Since the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board announced last fall the new restrictions to be imposed on frequent trading among funds in the Thrift Savings Plan, there has been a flurry of discussion and debate on the topic.

Because of the great interest in this topic expressed by many of our readers recently, My Federal Retirement is providing a round-up of some of the most interesting articles, commentary and viewpoints available.

(For background on the TSP interfund transfer limitations, go here)

Experts, columnists and reporters offer views

Frequent Trading in the TSP
FedSmith.com article written by Bill Donoghue, a 40 year veteran independent investment expert, provides a perspective on the topic.
http://www.fedsmith.com/article/1475/

Reality Check: Can You Handle The Truth?!
Columnist Mike Causey of FederalNewsRadio.com discusses that some frequent traders "object to what they see is government interference in their efforts to invest for the future. Some even said it was part of a government plan to limit how much they will have to spend in retirement. But not everybody objects to limiting trades." Read the article here

Trading curbs spark TSP backlash
Federal Times interviews a frequent TSP trader.
http://www.federaltimes.com/index.php?S=3207826

Market Timing and Your TSP
Ralph Smith (co-founder of FedSmith.com, former federal employee, and veteran author of several publications on federal employment issues) offers analysis and a point of view on the TSP trade restrictions. 
http://www.fedsmith.com/article/1431/

Group of frequent TSP traders organize to oppose limits on trading

TSPShareholders.org's  (http://tspshareholder.org/)
January newsletter questions the Thift Saving Board's math on trading costs, and states "our petition against imposing TSP Interfund Transfer limits continues to grow. More than 2,800 federal employees,  U.S. military members, and retirees have already signed the petition to reverse the decision of the Thrift Board to limit Interfund Transfers."

Federal Times Poll
"Should the Thrift Savings Plan limit the number of fund transfers investors can make?"
Out of more than 4,000 who participated in the poll, 63 per cent voted that unlimited free transfers should continue; 20 per cent voted in favor of those transferring money should pay fees to cover transfer costs.
http://www.federaltimes.com/index.php?C=pollview

Federal employees flood online forums with their opinions

TSP officials hear from participants on interfund restrictions
http://www.govexec.com/mailbagDetails.cfm?aid=38858

TSP board to limit interfund trade restrictions
http://www.tsptalk.com/mb/showthread.php?t=5143

What YOU can do to fight back - IFT limit
http://www.tsptalk.com/mb/showthread.php?t=5162