Investing 101
A collection of 37 posts
Give Bonds Time | Bonds 101
Yes, rising interest rates knocked the stuffing out of bonds last year. But, if given time, bonds will recover. More than that, today's higher interest rates are a good thing for bond investors. It's inflation the fixed-income investor should fear.
Bond Funds Own Bonds | Bonds 101
Have you ever wondered whether it's better to buy your own bonds or to invest in a bond mutual fund? Are you unsure whether you should be buying a taxable and a tax-free bond fund? This week, I'll help you answer those questions.
Trade-Offs in Action | Bonds 101
“Jeff, how do you balance the trade-offs when allocating to bonds in your own account and in the Model Portfolios?” I saw many versions of that question come in from subscribers after I shared the latest installment of the Bonds 101 series, Balancing Trade-Offs. So, before moving on to some
Balancing Trade-Offs | Bonds 101
Investors typically think of bonds as the safe, sleepy part of their portfolio. And, for the most part, they’re exactly right—bonds can be pretty boring. Though that wasn’t the case in 2022. After enduring the worst calendar year in bonds in decades, well, no one is calling
Yield Curve Flashes Yellow
One of Wall Street’s go-to recession warning signs—the yield curve—is flashing yellow right now. The media is all over it and the headlines sure sound scary. Since I too include the yield curve on my “recession dashboard,” let’s take a closer look at what it is,
Down, Not Out
"Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated.” Mark Twain didn’t quite say that, but I’m reminded of the misquote these days whenever I read articles declaring the death of the classic balanced portfolio—60% stocks and 40% bonds. There’s no sugar-coating it, 2022 has been a