Automated Tracker Rules - and how to get started
Register for the message board, and the AutoTracker:
1. You must be a member of the message board (MB). Click here to register for the message board, if you are not already a member.
If after registering for the message board, you do not receive an email from us to confirm your email address, please use the "contact us" link in the menu on the left on www.tsptalk.com to let us know. Please include your message board username in the email.
After you respond to that email, it could take up to several hours before your message board membership is activated.
2. Once you are a confirmed message board member, please contact Tom (tsptalk) via Private Message (PM) on the message board (see top right on MB) to be added to the AutoTracker and we will create your AutoTracker account*. Please include your valid email address in the PM, PLUS your initial allocation* so we can send you the password. You will have the ability to change the password if you'd like, once you login. Your address will be added to our AutoTracker email alert list to receive periodic leader board updates. Removing your email address from the AutoTracker email alert list will delist your account from the AutoTracker.
* Your AutoTracker username will match your message board username but be aware that message board member usernames containing spaces in the name will have the spaces replaced with the underscore character for their Username in the AutoTracker (e.g. Mr Rogers becomes Mr_Rogers). This change does not affect your TSPTalk message board member username.
* We need your initial allocation so we can enter it in for you. Too many new members have been entering in their 1st allocation more than once because they don't see it on the AutoTracker right away, and this is causing problems.
Done Registering
Start making your interfund Transfers (IFT):
3. You can now enter your allocation. Interfund Transfer / transactions must post in the Automated Tracker before 12:10 pm ET (we give a 10-minute grace period after the TSP deadline) for entry at the Close Of Business (COB) that same trade day. Any fund transaction posted at or after 12:10 pm ET will be effective at COB on the following trade day. Simply try to get in the habit of heading straight to the AutoTracker after you make your IFT on the TSP website.
It is not against the rules, but we kind of discourage "trading" the L-funds. they are more buy and hold vehicles and if you are trying to time the TSP, we recommend the 5 main funds. We'll leave the L-funds to investors.
4. A one line comment is allowed in your fund transfer post. Space is provided in the comment field.
5. You may cancel or change your fund allocations up until the 12:10 pm ET deadline. This is accomplished by making another fund transfer and entering new allocations, or selecting the "Cancel Pending IFT" link.
6. You can make 2 IFT's per month. After that, only IFT's that increase the G fund allocation, without increasing any other fund's allocation, will be allowed. Also, after making 2 transfers in a month, additional transfers of less than 1% are allowed (since the TSP allows them).
A transfer made on the last day of the month before the 12:10 ET deadline, counts towards the old month, not the new month transfer. Any transfer made after the 12:10 ET deadline on the last day of the month counts toward the next month's transfers.
Create an Account Thread on the Message Board to discuss your account decisions, etc:
7. When your user profile is created, you'll want to create a "Username Account Talk" thread in our “Members Account Talk” forum. Please feel free to discuss your strategy, reasons for your transactions, etc., in your “Account Talk” thread.
This would also be a good time to introduce yourself to the board, or just say "hi" in the Member Introductions forum. You will be warmly welcomed.
Premium Services Members:
8. You may use the Automated Tracker if you are following any of the premium services, but please let us know. If you pay for a service we will obscure/hide you recent IFTs and returns from public view. We will continue to track your TSP return performance and others can see your Return To Date (YTD).
Prizes, eligibility, and requirements:
9. You must successfully log into your AutoTracker account and / or have posted on the message board within the last 90 days to be eligible for the monthly and annual prizes** and your account could, at the disgression of the administrator, be removed from the Autotracker.
This free service is intended for active TSP Talk message board members. If you do not make any interfund transfers for 90 days, simply login to the autotracker and/or post to the message board every couple months so we know you are still participating on the board. If you fail to log into your Autotracker account or post on the board for more than 90-days, you will not be eligible for any monthly or annual prizes** awarded.
10. If you sign up after the start of a month/year, and only have a partial month/annual return for that month/year, you will not be eligible for a monthly or annual prize for that month/year. Your eligibilty starts in your 2nd month/year. Basically, you must have a full month of returns to get a monthly prize, and a full year to get an annual prize.
New
** Monthly and annual prize winners will be notified via PM and will have 60 days to claim their prize. You might want to make sure that we have your current email address and that you have checked the box for "Receive Email Notification of New Private Messages" in your Profile.
Thank you all for participating on the AutoTracker. If you have any questions, contact me via Private Message (PM) or contact us via email (support AT tsptalk DOT com) or use the "contact us" link in the menu on the left on www.tsptalk.com.
TSP Talk