TOP DOLLAR INVESTOR

IN CASE OF RECESSION: BONDS TO SHIELD YOUR PORTFOLIO?

Nearly one third of all banking customers maintain less than $1000 in their account and a similar number have accounts at more than one financial provider.

Shifting economic headwinds are prompting investors to rethink their asset allocation, including fixed-income instruments. With inflation nipping at their heels, Americans are keen to get their idle cash working for them and producing increased returns.

According to a March study by J.D. Power, the percentage of U.S. customers with $10,000 or more in primary bank deposit balances declined 16% over the past year.

Yet the successful moves from the past decade – to stick your cash into ETFs, mutual funds, or tech unicorns may not hold in this new environment.

For risk-averse investors, fixed-income instruments like bonds may provide shelter amid rising economic uncertainty.

Last year was one of the worst ever for bonds in decades. Indexes that track aggregate bond funds, such as Barclay’s U.S. Aggregate Bond Index, showed a decline of around 13% over 2022, making 2022 the worst year since at least 1976.

Back in Force?

“The Federal Reserve raised rates more than they have in 40 years. That caused massive losses for bondholders,” Robert Gilliland, managing director at Concenture Wealth Management, told CNBC earlier this year. 

“It’s important to understand that bonds are generally secure, but not necessarily safe.” Yet could last year’s downturn set bonds up for a comeback?

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