​​Randall Retirement Service-
Helping USPS employees understand their benefits and retirement process

(716) 445-1411
nomorework4me@outlook.com

​​Have a computer? Consultations can also be done via videoconference,
no matter the distance! A webcam is not required, but helpful.

Click on a link below:

  
Understanding the TSP Lifecycle funds


Fund Objective

The L Funds, or "Lifecycle" funds, use professionally determined investment mixes that are tailored to meet investment objectives
based on various time horizons. The objective is to strike an optimal balance between the expected risk and return associated
with each fund.

Investment Strategy

The L Funds' strategy is to invest in an appropriate mix of the G, F, C, S, and I Funds for a particular time horizon, or target
retirement date. The investment mix of each L Fund becomes more conservative as its target date approaches.

The strategy assumes that:
The greater the number of years you have until retirement, the more willing and able you are to tolerate risk (fluctuation) in your
TSP account value to pursue higher rates of return.

For a given risk level and time horizon, there is an optimal mix of the G, F, C, S, and I Funds that provides the highest expected return.

Fund Composition

Each of the L Funds has a target asset allocation. In other words, each is made up of the combination of the five individual TSP
funds (G, F, C, S, and I) that maintains an optimal balance of investment risks and rewards for a particular time horizon.

Each quarter, the L Funds' target asset allocations change, moving towards a less risky mix of investments as the target date
approaches. So if you are invested in one of the L Funds, you will notice that as you get closer to your target date, your allocation
to the riskier TSP funds will get smaller while your allocation to the more conservative G Fund gets larger.

The rate of change in the target asset allocation is small when the L Fund target dates are in the distant future. The rate increases
as the funds approach their target dates.

Fund Operation

When an L Fund has reached its target date, it will be rolled into the L Income Fund.

The L Income Fund:
Is the most conservative of the L Funds.
Focuses on capital preservation while providing a small exposure to the TSP's riskier assets (C, S, and I Funds) in order to reduce

inflation's effect on your purchasing power.

Is designed to produce current income for participants who plan to start withdrawing from their TSP accounts in the near future

and for those who are already receiving monthly payments from their accounts.

Has a set asset allocation that does not change over time.
The progression from a target date L Fund to the L Income Fund is automatic. (As you get closer to your target date in an L fund,
the fund will get more conservative each quarter.)

Risks

When you invest in the L Funds:
You are subject to the investment risks associated with the G, F, C, S, and I funds.
Your account is not guaranteed against loss. The L Funds can have periods of gain and loss, just as the individual TSP funds do.

Rewards

The L Funds simplify fund selection. You choose the fund that is closest to your target date (or, if your target date falls between
the target dates that are offered, you can split your account between the two target date funds closest to your time horizon).

When you invest in the L Funds:
You can be sure that your TSP account is broadly diversified.
You don't have to remember to adjust your investment mix as your target date approaches - it's done for you.

Why use the L Funds in my TSP Account?

Use the L Funds if you are looking for a simple, low maintenance way of investing money in your TSP account. The L Funds make
the investing process easy for you because you do not have to figure out how to diversify your account or how and when to
rebalance.

The L Funds are designed so that 100% of your TSP account can be invested in the single L Fund that most closely matches your
time horizon (or in the two L Funds closest to your time horizon).

If you are interested in investing in the L Funds:

Determine the date when, after leaving Federal service, you will need the money that is in your TSP account. Then identify
the L Fund that matches your target date:

If your retirement target date is:

2045 or later, consider: 
Either L2050 or L 2060 (Highest risk/reward of the L Funds)

2035 through 2044, consider:
L 2040

2035 through 2044, consider:
L 2030

2025 through 2034, consider:
L 2020

If you are already withdrawing your account in monthly payments or expect to begin withdrawing
soon, consider:
L Income (Least risk/reward of the L Funds)

 
  ​​