Bonds

Market interest rates and bond prices often move in opposing directions, meaning that when rates rise, bond values fall. Retirees can lessen interest rate risk by investing in shorter-term bonds that are less susceptible to rate hikes. Experts suggest that rising interest rates may be beneficial to retirees who have a longer time horizon. When […]

If you have a stock-heavy portfolio, especially one with some volatility, corporate bonds are a smart way to add some diversification. Rather than buying individual bonds, it may make more sense to invest in a bond ETF and benefit from the increased safety of a diversified fund. Learn more: Before making an investment choice, all

If you’re approaching retirement age or are a more conservative investor in general, investing your 401(k) assets in bonds may make sense. However, doing so may cost you in the long run in terms of portfolio growth. Talking to your 401(k) plan administrator or financial advisor about the best strategy to weather a bear market

If you’re approaching retirement age or are a more conservative investor in general, investing your 401(k) assets in bonds may make sense. However, doing so may cost you in the long run in terms of portfolio growth. Talking to your 401(k) plan administrator or financial advisor about the best strategy to weather a bear market

When investors look back on how their portfolio did at the end of this unusual year, they’ll be faced with a fundamental question: Why do I own bonds? For example, the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) is down about 2% this year. If you assume a 5% increase in inflation in 2021, BND has

The train heads south, underground through downtown Oakland, does a U-turn around Lake Merritt, and emerges in Fruitvale. It comes to a halt outside the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, which houses the Athletics and, for the time being, the Raiders. The Oracle Arena, which houses the Golden State Warriors basketball team for the time being, is

A diversified bond fund’s function in your portfolio was always to act like a Zamboni, smoothing out the stock market’s volatility. Adding a little amount of bond exposure to a portfolio could lower volatility without compromising returns during most of the previous century. From the Great Recession, here’s an illustration of the notion. According to

Of course, before making any trade, you should always conduct a cost-benefit analysis. It’s probably appropriate to sell if the holding period return generated by selling now is equivalent to or greater than the return created by holding it to maturity. Is now an appropriate time to sell my bonds? When interest rates are expected

When investors look back on how their portfolio did at the end of this unusual year, they’ll be faced with a fundamental question: Why do I own bonds? For example, the Vanguard Total Bond Market ETF (BND) is down about 2% this year. If you assume a 5% increase in inflation in 2021, BND has

If your bond has reached maturity and is no longer collecting interest, don’t put it off cashing it in. You’ll miss out on some long-term returns if you need to redeem your savings bond early, but you’ll still collect more than the face value. In times of financial hardship, experts agree that cashing in your