Not bad for all what has gone on in the world events. War can have a huge effect on markets during and after the event. The markets did very well and showed strength and resilience through these times. I think people are start to have more faith and are more risk adverse then many years ago which helps markets from going crazy in bad times. That selling because I'm scared has gotten better through the years.

We faired well and looking for some growth and gains by the year end. One dollar and now I have .98¢ not bad for the times.

I'm involved in the market daily, and, although it may seem counterintuitive, I rarely look at my YTD returns as I view things more on a day by day basis. But your post made me curious so I went to take a look at my YTD returns on my IRA. I cannot complain.

that is way better than BlackRock has managed any of the tsp funds this year

Fund Last % YTD
G Fund $19.7918 +0.01% +1.04%
F Fund $20.8902 +0.21% +0.04%
C Fund $104.7643 +2.92% -4.34%
S Fund $99.1781 +3.44% -1.22%
I Fund $56.5148 +2.28% +1.84%
L Income $29.3186 +0.78% +0.26%
L 2030 $57.7723 +1.59% -0.56%
L 2035 $17.5340 +1.83% -0.82%
L 2040 $67.1123 +2.00% -0.99%
L 2045 $18.5420 +2.13% -1.14%
L 2050 $41.0174 +2.27% -1.29%
L 2055 $21.0590 +2.74% -1.73%
L 2060 $21.0565 +2.74% -1.73%
L 2065 $21.0539 +2.74% -1.73%
L 2070 $12.4783 +2.74% -1.73%
L 2075 $10.8998 +2.74% -1.73%
Get detailed TSP data at TSPDataCenter.com

If you figure in CPI inflation (3% ish) plus currency debasement (8% ish)

11% per year is break even,,,,, ish

YTD is from Jan.1st 2026 till March 31st 2026. 8% is great but you are still contributing to your IRA so the percentage does go up. If you look at what you had on Jan. 1st 2026 and took out all of your daily/monthly contributions and just looked at your % of gains from what you have in gains till March 31st 2026 and see where you stand. Be true growth/gains for YTD.

You are doing good though.

No i have made no contributions to my IRA this year. So that IS my true gain YTD.

I'm getting kind of curious now myself. Going to go out in the garden and dig up that rusty soup can and see how much is left.

Maybe you can take a depletion deduction on schedule C due to rust

That is as good as I have seen for the first 3 months of the year. I know a day trader and is a genius at his craft of trading and he is up a little better then 6%.
So Congratulations!!

Thanks. Options.

All time high numbers for portfolios is really something with all the world events happening. A strong economy is a lot of this backbone in times like these. Prices maybe up but as a country things are hold steady. The world economy will be the one that will slow things up.

One thing investors have learned through the years of education don't panic when the waters get rough. People aren't running out and selling once they see bad times like it was 20 years ago. That is one thing that has helped with a steadier market fluctuation.

I wonder how much impact modern 401k investing impacts market stability? The 401k was instiuted in 1978 and has created an enormous amount of buy and hold investment that didn't really exist before that. I suspect that modern retirement investment smooths the ups and downs to some extent.

I am up a little from January.

I think a big factor it plays.

Yep I'm up by a lot from YTD Jan 1st 2026 till today. The only time I was in negative territory was a few of those big drop days (-1500 day) etc.

Now how much effect will there be when the boomers switch from building to spending those investments. Will the increased savings from the younger generation offset the money flowing out of the markets?

My 3 Year is 119%.
My Q2 of 2026 is 14%.

Q4 and Q1 was killing me. Im actually struggling to know what to do a little.

If you dug up the rusty cans and replaced them with aluminum cans,,,,your are up 300%