By this I mean having too
conservative an asset mix and / or not having every available dollar invested to benefit from the power of compounding.
Instead of shifting between active and passive products, consider a more
conservative asset mix that might include fewer stocks and more bond investments.
For example, some funds are designed to reach their most
conservative asset mix at or shortly after the target date, after which they stop making adjustments.
Others may reach their most
conservative asset mix 10, 20, or more years after the target date.
Going to a more
conservative asset mix may be the first move that people consider to prevent a market meltdown from ruining their retirement, but it's hardly the only option.
Others may reach their most
conservative asset mix 10, 20, or more years after the target date.
Not exact matches
As a general rule, in the absence of changes to risk tolerance or financial situation, one's
asset mix should become progressively more
conservative as the investment horizon shortens.
If that makes you sick to your stomach then you might be a more «
conservative» investor so you pick a higher percentage of bonds in your
asset allocation
mix.
The traditional
asset allocation funds, like James Balanced: Golden Rainbow Retail (GLRBX) and Vanguard Wellesley Income Inv (VWINX) can be found in the categories «Mixed - Asset Target Allocation Moderate» and «Mixed - Asset Target Allocation Conservative,» respecti
asset allocation funds, like James Balanced: Golden Rainbow Retail (GLRBX) and Vanguard Wellesley Income Inv (VWINX) can be found in the categories «
Mixed -
Asset Target Allocation Moderate» and «Mixed - Asset Target Allocation Conservative,» respecti
Asset Target Allocation Moderate» and «
Mixed -
Asset Target Allocation Conservative,» respecti
Asset Target Allocation
Conservative,» respectively.
The
asset mix is
conservative, but it falls in line with the Warburtons» risk tolerance.
If it seems too
conservative, you could always combine a target maturity bond ETF with an equity index fund to get an
asset mix you're comfortable with.
If your plan relies on an age - based investment strategy, this process is already in place and your
asset mix has slowly evolved toward more
conservative investments like money market funds and short - term bonds.
Target date funds are funds that has an
asset allocation
mix that is constantly changing — becoming more
conservative as the target date (usually aimed to coincide with a retirement date) gets closer.
Some funds maintain a set
asset mix, while others grow more
conservative over time.
As a general rule, in the absence of changes to risk tolerance or financial situation, one's
asset mix should become progressively more
conservative as the investment horizon shortens.
When the kids are a couple of years away from university, Jennifer should adjust the
asset mix so it is even more
conservative — as much as 80 % bonds to preserve capital.
Currently Bengen recommends an
asset mix much more
conservative than the portfolios on which his research is based.
At Wealthsimple, Dave Nugent says the company starts first - time investors off in more
conservative portfolios even if it might not be the right long - term
asset mix.
As you near your target retirement date the fund gets progressively more
conservative by shifting the
asset mix from stocks to bonds.
Keep in mind that while rebalancing is a good way to restore your portfolio to its original
asset mix, you may want to move toward a different allocation, most likely a more
conservative one, as you near and enter retirement.
Two additional funds eventually joined SMIFX: the SMI Dynamic Allocation Fund (SMIDX), which is a managed approach to the Dynamic
Asset Allocation strategy, and the SMI
Conservative Allocation Fund (SMILX), which blends multiple approaches in a roughly 60 % stock / 40 % bond
mix.
But be sure to look at the
asset mix of the fund and make sure that its definition of
conservative matches your own.
Now let's combine these returns according to the five different
asset mixes in my models, ranging from
Conservative (30 % stocks, 70 % bonds) to Aggressive (90 % stocks):
This means that the
asset allocation
mix reaches its most
conservative point, and remains fixed thereafter.
Target date funds also automatically adjust their target
asset allocation
mix as the target date approaches to make it more
conservative.
A fund that maintains a predetermined
asset mix and generally uses words such as «
conservative,» «moderate,» or «aggressive» in its name to indicate the fund's risk level.
That balance between liquidity and growth should be reflected in your
asset mix (the relative proportions of
conservative and growth investments in your portfolio).