 0.89%; L 2050, 0.96%; L 2055, 1.12%; L 2060, 1.12%; and L 2065, 1.12%.

Since January, the L Income Fund has grown 3.29%; L 2025, 4.22%; L 2030, 5.64%; L 2035, 6.02%; L 2040, 6.4%; L 2045, 6.72%; L 2050, 7.03%; L 2055, 8.04%; L 2060, 8.04%; and L 2065, 8.04%.