[Boffin]

Might want to look at AAA Collateralized Loan Obligations e.g.: JAAA (current yield: 6.42%)

[CoachKandSportsguy]

"We're in an economic kayfabe right now."

- Paul Tudor Jones

TL;DR version:

possible Minsky moment in the next administration, so don't own the long end of the Treasury curve bonds. . stay at the very short end. .
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[M2inOR]

Regarding investment advice:

I've been a private investor for decades, and am mostly self taught.

Check out your library for investment books that have received good reviews. Also check out book reviews in the New York Times as well as on Amazon.

Yes, you can even purchase books that can help you understand things, and if seeking a fiduciary or investment advisor, questions to ask about.

[HJBeck]

Vanguard charges nothing for advise if you have $1M in your account with them. Their average fee on funds is maybe 0.20%.’

[MandoMan]

Originally Posted by Robbb

But what is everyone doing to replace or augment their bond portfolio? I'm in the process of rebalancing and I'm struggling with having 30% of my portfolio earning 3 maybe 4% in BND or similar total bond funds.

Don’t believe the “wisdom” about holding bonds. That’s just how “wealth managers” keep you coming back so you can line their pockets. Buy into a good no-load low price index fund mutual fund that buys all or most of the Dow stocks. Hold onto it. I’ve never had bonds. In the past eight years the Dow has risen from around 20,000 to around 45,000. That’s a 125% growth. It dropped a lot during Covid, and there were a couple slow years, but I made around 20% this year. That’s four times what you earned BEFORE taking into account inflation, which ate up most of what you earned on your bonds. Why buy bonds?

[Nevinator]

I cut bonds from my portfolio in 2014 and never looked back. The rate of return was just too small to make any significant difference. I have relied on ETFs, individual high dividend stocks, and selling both put and call options. Unused funds reside in a 7 Day money market fund, currently paying 4.30%.

[rsmurano]

I have never had bonds in my portfolio and I never will. They don’t make you money. I’ve had a couple of ‘balanced’ funds decades ago (mix of stocks and bonds) and I didn’t have them long.
People mention 5-6% like it’s a good thing. This is terrible, especially if you are paying an advisor up to 1%.
I just looked at 1 of my index funds and for the last year, it’s up over 35%, low risk, good return, .02% expense, and a 3% dividend. This return is peanuts compared to dozens of stocks that have made 3x-8x more gains. These stocks aren’t any secrets: nvidia, apple, meta, tesla, and palantir that have made nice returns.
If you are nervous about losing money, put a trailing stop loss on all your etf’s and stocks with a low % or low $ amount and you will be able to sleep better at night.

No advisor that any of my friends have used in the past will get you into these type of index funds or in these stocks.

[MikePgh]

Right now with future rate cuts (beyond the one in December) being in question I would stand pat on making any big moves.
If the fed is going to continue cuts I would be moving away from short term bonds and bond funds and into intermediate bonds. You’re still looking at mid 4’s plus capital appreciation as rates go down.

Think total return, not just income. Yes you can spend total return. Cap gains rates may be lower than your income rate.

[opinionist]

I don't understand why people like bonds.
Subtract the inflation rate from the yield, and you will get a negative number.

Shadow Government Statistics - Home Page

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by opinionist

I don't understand why people like bonds.
Subtract the inflation rate from the yield, and you will get a negative number.

Shadow Government Statistics - Home Page

I use short and intermediate term bonds to balance my portfolio with stocks and cash. 40 percent stocks, 40 percent bonds, and 20 percent cash is a balanced, conservative portfolio. If you want to invest all of your money in stocks, that is fine, but it is more risky. I sleep better with a conservative portfolio.

[SaucyJim]

Originally Posted by snbrafford

Instead of relying on folks you probably don't know and who have varying degrees of investment savy, get a PROFESSIONAL financial advisor.

Fee-based, perhaps. Never commission-based. Personally, I’m of the belief that know one can possibly care more about my money than I do.

[bragones]

Originally Posted by snbrafford

Instead of relying on folks you probably don't know and who have varying degrees of investment savy, get a PROFESSIONAL financial advisor.

Disagree. There have been some very good idea on this forum from regular posters. If you do your own investing, you quickly get a sense of the knowledgeable investors. I enjoy doing my own research on suggestions posted, but be careful. One poster insisted the sky was falling and to get into all cash. That was a year ago. Ouch to anyone who followed that advice. Personally, I doubt anyone would take that type of drastic action from a forum post, but to dabble in small amounts on posters who seem to know what they are doing is always interesting.

[Postreader]

I recently transferred funds from a traditional IRA to a 7-year 5.00% Multi-Year Guaranteed Annuity. I trying to minimize investment risk with a reasonably good return.

[bragones]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

I keep about 15 percent of my bond investments in the Vanguard High Yield Bond fund. This fund is low grade corporate bonds, but it currently yields about 6.25 percent.

I’m not a fan of VWEHX. Yes, 6.25% yield but over the last 2 years I’ve lost principle which brings total return down. Also, .22% expense seems a tad high. I’ve been moving from treasuries to BBB corporate bonds. So far, so good. Very easy to research and find good corporate bonds on Fidelity >Research > Fixed Income

[bragones]

Originally Posted by jimhoward

Treasuries are above 4%. So no reason to settle for 3%. If you are willing to have a relatively long duration (e.g. 10 years) in your bond portfolio and mix in agency and corporates, should have no problem getting above 5%. But that is if you own the securities and hold them to maturity. If you have a bond fund then you have interest rate risk, which could help you or hurt you depending on what rates do.

Personally, I keep my bond portfolio duration very short, and just settle for <5%.

You can purchase long term bonds on Fidelity and sell them at anytime on the open market if you decide you don’t / can’t hold them to maturity.