If you plan to retire in the next few years, the deck is stacked against you.
I hate taking such a pessimistic tone. But I'm not going to sugarcoat things.
The truth is, if you're looking for a decent return on your nest egg, there aren't many ways to do it... at least not without loading up on risk.
Given how expensive retirement can be – and how much those costs will likely grow in the near future – few folks can afford to have their hard-earned cash lying around, earning close to nothing.
Unfortunately, close-to-nothing returns are what you should expect out of most fixed-income investments today... And the closer you get to retirement, the more importance you place on the preservation of your capital.
Solving this conundrum isn't easy. That's because the world has changed...
Conventional wisdom says to own stocks when you're young and bonds as you get older. Over time, stocks will earn you about 7% or so a year. But in any given year, the market might crash.
Stocks are risky. And you accept that risk when you're young because your holding period can run for decades – giving you enough time to make back what you lose, and then some.
But when you're about to retire, you can't afford even a single bad year in the market. You'll have bills to pay with no paychecks coming in. The "professionals" tell you to exchange potential gains in the stock market for more safety.
That's where fixed-income investments come in... or at least, it used to be.
For the most part, you'll know what returns to expect: about 4% to 5% in bonds. They're far less volatile than stocks. And for a long time, investing in fixed income was more than enough to safely grow your nest egg in retirement.
Previous generations had it much easier... All they had to do was lend their money to the government or to a bank, and they would regularly earn a return that beat inflation. Before 2000, the yield on the 10-year Treasury was routinely above 6%.
But things have changed. Fixed-income investments won't keep you afloat like they used to.
Consider that 10-year Treasury yield, for example. Rather than 6%-plus, it's a measly 1.5% today...
Since inflation or interest-rate hikes are a near certainty, the bond market has a rough road ahead. Plus, bond yields don't look as attractive compared with the yield you can get from stocks.
So if you're getting ready to retire, what are you supposed to do? Simply settle for the little-to-nothing yield you can find in bonds?
If you do that, your purchasing power will decline over time. Earning 1.5% in 10-year bonds won't cut it when inflation is 4% a year. That trade would lock in a loss of 2.5% per year.
That's why you need to find a return that will be greater than inflation.
And the best game in town to do that with... is stocks.
Of course, stocks are risky right now. Valuations are beyond stretched. Plus, many corporations have loaded up on debt, making some folks call for a debt bubble.
But since the outlook for bonds is bleak, you need to own some stocks. There aren't many other choices.
The hard part is deciding how much of your nest egg you want invested in stocks. A lot of that will depend on your age and what stage in life you're in.
But you must start by understanding one thing today: The conventional wisdom is out of date. Everyone should have some money in stocks... And that includes retirees.
Here's to our health, wealth, and a great retirement,
Dr. David Eifrig
Editor's note: A few days ago, Doc, Steve, and Dan Ferris all sat down to talk about their "warring" outlooks for the market. But as they revealed, they all agree on one thing... that a looming event of historic proportions is on its way – one that could have huge implications for your wealth, whether you're fully invested in the stock market or sitting 100% in cash. Watch our video of their discussion to learn more.
Further Reading
"There's no magic ticket to get risk-free returns," Doc says. Big bets on bold positions won't make you wealthy. That's why you need to have a plan to protect your portfolio when the market turns bearish... Read more here: A 'Magic Ticket' to Wealth... Or to Financial Disaster.
You want to own growth stocks for as long as the Melt Up lasts. But since no one can know when it will end, adding this type of business to your portfolio is a good idea today... Check out Steve's two-part essay on how to protect yourself here and here.
You need to fight the fear of owning stocks today. And when you open up your brokerage account to buy, you need to be sure it meets your needs...
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