After the market problems of the past 3 years that invariably began with the weaknesses in the US credit system, a lot of investors have re-evaluated their risk tolerance and rediscovered the importance of a proper asset allocation model. In almost every case, investors watched their savings get shaved by half.
Since the market caused many sleepless nights and self-doubt, the topic of risk tolerance has resurfaced, forcing both aggressive investors and conservative savers to realize that their traditional savings and wealth-building vehicles needed to change. For the conservative investor, that came with the realization that term deposits and treasuries could not be relied upon to maintain anything more than the rate of inflation.
As for the aggressive investor, the implications were equally hard-hitting. As the aggressive investor re-evaluated their appetite for risk, the importance of proper asset allocation resurfaced and forced the aggressive investor to reconsider the income class of investments. This less-aggressive class has often been ignored outright by aggressive investors.
Over the past decade or so, bond funds (which are part of the income class) have evolved tremendously. These funds now invest in high yield, below-investment grade investments that not only provide a greater income stream but can react with the same voracity as some equity class securities.
When you really get to know these high yield investments, it becomes clear that they not only provide greater volatility than some equity funds, they pay greater income and offer just as much growth potential. Meanwhile, they achieve these benefits while taking on much less risk.
In a market where all else is equal, your bond investments will always have less risk than equity investments. The problem has been in the rating systems used by companies like S&P and Moody's, both of which came under fire following the collateral debt obligations (CDOs) collapse in 07 and 08. Now you have B-rated bonds that just two years ago were solid investment-grade bonds. And with the spreads between corporate and government issues being wide, the individual investor stands to capitalize.
Some of the best bond funds will generate returns far greater than conservative equity funds. Expenses are low because trading is lower. Overall, bond funds can provide better returns than equity funds, with less risk. They are clearly worth considering. - 31391
Since the market caused many sleepless nights and self-doubt, the topic of risk tolerance has resurfaced, forcing both aggressive investors and conservative savers to realize that their traditional savings and wealth-building vehicles needed to change. For the conservative investor, that came with the realization that term deposits and treasuries could not be relied upon to maintain anything more than the rate of inflation.
As for the aggressive investor, the implications were equally hard-hitting. As the aggressive investor re-evaluated their appetite for risk, the importance of proper asset allocation resurfaced and forced the aggressive investor to reconsider the income class of investments. This less-aggressive class has often been ignored outright by aggressive investors.
Over the past decade or so, bond funds (which are part of the income class) have evolved tremendously. These funds now invest in high yield, below-investment grade investments that not only provide a greater income stream but can react with the same voracity as some equity class securities.
When you really get to know these high yield investments, it becomes clear that they not only provide greater volatility than some equity funds, they pay greater income and offer just as much growth potential. Meanwhile, they achieve these benefits while taking on much less risk.
In a market where all else is equal, your bond investments will always have less risk than equity investments. The problem has been in the rating systems used by companies like S&P and Moody's, both of which came under fire following the collateral debt obligations (CDOs) collapse in 07 and 08. Now you have B-rated bonds that just two years ago were solid investment-grade bonds. And with the spreads between corporate and government issues being wide, the individual investor stands to capitalize.
Some of the best bond funds will generate returns far greater than conservative equity funds. Expenses are low because trading is lower. Overall, bond funds can provide better returns than equity funds, with less risk. They are clearly worth considering. - 31391
About the Author:
Chris is the founder of the MutualFundSite.org, a website dedicated to Investment Management as well as Mutual Funds.
