TSP funds post across-the-board improvements for 2017

The Thrift Savings Plan saw across-the-board improvements in its year-end performance for 2017, compared to last year’s numbers. And in a dramatic turn of events, one of 2016’s lowest-performing funds posted the highest return of 2017.

The international stocks I fund posted the highest return of 2017 at 25.42 percent, after posting a 1.6 percent return in December, which is up from 1.06 percent in November. While the I fund is one of the most volatile funds the TSP offers, its year-end numbers are a significant improvement over its 2016 return of 2.10 percent.

Meanwhile, the C fund, which is based on stocks from the S&P index, reported the second-highest return on the year at 21.82 percent, nearly double the return it had in 2016. Meanwhile, it had a 1.11 percent return for December, down from 3.07 percent in November.

The TSP’s lifecycle funds posted strong year-end numbers, particularly the L 2050 fund, which wrapped up the year as the third-highest performer for 2017 at 18.81 percent. All of the lifecycle funds posted lower monthly returns compared to November’s numbers.

The small-cap stocks S fund posted a 21.82 percent return for the year, and posted a 0.47 percent monthly return, down from the 2.90 percent it posted in November.

The fixed-income index investment F fund went back into the black in December, at 0.48 percent, after it reported a negative return in November. It ended 2017 with a 3.82 percent return.

The G fund, a low-risk-low-reward Treasury securities option, posted the lowest year-end return at 2.33 percent. It showed a slight improvement in December at 0.20 percent, up from the 0.19 percent it reported in November.