Podcasts > Money Rehab with Nicole Lapin > “How Do I Invest in Bonds? Help!” (Listener Intervention)

“How Do I Invest in Bonds? Help!” (Listener Intervention)

By Money News Network

In this episode of the Money Rehab podcast, Nicole Lapin explains how bonds can provide balance and stability in investment portfolios. She walks through the fundamentals of bonds as debt instruments that offer predictable returns and lower risk than stocks. Lapin outlines how an investor's risk tolerance and financial goals should guide their allocation of bonds versus stocks in their portfolio.

The episode also covers the evolving accessibility of bond investing through user-friendly platforms. Lapin highlights how these allow for fractional bond investing and clear visibility into expected returns and timelines. With her guidance, listeners will gain a solid understanding of bonds and how to incorporate them into their investment strategy.

“How Do I Invest in Bonds? Help!” (Listener Intervention)

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“How Do I Invest in Bonds? Help!” (Listener Intervention)

1-Page Summary

Understanding Bonds as an Investment

Nicole Lapin explains that bonds are a type of debt investment where investors lend money to the government or corporations, receiving regular interest payments and the principal back at maturity. She emphasizes that bonds offer more predictability and lower risk than stocks, providing diversification and balance to investment portfolios.

Determining Investment Strategy and Asset Allocation

Lapin discusses how an investor's risk tolerance and financial goals should guide their mix of stocks and bonds. For short-term goals, she recommends a higher bond allocation to mitigate volatility risk. For long-term goals, she suggests a higher stock allocation for potential growth. Investors should regularly review and adjust this allocation as their circumstances change.

How to Buy and Invest in Bonds

Investing in bonds has become more accessible through platforms like Public, which Lapin endorses for their user-friendly experience compared to traditional bond purchasing methods. These platforms allow fractional bond investing and clearly display expected returns and timelines, helping investors understand their investments.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Counterarguments

  • While bonds are generally considered lower risk than stocks, they are not risk-free; they are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, and inflation risk, which can affect their value and the returns investors receive.
  • The predictability of bonds can vary; for example, high-yield bonds may offer higher returns but come with higher risk, somewhat similar to stocks.
  • The guidance on asset allocation based on risk tolerance and financial goals is a general principle, but individual circumstances can lead to different optimal asset allocations.
  • For some short-term goals, even a higher bond allocation might not be suitable if the investor requires liquidity or if the interest rate environment is unfavorable.
  • Over the long term, stocks have historically outperformed bonds, but this does not guarantee future results, and there can be extended periods where stocks underperform.
  • Regularly reviewing and adjusting stock and bond allocation is sound advice, but too frequent adjustments can lead to overtrading and increased costs, potentially eroding investment returns.
  • While platforms like Public have made bond investing more accessible, they may not offer the same depth of options and research tools as some traditional investment services.
  • Fractional bond investing and clear displays of expected returns are helpful, but they do not eliminate the need for investors to conduct thorough due diligence and understand the complexities of bond investing.
  • The endorsement of Public could be seen as subjective, and other platforms may offer different or better features that could be more suitable for certain investors.

Actionables

  • You can create a personalized investment roadmap by first defining your short-term and long-term financial goals, then assigning a percentage of bonds and stocks to each goal based on the timeline. For example, if you're saving for a vacation in two years, you might allocate 70% to bonds and 30% to stocks, whereas for retirement in 30 years, you might flip that allocation to 30% bonds and 70% stocks.
  • Set up automatic portfolio rebalancing with your investment platform to ensure your stock and bond mix stays aligned with your risk tolerance over time. If you start with a 60/40 stocks to bonds ratio and find that market movements have shifted this to 70/30, the platform can automatically sell off some stocks and buy bonds to maintain your desired allocation.
  • Experiment with a bond ladder strategy to manage cash flow needs and interest rate risks by purchasing bonds that mature at different times. For instance, you could invest in a series of bonds that mature every year over a five-year period, which can provide you with regular income and the opportunity to reinvest at potentially higher interest rates as each bond matures.

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“How Do I Invest in Bonds? Help!” (Listener Intervention)

Understanding bonds as an investment

Nicole Lapin provides insights into how bonds work as an investment, their benefits, and their role in diversifying an investment portfolio.

Bonds are a type of debt investment

Bonds are described by Nicole Lapin as an IOU between the investor and the borrower. When investors purchase bonds, they are essentially lending money either to the government or a corporation. In return, they receive regular interest payments and eventually the return of the principal amount once the bond reaches its maturity date.

Bonds offer a more predictable and stable investment return compared to stocks

Investors appreciate bonds for their predictability. Knowing exactly how much money you will be getting back at the end, known as your yield, is one of the major attractions of investing in bonds. The interest rate, which determines the yield, and the repayment schedule of a bond are known in advance, unlike stocks which can be unpredictable and vary in return.

Bonds are often considered a lower-risk investment option

Lapin points out that bonds are considered a lower-risk investment, especially compared with stocks. This is because they are backed by the creditworthiness of the borrower. Among the various types of bonds, U.S. treasuries, which are federal government bonds, are deemed one of the safest options. These bonds ar ...

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Understanding bonds as an investment

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Clarifications

  • In the context of bonds, the IOU concept signifies that when an investor buys a bond, they are essentially lending money to the issuer (government or corporation) in exchange for regular interest payments and the return of the principal amount at maturity. This IOU dynamic establishes a contractual obligation between the investor and the bond issuer, where the issuer promises to repay the borrowed funds according to the terms outlined in the bond agreement. The IOU nature of bonds reflects the debt relationship between the investor (lender) and the issuer (borrower), emphasizing the fixed repayment structure and interest payments associated with bond investments.
  • Yield in bond investments is the return an investor receives on their investment, typically expressed as a percentage. It includes both interest payments and potential capital gains or losses. Understanding yield is crucial as it helps investors assess the profitability and risk associated with a bond investment. A higher yield generally indicates higher ...

Counterarguments

  • Bonds, while generally stable, are not completely risk-free; they are subject to interest rate risk, credit risk, and inflation risk.
  • The predictability of bonds can be overstated; in a rising interest rate environment, the value of existing bonds can decrease, leading to potential capital losses if sold before maturity.
  • The yield of a bond is known if held to maturity, but the actual return can vary if the bond is sold on the secondary market.
  • U.S. Treasuries, while considered safe, offer lower returns compared to other investments, which may not keep pace with inflation over time, leading to a loss of purchasing power.
  • The inverse relationship between stocks and bonds is not guaranteed; there are periods when both asset classes can underperform or decline in value simultaneously.
  • Bonds can be subject to default risk, especially corporate bonds, if the issuing company faces financial difficulties.
  • The creditworthiness of the borrower is a critical factor, but assessing it can be complex and subject to change over the life of the bond.
  • Diversification with bonds assumes that they will perform differently from other assets, but in a globalized economy, market correlations can ...

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“How Do I Invest in Bonds? Help!” (Listener Intervention)

Determining investment strategy and asset allocation

Nicole Lapin discusses how an investor's risk tolerance and financial goals should guide the mix of stocks and bonds in their investment portfolio. This strategy is essential for meeting different financial objectives at various life stages.

An investor's risk tolerance and financial goals should be the primary factors in determining the appropriate mix of stocks and bonds in their investment portfolio.

The caller Morgan, a young investor with a moderate appetite for risk, has goals spanning from the near future to over two decades away. Lapin highlights that the ideal investment strategy and asset allocation must be designed to meet the short-, medium-, and long-term objectives, considering events such as a wedding, house purchase, and future children's education.

Lapin emphasizes the importance of aligning investments with life plans, ambitions, and one’s "why" for investing, which provides a compass for financial decisions. She also underscores the significance of understanding and respecting individual and shared risk tolerances within a couple, like Morgan and her partner Jack.

For shorter-term financial goals, a higher allocation to bonds may be appropriate to mitigate the risk of market volatility.

Lapin prescribes lower-risk investments, such as a higher allocation to bonds, for short-term goals to protect against market downturns when funds will be needed soon.

For longer-term goals, a higher allocation to stocks may be suitable, as the higher potential for growth can offset the increased risk.

Conversely, for ...

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Determining investment strategy and asset allocation

Additional Materials

Counterarguments

  • While risk tolerance and financial goals are important, they are not the only factors; market conditions, economic forecasts, and diversification should also be considered in asset allocation.
  • A higher allocation to bonds for short-term goals may not always be the best approach, especially in a low-interest-rate environment or when bond markets are volatile; other instruments like money market funds or CDs might be more appropriate.
  • Allocating more to stocks for long-term goals assumes that stocks will always outperform other asset classes over the long term, which may not hold true in all market conditions; other assets like real estate or commodities could also be considered.
  • Regular reviews of asset allocation are important, but too frequent adjustments can lead to overtrading, increased costs, and potentially missing out on long-term trends; finding a balance in the frequency of reviews and adjustments is crucial.
  • The advice may not fully account for the impact of taxes on investment returns; tax-efficient investing strategies can also play a critical role in asset allocation decisions.
  • The strategy assumes that an investor's risk tolerance is static and can be easily quantified, but in realit ...

Actionables

  • Create a personal investment policy statement to guide your decisions, detailing your risk tolerance, financial goals, and how you'll balance stocks and bonds. This document acts as a roadmap for your investment journey, helping you make decisions that align with your objectives. For example, if you're saving for a down payment on a house in five years, your policy might state a higher bond allocation to protect against market downturns.
  • Use a financial app with an asset allocation tool to track your portfolio's balance over time. By inputting your desired stock-to-bond ratio, the app can alert you when it's time to rebalance, ensuring your investments stay in line with your goals. Imagine setting a 60/40 stocks to bonds ratio for your retirement fund; the app would notify you if market changes shift this balance, prompting you to adjust your investments.
  • Schedule semi-annual financi ...

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“How Do I Invest in Bonds? Help!” (Listener Intervention)

How to buy and invest in bonds

Investing in bonds can seem intimidating, especially for those new to the financial world, but modern platforms are making it easier and more accessible than ever.

Purchasing bonds directly through a platform like Public can provide a more user-friendly and accessible experience compared to traditional methods.

Nicole Lapin suggests using platforms like Public to invest in bonds, highlighting that they offer a more user-friendly experience compared to more traditional methods like TreasuryDirect.gov, which she finds outdated and confusing.

Public allows for fractional bond investing, enabling investors to put any amount of money into bonds, rather than being limited to fixed increments.

With the advent of platforms such as Public, which allow for fractional bond investing, investors now have the flexibility to invest any amount they wish into bonds, without the restrictions of fixed increments that traditional bond purchasing methods may impose.

The platform clearly displays the expected return and maturity timeline of the bond, helping investors understand the investment before making a purchase.

Public goes a step further by clearly displaying a bond's expected return and maturity timeline, enabling investors to fully understand the parameters of their investment ...

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How to buy and invest in bonds

Additional Materials

Counterarguments

  • While modern platforms may increase accessibility, they might not always offer the same level of detail or advice that a professional financial advisor would provide.
  • User-friendliness is subjective, and some investors may still find platforms like Public intimidating or confusing compared to traditional methods they are accustomed to.
  • Fractional bond investing, while flexible, may not offer the same voting rights or priority in bankruptcy proceedings as holding full bond units might.
  • The expected return and maturity timeline displayed by platforms can be based on assumptions that may not hold true, leading to potential discrepancies in actual returns.
  • Diversification th ...

Actionables

  • You can start a bond investment journal to track your experiences and learnings as you invest through new platforms. Begin by noting down your initial investment, the types of bonds you choose, and your rationale for selecting them. Over time, add entries that reflect on the performance of your investments, any adjustments you make, and insights gained from the platform's tools and resources.
  • Create a personal investment challenge to diversify your portfolio with bonds incrementally. Set a goal to invest a small, manageable amount into bonds each month using a platform like Public. Monitor how this affects your portfolio's balance and risk over several months, and adjust your strategy based on the outcomes you observe.
  • Develop a ...

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