The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) ended 2022 with another dismal performance, with total fund returns almost entirely in the negatives across the board.
According to Fed Smith, at the end of 2022, the C Fund was down -18.13%, the S Fund down
-26.26%, and the I Fund at -13.94%. The conservative G Fund, the only of which saw positive returns in 2022, came in at 0.32% in December and 2.98% year-to-date.
The federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan experienced multiple grim performances in 2022. A late October report found the average account balance for TSP investors was down nearly $30,000 year-to-date through September, and the number of TSP millionaires dropped three times in a row in 2022—the last with a decline of about 42% since 2021.
While the slow performances greatly juxtaposed those of the S&P in October, the stock market also saw a fall in its year-to-date report. The S&P was down 8.78% for 2022, ranking as Wall Street’s worst year since 2008.
TSP performances also saw their worst performance since the Great Recession. Compared to 2022, the C Fund had a return of -36.99% in 2008, the S Fund at -38.32, and the I Fund at -42.43%.
2023 returns will depend on several factors, including current inflation rates, the war in Ukraine, and other market, economic and societal factors.
Below are the 2022 TSP returns for December 2022 and all of 2022.
| FUND | Month-to-Date | Year-to-Date |
| G Fund | 0.32% | 2.98% |
| F Fund | -0.65% | -12.83% |
| C Fund | -5.78% | -18.13% |
| S Fund | -6.55% | -26.26% |
| I Fund | -1.85% | -13.94% |
| L Income | -0.90% | -2.70% |
| L 2025 | -1.65% | -6.72% |
| L 2030 | -2.64% | -10.32% |
| L 2035 | -2.93% | -11.65% |
| L 2040 | -3.22% | -12.90% |
| L 2045 | -3.47% | -14.03% |
| L 2050 | -3.71% | -15.05% |
| L 2055 | -4.48% | -17.60% |
| L 2060 | -4.49% | -17.61% |
| L 2065 | -4.49% | -17.62% |
SEE ALSO:
- TSP-Like ‘Retirement Savings for Americans Act’ Introduced with Eye on 2023
- TSP Millionaire Ranks Fall Off for Third Straight Time in 2022
- Black October a Good Thing for TSP Funds
Amanda Umpierrez is the Managing Editor of 401(k) Specialist magazine. She is a financial services reporter with over six years of experience and a passion for telling stories and reporting news. Amanda received her degree in journalism and government and politics at St. John’s University. She is originally from Queens, New York, but now resides in Denver, Colorado with her partner. In her free time, Amanda enjoys running, cooking, and watching the latest drama show.
