For the third straight month, every portfolio in the federal government’s 401(k)-style retirement savings program finished in the black, albeit with returns growing at a slower pace than September.
The common stocks of the Thrift Savings Plan’s C Fund sported the best performance, increasing 2.34% in October. Since January, the C Fund has grown 17.49%. The I Fund’s international investments came in second, gaining 2.13% in value last month, good enough for a TSP-best 28.01% return so far this year.
The small- and mid-size businesses in the S Fund crept up 1.16% in October, bringing its 2025 performance to 12.47%. And the fixed income (F) fund gained 0.62% last month, increasing its 2025 returns to 6.80%.
The G Fund, which is made up of government securities, increased by its statutorily mandated rate of 0.36% last month. Since January, the G Fund has increased 3.72%.
Each of the TSP’s lifecycle (L) funds, which shift toward more conservative investments as participants near retirement, similarly posted gains. The L Income Fund, designed for those already making withdrawals, grew 0.87%; L 2030, 1.42%; L 2035, 1.55%; L 2040, 1.65%; L 2045, 1.74%; L 2050, 1.83%; L 2055, 2.11%; L 2060, 2.11%; L 2065, 2.11%; L 2070, 2.11%; and L 2075, which launched in July, 2.11%.
Since January, the L Income Fund has increased 8.43%; L 2030, 13.99%; L 2035, 15.04%; L 2040, 16.04%; L 2045, 16.89%; L 2050, 17.72%; L 1055, 20.38%; L 2060, 20.38%; L 2065, 20.39%; and L 2070, 20.40%.
