John H wrote:
On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:22:54 GMT, "Jim," wrote:


John H wrote:

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:06:20 GMT, "Jim," wrote:




He recorded all the payroll taxes he paid into the system (including the
matching amount from his employer), tracked down the return the Social
Security Trust Fund earned for each of the 45 years, and then compared
the result with what he would have gotten had he been able to invest the
same amount of payroll tax money over the same period in the Dow Jones
Industrial Average (including dividends).


Which explains why one should never put all their investment eggs in one basket.
Even the Thrift Savings Plan allows diversification.

We can all find examples which would give a return less than the social security
return.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

The Dow is composed of 10 companies supposedly representing a cross
section of American industry (loosely defined of late) and is updated
periodically -- so go back to 1950 and see just how many companies he
invested in. I believe the Dow is a good measure of the economy, and
lists the type of large cap conservative company one should invest in
for their retirement.


Go here and read up:

http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/inde... &sitemapid=20

I'm wondering what happened to the other twenty companies that made up the Dow
Jones Industrial Average up to about 10 minutes ago.

Your investment beliefs may not be all that wise.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."
Yes I mistyped -- Dow 30 (in the beginning it was 12)-- BUT how many
companies have been represented since 1950?

Find a list here
http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/down..._Hist_Comp.pdf
Some of the companies no longer exist, but were the strong companies of
their time.

All in all I'd consider them reasonably good investments for the long haul.

See
http://www.finfacts.com/Private/cure...erformance.htm

For the returns from 1939 to 2004


The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were
collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time,
lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly
benefits started in January 1940.

Jim, wrote:

John H wrote:

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:22:54 GMT, "Jim," wrote:


John H wrote:

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:06:20 GMT, "Jim," wrote:




He recorded all the payroll taxes he paid into the system
(including the matching amount from his employer), tracked down the
return the Social Security Trust Fund earned for each of the 45
years, and then compared the result with what he would have gotten
had he been able to invest the same amount of payroll tax money
over the same period in the Dow Jones Industrial Average (including
dividends).



Which explains why one should never put all their investment eggs in
one basket.
Even the Thrift Savings Plan allows diversification.
We can all find examples which would give a return less than the
social security
return.

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."


The Dow is composed of 10 companies supposedly representing a cross
section of American industry (loosely defined of late) and is
updated periodically -- so go back to 1950 and see just how many
companies he invested in. I believe the Dow is a good measure of the
economy, and lists the type of large cap conservative company one
should invest in for their retirement.



Go here and read up:

http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/inde... &sitemapid=20


I'm wondering what happened to the other twenty companies that made up
the Dow
Jones Industrial Average up to about 10 minutes ago.
Your investment beliefs may not be all that wise.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Yes I mistyped -- Dow 30 (in the beginning it was 12)-- BUT how many
companies have been represented since 1950?

Find a list here
http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/down..._Hist_Comp.pdf
Some of the companies no longer exist, but were the strong companies of
their time.

All in all I'd consider them reasonably good investments for the long haul.

See
http://www.finfacts.com/Private/cure...erformance.htm

For the returns from 1939 to 2004


The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were
collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time,
lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly
benefits started in January 1940.

Of possible interest are the charts at
http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/inde...t=showAverages
Which overlay a graph of the Dow with historical events

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 23:20:30 GMT, "Jim," wrote:

John H wrote:
On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:22:54 GMT, "Jim," wrote:


John H wrote:

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:06:20 GMT, "Jim," wrote:




He recorded all the payroll taxes he paid into the system (including the
matching amount from his employer), tracked down the return the Social
Security Trust Fund earned for each of the 45 years, and then compared
the result with what he would have gotten had he been able to invest the
same amount of payroll tax money over the same period in the Dow Jones
Industrial Average (including dividends).


Which explains why one should never put all their investment eggs in one basket.
Even the Thrift Savings Plan allows diversification.

We can all find examples which would give a return less than the social security
return.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

The Dow is composed of 10 companies supposedly representing a cross
section of American industry (loosely defined of late) and is updated
periodically -- so go back to 1950 and see just how many companies he
invested in. I believe the Dow is a good measure of the economy, and
lists the type of large cap conservative company one should invest in
for their retirement.


Go here and read up:

http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/inde... &sitemapid=20

I'm wondering what happened to the other twenty companies that made up the Dow
Jones Industrial Average up to about 10 minutes ago.

Your investment beliefs may not be all that wise.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."
Yes I mistyped -- Dow 30 (in the beginning it was 12)-- BUT how many
companies have been represented since 1950?

Find a list here
http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/down..._Hist_Comp.pdf
Some of the companies no longer exist, but were the strong companies of
their time.

All in all I'd consider them reasonably good investments for the long haul.

See
http://www.finfacts.com/Private/cure...erformance.htm

For the returns from 1939 to 2004


The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were
collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time,
lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly
benefits started in January 1940.

You just made the point that the Dow was *not* a good investment. Now you're
saying it was. Something in all this doesn't track for me.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

John H wrote:
On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 23:20:30 GMT, "Jim," wrote:


John H wrote:

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:22:54 GMT, "Jim," wrote:



John H wrote:


On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:06:20 GMT, "Jim," wrote:





He recorded all the payroll taxes he paid into the system (including the
matching amount from his employer), tracked down the return the Social
Security Trust Fund earned for each of the 45 years, and then compared
the result with what he would have gotten had he been able to invest the
same amount of payroll tax money over the same period in the Dow Jones
Industrial Average (including dividends).


Which explains why one should never put all their investment eggs in one basket.
Even the Thrift Savings Plan allows diversification.

We can all find examples which would give a return less than the social security
return.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

The Dow is composed of 10 companies supposedly representing a cross
section of American industry (loosely defined of late) and is updated
periodically -- so go back to 1950 and see just how many companies he
invested in. I believe the Dow is a good measure of the economy, and
lists the type of large cap conservative company one should invest in
for their retirement.


Go here and read up:

http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/inde... &sitemapid=20

I'm wondering what happened to the other twenty companies that made up the Dow
Jones Industrial Average up to about 10 minutes ago.

Your investment beliefs may not be all that wise.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Yes I mistyped -- Dow 30 (in the beginning it was 12)-- BUT how many
companies have been represented since 1950?

Find a list here
http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/down..._Hist_Comp.pdf
Some of the companies no longer exist, but were the strong companies of
their time.

All in all I'd consider them reasonably good investments for the long haul.

See
http://www.finfacts.com/Private/cure...erformance.htm

For the returns from 1939 to 2004


The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were
collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time,
lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly
benefits started in January 1940.


You just made the point that the Dow was *not* a good investment. Now you're
saying it was. Something in all this doesn't track for me.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."
As the article stated it depends on timing. Sometimes you win;
sometimes you lose. Think you can predict where the market will be
30-40 years from now? The SS "trust" fund is backed by by bonds insured
by the "full faith and credit of the United States" (not sure just how
much that's worth these days.)

"Jim," wrote in message
...
John H wrote:
On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 23:20:30 GMT, "Jim," wrote:


John H wrote:

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:22:54 GMT, "Jim," wrote:



John H wrote:


On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:06:20 GMT, "Jim," wrote:





He recorded all the payroll taxes he paid into the system (including
the
matching amount from his employer), tracked down the return the
Social
Security Trust Fund earned for each of the 45 years, and then
compared
the result with what he would have gotten had he been able to invest
the
same amount of payroll tax money over the same period in the Dow
Jones
Industrial Average (including dividends).


Which explains why one should never put all their investment eggs in
one basket.
Even the Thrift Savings Plan allows diversification.

We can all find examples which would give a return less than the
social security
return.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

The Dow is composed of 10 companies supposedly representing a cross
section of American industry (loosely defined of late) and is updated
periodically -- so go back to 1950 and see just how many companies he
invested in. I believe the Dow is a good measure of the economy, and
lists the type of large cap conservative company one should invest in
for their retirement.


Go here and read up:


http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/inde...ntWeights&rpts
ymbol=DJI&sitemapid=20

I'm wondering what happened to the other twenty companies that made up
the Dow
Jones Industrial Average up to about 10 minutes ago.

Your investment beliefs may not be all that wise.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Yes I mistyped -- Dow 30 (in the beginning it was 12)-- BUT how many
companies have been represented since 1950?

Find a list here
http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/down..._Hist_Comp.pdf
Some of the companies no longer exist, but were the strong companies of
their time.

All in all I'd consider them reasonably good investments for the long
haul.

See
http://www.finfacts.com/Private/cure...erformance.htm

For the returns from 1939 to 2004


The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were
collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time,
lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly
benefits started in January 1940.


You just made the point that the Dow was *not* a good investment. Now
you're
saying it was. Something in all this doesn't track for me.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."
As the article stated it depends on timing. Sometimes you win;
sometimes you lose. Think you can predict where the market will be
30-40 years from now? The SS "trust" fund is backed by by bonds insured
by the "full faith and credit of the United States" (not sure just how
much that's worth these days.)

Which means we have to pay the money again as we now have to retire those
bonds paid for with SS money. Explain how giving a lot of free money to
the government to spend as they like and write an IOU for it is good
business practice? How does this help the economy?

On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 02:45:38 GMT, "Jim," wrote:

John H wrote:
On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 23:20:30 GMT, "Jim," wrote:


John H wrote:

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:22:54 GMT, "Jim," wrote:



John H wrote:


On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:06:20 GMT, "Jim," wrote:





He recorded all the payroll taxes he paid into the system (including the
matching amount from his employer), tracked down the return the Social
Security Trust Fund earned for each of the 45 years, and then compared
the result with what he would have gotten had he been able to invest the
same amount of payroll tax money over the same period in the Dow Jones
Industrial Average (including dividends).


Which explains why one should never put all their investment eggs in one basket.
Even the Thrift Savings Plan allows diversification.

We can all find examples which would give a return less than the social security
return.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

The Dow is composed of 10 companies supposedly representing a cross
section of American industry (loosely defined of late) and is updated
periodically -- so go back to 1950 and see just how many companies he
invested in. I believe the Dow is a good measure of the economy, and
lists the type of large cap conservative company one should invest in
for their retirement.


Go here and read up:

http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/inde... &sitemapid=20

I'm wondering what happened to the other twenty companies that made up the Dow
Jones Industrial Average up to about 10 minutes ago.

Your investment beliefs may not be all that wise.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Yes I mistyped -- Dow 30 (in the beginning it was 12)-- BUT how many
companies have been represented since 1950?

Find a list here
http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/down..._Hist_Comp.pdf
Some of the companies no longer exist, but were the strong companies of
their time.

All in all I'd consider them reasonably good investments for the long haul.

See
http://www.finfacts.com/Private/cure...erformance.htm

For the returns from 1939 to 2004


The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were
collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time,
lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly
benefits started in January 1940.


You just made the point that the Dow was *not* a good investment. Now you're
saying it was. Something in all this doesn't track for me.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."
As the article stated it depends on timing. Sometimes you win;
sometimes you lose. Think you can predict where the market will be
30-40 years from now? The SS "trust" fund is backed by by bonds insured
by the "full faith and credit of the United States" (not sure just how
much that's worth these days.)

If I had the choice of where to put my SS money, bonds would be a place I'd
consider. Here are the choices currently available to those entitled to use the
Thrift Savings Plan:

TSP Fund Information Sheets

Each TSP participant has a choice of investing in five investment funds. They
are the G Fund, F Fund, C Fund, S Fund, and I Fund. Review the details of each
fund to fully understand its potential risks and benefits.

G Fund Government Securities Investment Fund

F Fund Fixed Income Index Investment Fund

C Fund Common Stock Index Investment Fund

S Fund Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment Fund. Click here to learn
more about the change to the index that the S Fund tracks.

I Fund International Stock Index Investment Fund. Click here to view the
reasons why the change in the I Fund share price does not always correspond to
the change in the EAFE Index which it tracks.

Here's the site: http://www.tsp.gov/rates/fundsheets.html

Click on the "G Fund" to get information on the government securities fund and
see how it has performed.

We keep the investment spread throughout the funds, changing the spread every
now and then.

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

John H wrote:

On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 02:45:38 GMT, "Jim," wrote:


John H wrote:

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 23:20:30 GMT, "Jim," wrote:



John H wrote:


On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:22:54 GMT, "Jim," wrote:




John H wrote:



On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:06:20 GMT, "Jim," wrote:






He recorded all the payroll taxes he paid into the system (including the
matching amount from his employer), tracked down the return the Social
Security Trust Fund earned for each of the 45 years, and then compared
the result with what he would have gotten had he been able to invest the
same amount of payroll tax money over the same period in the Dow Jones
Industrial Average (including dividends).


Which explains why one should never put all their investment eggs in one basket.
Even the Thrift Savings Plan allows diversification.

We can all find examples which would give a return less than the social security
return.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

The Dow is composed of 10 companies supposedly representing a cross
section of American industry (loosely defined of late) and is updated
periodically -- so go back to 1950 and see just how many companies he
invested in. I believe the Dow is a good measure of the economy, and
lists the type of large cap conservative company one should invest in
for their retirement.


Go here and read up:

http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/inde... &sitemapid=20

I'm wondering what happened to the other twenty companies that made up the Dow
Jones Industrial Average up to about 10 minutes ago.

Your investment beliefs may not be all that wise.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Yes I mistyped -- Dow 30 (in the beginning it was 12)-- BUT how many
companies have been represented since 1950?

Find a list here
http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/down..._Hist_Comp.pdf
Some of the companies no longer exist, but were the strong companies of
their time.

All in all I'd consider them reasonably good investments for the long haul.

See
http://www.finfacts.com/Private/cure...erformance.htm

For the returns from 1939 to 2004


The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were
collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time,
lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly
benefits started in January 1940.


You just made the point that the Dow was *not* a good investment. Now you're
saying it was. Something in all this doesn't track for me.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

As the article stated it depends on timing. Sometimes you win;
sometimes you lose. Think you can predict where the market will be
30-40 years from now? The SS "trust" fund is backed by by bonds insured
by the "full faith and credit of the United States" (not sure just how
much that's worth these days.)


If I had the choice of where to put my SS money, bonds would be a place I'd
consider. Here are the choices currently available to those entitled to use the
Thrift Savings Plan:

TSP Fund Information Sheets

Each TSP participant has a choice of investing in five investment funds. They
are the G Fund, F Fund, C Fund, S Fund, and I Fund. Review the details of each
fund to fully understand its potential risks and benefits.

G Fund Government Securities Investment Fund

F Fund Fixed Income Index Investment Fund

C Fund Common Stock Index Investment Fund

S Fund Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment Fund. Click here to learn
more about the change to the index that the S Fund tracks.

I Fund International Stock Index Investment Fund. Click here to view the
reasons why the change in the I Fund share price does not always correspond to
the change in the EAFE Index which it tracks.

Here's the site: http://www.tsp.gov/rates/fundsheets.html

Click on the "G Fund" to get information on the government securities fund and
see how it has performed.

We keep the investment spread throughout the funds, changing the spread every
now and then.

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."
Since the "G" fund is government securities, the question arises "Why
doesn't the SS administration invest in it?" I believe the latest bonds
in the SS trust fund are earning about 3%

On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 12:38:31 GMT, "Jim," wrote:

John H wrote:

On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 02:45:38 GMT, "Jim," wrote:


John H wrote:

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 23:20:30 GMT, "Jim," wrote:



John H wrote:


On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:22:54 GMT, "Jim," wrote:




John H wrote:



On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:06:20 GMT, "Jim," wrote:






He recorded all the payroll taxes he paid into the system (including the
matching amount from his employer), tracked down the return the Social
Security Trust Fund earned for each of the 45 years, and then compared
the result with what he would have gotten had he been able to invest the
same amount of payroll tax money over the same period in the Dow Jones
Industrial Average (including dividends).


Which explains why one should never put all their investment eggs in one basket.
Even the Thrift Savings Plan allows diversification.

We can all find examples which would give a return less than the social security
return.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

The Dow is composed of 10 companies supposedly representing a cross
section of American industry (loosely defined of late) and is updated
periodically -- so go back to 1950 and see just how many companies he
invested in. I believe the Dow is a good measure of the economy, and
lists the type of large cap conservative company one should invest in
for their retirement.


Go here and read up:

http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/inde... &sitemapid=20

I'm wondering what happened to the other twenty companies that made up the Dow
Jones Industrial Average up to about 10 minutes ago.

Your investment beliefs may not be all that wise.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Yes I mistyped -- Dow 30 (in the beginning it was 12)-- BUT how many
companies have been represented since 1950?

Find a list here
http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/down..._Hist_Comp.pdf
Some of the companies no longer exist, but were the strong companies of
their time.

All in all I'd consider them reasonably good investments for the long haul.

See
http://www.finfacts.com/Private/cure...erformance.htm

For the returns from 1939 to 2004


The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were
collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time,
lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly
benefits started in January 1940.


You just made the point that the Dow was *not* a good investment. Now you're
saying it was. Something in all this doesn't track for me.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

As the article stated it depends on timing. Sometimes you win;
sometimes you lose. Think you can predict where the market will be
30-40 years from now? The SS "trust" fund is backed by by bonds insured
by the "full faith and credit of the United States" (not sure just how
much that's worth these days.)


If I had the choice of where to put my SS money, bonds would be a place I'd
consider. Here are the choices currently available to those entitled to use the
Thrift Savings Plan:

TSP Fund Information Sheets

Each TSP participant has a choice of investing in five investment funds. They
are the G Fund, F Fund, C Fund, S Fund, and I Fund. Review the details of each
fund to fully understand its potential risks and benefits.

G Fund Government Securities Investment Fund

F Fund Fixed Income Index Investment Fund

C Fund Common Stock Index Investment Fund

S Fund Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment Fund. Click here to learn
more about the change to the index that the S Fund tracks.

I Fund International Stock Index Investment Fund. Click here to view the
reasons why the change in the I Fund share price does not always correspond to
the change in the EAFE Index which it tracks.

Here's the site: http://www.tsp.gov/rates/fundsheets.html

Click on the "G Fund" to get information on the government securities fund and
see how it has performed.

We keep the investment spread throughout the funds, changing the spread every
now and then.

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."
Since the "G" fund is government securities, the question arises "Why
doesn't the SS administration invest in it?" I believe the latest bonds
in the SS trust fund are earning about 3%

They're already investing in Treasury Bonds. I would guess there's a law
somewhere that prescribes how they can invest.

My point is that if I were able to invest my FICA, I could be just as
conservative as the SS administration has been, and therefore just as risk free.

Other than the cost to initiate personal investment accounts, I simply cannot
understand the liberal position on this issue, except that it's anti-Bush, or
course.

Hell, half these folks were in favor of personal accounts a few years back.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

"Jim," wrote in message
...
John H wrote:

On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 02:45:38 GMT, "Jim," wrote:


John H wrote:

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 23:20:30 GMT, "Jim," wrote:



John H wrote:


On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:22:54 GMT, "Jim," wrote:




John H wrote:



On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:06:20 GMT, "Jim,"
wrote:






He recorded all the payroll taxes he paid into the system
(including the
matching amount from his employer), tracked down the return the
Social
Security Trust Fund earned for each of the 45 years, and then
compared
the result with what he would have gotten had he been able to
invest the
same amount of payroll tax money over the same period in the Dow
Jones
Industrial Average (including dividends).


Which explains why one should never put all their investment eggs
in one basket.
Even the Thrift Savings Plan allows diversification.

We can all find examples which would give a return less than the
social security
return.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

The Dow is composed of 10 companies supposedly representing a cross
section of American industry (loosely defined of late) and is
updated
periodically -- so go back to 1950 and see just how many companies
he
invested in. I believe the Dow is a good measure of the economy,
and
lists the type of large cap conservative company one should invest
in
for their retirement.


Go here and read up:


http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/inde...nentWeights&rp
tsymbol=DJI&sitemapid=20

I'm wondering what happened to the other twenty companies that made
up the Dow
Jones Industrial Average up to about 10 minutes ago.

Your investment beliefs may not be all that wise.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Yes I mistyped -- Dow 30 (in the beginning it was 12)-- BUT how many
companies have been represented since 1950?

Find a list here
http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/down..._Hist_Comp.pdf
Some of the companies no longer exist, but were the strong companies
of
their time.

All in all I'd consider them reasonably good investments for the long
haul.

See
http://www.finfacts.com/Private/cure...erformance.htm

For the returns from 1939 to 2004


The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were
collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time,
lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly
benefits started in January 1940.


You just made the point that the Dow was *not* a good investment. Now
you're
saying it was. Something in all this doesn't track for me.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

As the article stated it depends on timing. Sometimes you win;
sometimes you lose. Think you can predict where the market will be
30-40 years from now? The SS "trust" fund is backed by by bonds insured
by the "full faith and credit of the United States" (not sure just how
much that's worth these days.)


If I had the choice of where to put my SS money, bonds would be a place
I'd
consider. Here are the choices currently available to those entitled to
use the
Thrift Savings Plan:

TSP Fund Information Sheets

Each TSP participant has a choice of investing in five investment funds.
They
are the G Fund, F Fund, C Fund, S Fund, and I Fund. Review the details
of each
fund to fully understand its potential risks and benefits.

G Fund Government Securities Investment Fund

F Fund Fixed Income Index Investment Fund

C Fund Common Stock Index Investment Fund

S Fund Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment Fund. Click here to
learn
more about the change to the index that the S Fund tracks.

I Fund International Stock Index Investment Fund. Click here to view the
reasons why the change in the I Fund share price does not always
correspond to
the change in the EAFE Index which it tracks.

Here's the site: http://www.tsp.gov/rates/fundsheets.html

Click on the "G Fund" to get information on the government securities
fund and
see how it has performed.

We keep the investment spread throughout the funds, changing the spread
every
now and then.

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."
Since the "G" fund is government securities, the question arises "Why
doesn't the SS administration invest in it?" I believe the latest bonds
in the SS trust fund are earning about 3%

What "trust fund"?

"Calif Bill" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Jim," wrote in message
...
John H wrote:

On Wed, 09 Mar 2005 02:45:38 GMT, "Jim," wrote:


John H wrote:

On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 23:20:30 GMT, "Jim," wrote:



John H wrote:


On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 22:22:54 GMT, "Jim,"
wrote:




John H wrote:



On Tue, 08 Mar 2005 21:06:20 GMT, "Jim,"
wrote:






He recorded all the payroll taxes he paid into the system
(including the
matching amount from his employer), tracked down the return the
Social
Security Trust Fund earned for each of the 45 years, and then
compared
the result with what he would have gotten had he been able to
invest the
same amount of payroll tax money over the same period in the Dow
Jones
Industrial Average (including dividends).


Which explains why one should never put all their investment eggs
in one basket.
Even the Thrift Savings Plan allows diversification.

We can all find examples which would give a return less than the
social security
return.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

The Dow is composed of 10 companies supposedly representing a cross
section of American industry (loosely defined of late) and is
updated
periodically -- so go back to 1950 and see just how many companies
he
invested in. I believe the Dow is a good measure of the economy,
and
lists the type of large cap conservative company one should invest
in
for their retirement.


Go here and read up:


http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/inde...nentWeights&rp
tsymbol=DJI&sitemapid=20

I'm wondering what happened to the other twenty companies that made
up the Dow
Jones Industrial Average up to about 10 minutes ago.

Your investment beliefs may not be all that wise.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

Yes I mistyped -- Dow 30 (in the beginning it was 12)-- BUT how many
companies have been represented since 1950?

Find a list here
http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/down..._Hist_Comp.pdf
Some of the companies no longer exist, but were the strong companies
of
their time.

All in all I'd consider them reasonably good investments for the long
haul.

See
http://www.finfacts.com/Private/cure...erformance.htm

For the returns from 1939 to 2004


The Social Security Act was signed by FDR on 8/14/35. Taxes were
collected for the first time in January 1937 and the first one-time,
lump-sum payments were made that same month. Regular ongoing monthly
benefits started in January 1940.


You just made the point that the Dow was *not* a good investment. Now
you're
saying it was. Something in all this doesn't track for me.


John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."

As the article stated it depends on timing. Sometimes you win;
sometimes you lose. Think you can predict where the market will be
30-40 years from now? The SS "trust" fund is backed by by bonds
insured
by the "full faith and credit of the United States" (not sure just how
much that's worth these days.)


If I had the choice of where to put my SS money, bonds would be a place
I'd
consider. Here are the choices currently available to those entitled to
use the
Thrift Savings Plan:

TSP Fund Information Sheets

Each TSP participant has a choice of investing in five investment
funds.
They
are the G Fund, F Fund, C Fund, S Fund, and I Fund. Review the details
of each
fund to fully understand its potential risks and benefits.

G Fund Government Securities Investment Fund

F Fund Fixed Income Index Investment Fund

C Fund Common Stock Index Investment Fund

S Fund Small Capitalization Stock Index Investment Fund. Click here to
learn
more about the change to the index that the S Fund tracks.

I Fund International Stock Index Investment Fund. Click here to view
the
reasons why the change in the I Fund share price does not always
correspond to
the change in the EAFE Index which it tracks.

Here's the site: http://www.tsp.gov/rates/fundsheets.html

Click on the "G Fund" to get information on the government securities
fund and
see how it has performed.

We keep the investment spread throughout the funds, changing the spread
every
now and then.

John H

"All decisions are the result of binary thinking."
Since the "G" fund is government securities, the question arises "Why
doesn't the SS administration invest in it?" I believe the latest bonds
in the SS trust fund are earning about 3%

What "trust fund"?

The liebrals are still in denial. There is no trust fund...........the
guvmint has borrowed the money from itself......i.e. spent it.......

It would be the equivalent of you going to the banking and 'borrowing' the
money from your savings acoount, and spending it. The only way to replace
it is to earn addition to replace it (in the guvmint's case...higher taxes)
or reduce your current spending to repay the "loan" (and when have we ever
seen the guvmint reduce spending)