I've been
IN the Stock Market for 30+ years (April 1987)...through an job offered DoD Federal Employee contribution...tax-deferred retirement savings and investment plan called TSP ( Thrift Savings Plan ).
https://www.tsp.gov/index.html
Funds Include:
G Fund– Government Securities fund. These are unique government securities not available to the general public and are backed by the full faith and credit of the US Government; as such,
it is the only fund with no risk of loss of principal. The G Fund was the initial fund established by the TSP when it began operations on April 1, 1987.
F Fund– Fixed Income Index fund. Invested in Black Rock's U.S. Debt Index Fund. Tracks the Barclays Capital Aggregate Bond Index. The F Fund was opened to Federal employees in January 1988 but was limited to only a portion of contributions; beginning January 1991 all restrictions on F Fund contributions were lifted.
C Fund– Common Stock Index fund. Invested in Black Rock's Equity Index Fund. Replicates the total return version of the S&P 500 index. The C Fund also opened to employees in January 1988 and was subject to the same restrictions as the F Fund until January 1991.
S Fund– Small Capitalization Stock Index fund. Invested in Black Rock's Extended Market Index Fund, which tracks the Dow Jones U.S. Completion TSM index. The S Fund opened to employees in May 2001.
I Fund– International Stock Index fund. Invested in Black Rock's EAFE Index Fund. Replicates the net version of the MSCI EAFE index. The I Fund opened to employees in May 2001.
...so yea, I understand the difference.
I also understand that my contributions are in for the long haul...and NOT based on every time an OPEC rag head farts or a fat little dictator launches a dud missile into the ocean.
:smilie flag:
.
.
. It turns out that we always could buy stock direct from companies.
