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IronLionZion

(45,256 posts)
42. Consider a simple 3 or 4 fund portfolio
Fri Jan 4, 2019, 04:44 PM
Jan 2019

Total US Stock Market
Total US Bond Market
Total International or non-US Stock Market (If you want diversification)
Money Market

Those 4 investment categories should be good enough for anyone at any age who wants to keep things simple and low cost.

And since you're retired, when the stock market is down you can withdraw money from the bond or money market side. When the stock market is up, you can withdraw money from the stock side.

Only you can decide what the best asset allocation would be for your acceptable risk level and situation. Look at your expenses and life expectancy and other factors. You'd probably be getting some money from Social Security, you might have your home paid off, you might be on Medicare, etc.

Here's one example that is working for many retirees:
Total US Stock Market 40%
Total US Bond Market 30%
Total International or non-US Stock Market (If you want diversification) 20%
Money Market 10%

Here's one if you're on the All American plan:
Total US Stock Market 55%
Total US Bond Market 35%
Money Market 10%

The longer your timeline, the more stocks you should have. Shorter timeline, you need more in bonds and money market. There is some peace of mind that comes with simplicity. If you don't look at the market's ups and downs each day, you might live longer.

We pulled out of the market the minute that orangeshitgibbon took office. Canoe52 Dec 2018 #1
Where are you investing now? Duppers Dec 2018 #2
Money market funds, or you can do a cd ladder as rates are going up. brush Dec 2018 #29
What kind of rates are you getting on your cd's? PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2018 #31
My most recent rate was 2.2% but with the rates being raised it should be ihgher... brush Dec 2018 #32
That's my problem with cd's. PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2018 #33
Some of that "return" is return of principal? progree Dec 2018 #34
Oh, I know how cd's work. PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2018 #36
I agree with you on equities vs. bonds and CDs. My problem is with comparing the yield of progree Dec 2018 #38
That is very true. You can't really compare the two without PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2018 #39
Yeah, I get Social Security too and income from a charitable gift annuity, so I know what you mean. progree Dec 2018 #40
My cd strategy is temporary until the market volatility eases. brush Dec 2018 #35
Not all of my portfolio is in the annuities. PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2018 #37
Two things to consider. 3Hotdogs Dec 2018 #3
That's what we've been doing for the last 40yrs. Duppers Dec 2018 #5
Take the money out. You will sleep better at night. 3Hotdogs Dec 2018 #7
Thank you! 🙏 Duppers Dec 2018 #11
If you are retired, most of your money should not be in the stock market. marylandblue Dec 2018 #4
Thanks! Right now its half and half. Duppers Dec 2018 #6
There are some rules of thumb for allocation marylandblue Dec 2018 #8
Agree with the previous post, after retirement one should be out of anything risky anyway. Canoe52 Dec 2018 #9
I like the way you think. 😉😄 nt Duppers Dec 2018 #12
Short term treasury bills are where the world's wealthy put money for safety. empedocles Dec 2018 #26
bonds, the old safety group, may get volatile, and even risky. empedocles Dec 2018 #23
True, so far this year, bond funds haven't been any safe haven -- VBMFX down 1.9% YTD progree Dec 2018 #24
US Treasury Bond yields from about '72 to '81, went from 5% to 15% empedocles Dec 2018 #25
Good point. I remember some of that - back in like 1981 the financial seminar teacher progree Dec 2018 #28
This message was self-deleted by its author lastlib Dec 2018 #13
With the inversion of the treasury yield curve, short-term bonds would be safer..... lastlib Dec 2018 #14
That's conventional wisdom, but comes with some caveats Major Nikon Dec 2018 #22
+1,000 !! CountAllVotes Dec 2018 #27
That probably depends on when you expect to need the money. IphengeniaBlumgarten Dec 2018 #10
This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Dec 2018 #15
Progree is right. A HERETIC I AM Dec 2018 #19
Actually I think we were both right to some extent, and both wrong to some extent progree Dec 2018 #20
Whatever you do, don't read any books or articles on finances or investing progree Dec 2018 #16
Thank you so much!! Duppers Dec 2018 #17
This message was self-deleted by its author A HERETIC I AM Dec 2018 #18
I want to repeat what Progree says in the threads he linked to: PoindexterOglethorpe Dec 2018 #21
My husband retires in 12 days. Croney Dec 2018 #30
Why are you assuming a pending recession? PoindexterOglethorpe Jan 2019 #41
Consider a simple 3 or 4 fund portfolio IronLionZion Jan 2019 #42
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