I’m with ya. I’m retired, but haven’t needed to touch the funds in my TSP yet. Even had them invested in a very conservative fund that wasn’t supposed to be risky at all.
In the first 3-4 months of 2022 I lost just about everything I’d gained in the entirety of 2021. Things had been a little better over the past 3 months, but I’m afraid to check on what it looks like after December.
When I was still working and still putting part of my paycheck into my TSP, downturns weren’t that huge of a deal … I was putting in the same amount every two weeks, so when the S&P dropped, I was essentially buying more shares cheap, so when things turned around I was in great position. I no longer have that paycheck buying me shares, so when the fund goes down, I just lose money I’m counting on to withdraw in a couple of years.
(I can’t complain too much - in my previous 3 years of retirement my fund had been doing well above my targets - but still, I don’t like seeing that total number go the wrong direction.)