[retiredguy123]

FYI, here are the current yields for popular Vanguard Bond and cash mutual funds:

Federal Money Market (cash), 3.77%
Short Term Bond Index, 4.73%
Total Bond Market Index, 4.95%
High Yield Corporate Bonds, 6.51%

If you are not earning this much on fixed income investments, you may want to consider switching. Recently, I have been increasing my investment in the High Yield Corporate Bonds to increase my monthly income, which is against the advice of many financial advisors. But, over more than 25 years of owning this fund, it has outperformed all of the other bond funds, and I have other investments to fall back on.

Yes, I know that you can buy similar investments in ETFs, if you like them.

[CoachKandSportsguy]

There is also the ETF PFF, which are dividends from preferred stocks, which has a higher probability of surviving a corporate cash crunch, than dividends on common stocks. Its current yield is about 5.96%, which i invest in after the govt interest rates stop rising. .

However, there was one bank failure over the weekend, so there are risks around which suggest that higher yielding corporate bonds should review the cash positions of the corporates they are buying.

For a more secure investment, us govt TIPS have great after inflation yields. If they get over 4%, back up the bus and buy a bunch
iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP)

30‑day SEC yield: 1.41%
12‑month trailing yield: 4.69%
Weighted avg maturity: ~7.04 years

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

There is also the ETF PFF, which are dividends from preferred stocks, which has a higher probability of surviving a corporate cash crunch, than dividends on common stocks. Its current yield is about 5.96%, which i invest in after the govt interest rates stop rising. .

However, there was one bank failure over the weekend, so there are risks around which suggest that higher yielding corporate bonds should review the cash positions of the corporates they are buying.

For a more secure investment, us govt TIPS have great after inflation yields. If they get over 4%, back up the bus and buy a bunch
iShares TIPS Bond ETF (TIP)

30‑day SEC yield: 1.41%
12‑month trailing yield: 4.69%
Weighted avg maturity: ~7.04 years

I only a buy a corporate bond mutual fund, which has hundreds of corporate bonds in one fund. This mutual fund has consistently outperformed other bond funds over many years. Half of my overall portfolio is in an S&P 500 stock index fund. Very simple. I have tried other stock funds, but I have found that the S&P 500 stock index is good enough for me.

[KCornman]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I only a buy a corporate bond mutual fund, which has hundreds of corporate bonds in one fund. This mutual fund has consistently outperformed other bond funds over many years. Half of my overall portfolio is in an S&P 500 stock index fund. Very simple. I have tried other stock funds, but I have found that the S&P 500 stock index is good enough for me.

People often overlook the fact that the S&P 500 index is a 100% free professional portfolio manager, and that management is so well regarded in the industry that they are the benchmark all other stock investments are measured against.