With their own distinct risk and reward characteristics, foreign government bonds can be a useful addition to a diversified portfolio. But do they make sense for retirees now at a time when approximately 25% of the foreign bond market trades with negative yields? Surprisingly, they might — under the right circumstances. This is due to what the author of today’s article describes as “a peculiar quirk of the foreign currency market”. For more on why retirees might actually want to consider negative-yielding foreign government bonds, CLICK HERE.
Bonds
What Social Security Is, What It Isn’t – And Why The Distinction Matters To Your Retirement Plan
“Social Security is what it is — and it isn’t what it isn’t,” states the author of today’s article who argues that, while Social Security is an asset, it is not a bond – and thus investors are ill-served by considering Social Security part of their retirement portfolio’s bond allocation. What is Social Security, what isn’t Social Security – and how does the author recommend fitting it into an overall retirement portfolio? CLICK HERE.
“Bad Losses In Bad Times”: The Risk With Substituting Dividend Payers For Bonds In Retirement
While the author of today’s article acknowledges that there is much to make dividend-paying stocks appealing as a source of cash flow in retirement, she warns “I get nervous when retirees use them to take the place of bonds altogether. And I think retirees should get nervous, too.” What’s not to like, for retirees, about dividend payers, according to the author? It has to do with the risk of “bad losses in bad times” – and the financial crisis provides a perfect example. For more, CLICK HERE.
How To Wreck Your Retirement – With Minimal Effort
Only save in tax-deductible accounts – and disregard Roth accounts. Claim your Social Security benefit at age 62 – whether you need it then or not. Plan on your expenses dropping significantly once you leave the workforce. Double down on your employer’s stock. Ditch stocks for bonds when the market goes south. These are five of the 20 ways identified in today’s article that you can go about “wreck[ing] your chances of a financially comfortable retirement”. For more, CLICK HERE.
IRA FAQ: What Investments To Choose?
Stocks? Bonds? Exchange-traded funds? Mutual funds? Annuities? Unit investment trusts? Real estate? Given the wide range of options available when choosing investments for an Individual Retirement Account (today’s article notes you can invest in “almost anything” with an IRA), the critical question is what to select. For some insights on this question, taking into consideration how far you are from retirement, CLICK HERE.
What “Persistently Low Returns” Would Mean For Retirement Strategizing
Half a percentage point. That is what one assessment suggests to expect return-wise from a balanced U.S. stock and bond portfolio over the next 10 years (before fees and taxes!). So what would the effects of an era of “persistently low returns” be on retirement strategizing? Today’s article examines the implications for 401(k)s, annuities, Social Security, medical care, alternative investments and more. CLICK HERE.
Is Now Really The Worst Time To Retire Since Just Before The Dot-Com Crash?
Earlier this summer, a Barron’s cover story advanced the claim that this is “the worst time to retire since just before the dot-com bubble burst”, pointing to the nearly decade-long stock bull market (and even older bond bull market) – and the “rising market volatility, rising inflation, rising interest rates and an uncertain economic outlook” expected to result – as the reasons why. The author of today’s article, however, has a different take – and argues that soon-to-be retirees who succumb to this thinking are hurting their retirement portfolios. For more, CLICK HERE.
These 2 “Innovative” ETFs Can Help Boost Retirement Income
With paltry bond yields on one hand and the risks associated with high-yielding funds and stocks on the other, generating enough income in a low interest rate environment can be challenging for retirees. However, today’s article highlights two “innovative” ETFs that the author sees as offering slightly higher yields while mitigating risks. The first of these two funds seeks out not just high dividends but high sustainable dividends, and the second fund seeks to get extra yield from high-quality large-caps. For more, CLICK HERE.
Supercharge Your Retirement Savings Through “Extended Diversification”
The author of today’s article argues that the investments in your retirement account are likely not as diversified as they should be. Rather than the traditional approach to diversification (a mix of stocks, bonds and mutual funds), the author advocates “extended diversification”, which “requires a different set of resources than the traditional investment approach.” For more on how you can supercharge your retirement savings through extended diversification – including one particular asset class the author suggests considering – CLICK HERE.
Retirees’ “Fundamental Misunderstanding” Of Bonds And Higher Interest Rates
The author of today’s article argues that retirees should be viewing higher interest rates favorably. This, however, is not how many retirees are reacting to higher rates – and the author suggests that this negative reaction “betrays a fundamental misunderstanding about investing in bonds.” What, in the author’s view, are many retirees getting wrong about investing in bonds, specifically when it comes to the importance they place on “getting your money back”? CLICK HERE.
