Joe Lucey

Stocks may have a reputation for being riskier than bonds, but you should also consider the risk that investing only in bonds may not accumulate enough money to finance all your aspirations in retirement.

It is true that stocks are more volatile than bonds, and there is no guarantee they will yield income, but they do provide the opportunity for growth. So, would you rather have a more reliable option with less income, or higher growth potential without a guaranteed return? If you’re like many people, you invest in a little of both, hoping that a diversified mix will smooth out periods of volatility but still provide a reliable return on investment. Keep in mind investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. No investment strategy can guarantee a profit or protect against loss in periods of declining values.

One of the keys to investing is knowing what risks you’re willing to take and what’s absolutely off the table. Once you establish these parameters, it’s a good idea to put your strategy down in writing. This helps both you and your financial advisor stay on track, even when the markets hit a rough spot. Knowing what kind of strategy fits within the context of your own goals, risk tolerance and investment timeline can help you stay focused on long-term results, not temporary swings in the market.

Part of knowing yourself is knowing what your limit is for adjustments to your investment portfolio. Investors who enjoy making trades in reaction to market activity may use just a portion of their assets to do so. As a general rule, diversifying across an appropriate blend of assets based on your timeline, financial goals and tolerance for risk is a good way to work toward your long-term goals without constantly wondering if you’ve made a wrong move.

How much would you pay to get $100 more a month in retirement income for the rest of your life? On the flip side, how large of a lump sum would it take for you to give up $100 a month in retirement?

In theory, those two numbers should be the same. However, a 2015 study found that participants, on average, were willing to spend only $3,000 to buy the extra $100 benefit, but would sell it for no less than $13,750.

The responses to this survey demonstrate how difficult it may be to grasp the value of a fixed annuity. In essence, you purchase an annuity contract with up-front cash, known as the initial premium, in exchange for guaranteed income for a set period of time or for the remainder of your life. Some people may believe relinquishing a portion of their retirement assets for a future benefit is too big of a price to pay. However, you might also consider the risk of not having enough income in retirement, or running out of money too soon.

For this reason, it may be helpful to sum up a few of the benefits that a fixed annuity is designed to provide:

• Retirees must gauge how much income to withdraw from savings sources each year so they don’t ultimately run out of money. Even with careful planning, unexpected expenses can throw this measured strategy off course. Another problem, too, is that some retirees do not live as full a retirement lifestyle as they would like — even if they can afford it — for fear of outliving their income. A fixed annuity can help provide more certainty with a guaranteed (by the insurance company) retirement income stream.

• A fixed annuity provides reliable income regardless of what is going on in the stock and bond market, so a portion of a person’s retirement assets are not subject to market volatility.

• A fixed annuity is a guaranteed source of income, which can be particularly appealing to retirees who do not have a pension. Annuity product guarantees are backed by the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

• Fixed deferred annuities can be held until a later age in retirement, when a person may be more likely to encounter higher medical and assisted care bills. About the time many retirees start running low on funds, a deferred annuity can provide a new stream of income.

Annuities are insurance products that may be subject to fees, surrender charges and holding periods which vary by company. Annuities are not a deposit of nor are they insured by any bank, the FDIC, NCUA, or by any federal government agency. Annuities are designed for retirement or other long-term needs. 

The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently published its 2016 global trade report. Atop the list of trade-friendly economies are Singapore, the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Luxembourg and Sweden. The United States ranks as No. 22.

It appears global trade has greatly enhanced some nations, but it hasn’t benefitted all participants equally. Per campaign promises, the new Trump administration advocates renegotiating trade agreements to better benefit Americans. However, the complexity and sensitivity of such negotiations could result in a number of different outcomes — and not all of them may be beneficial to the U.S.

The latest WEF report offers a few interesting insights, such as:

• There is a strong correlation between wealthy and trade-friendly economies
• Developed countries tend to have lower trade costs than developing ones
• There is a strong correlation between highly populated countries and lower global trade
• Trade volume tends to be impacted more by individual country tariff policies and other costly compliance measures rather than size or wealth
• Non-tariff measures (e.g., labeling, inspections, quotas, embargoes and sanctions), which impact 96 percent of world trade, add more expense to trade costs than tarriffs

As a general rule, free trade enables more competition, which can yield more choices and reduced prices. When a country is concerned that increased trade will hurt its workers or domestic output, the government may impose tariffs and other trade barriers to protect certain industries.

One of the nice things about getting older is that we frequently learn from past mistakes. However, when it comes to finances, our needs and objectives change over time and we may make mistakes unrelated to prior mistakes. The following is a breakdown of some of the mistakes people may make during their lifelong financial journey, based on age:

• 20s – Tend to be too conservative in their investments.
• 30s – Start outliving their means, leading to credit card debt, and spending instead of saving.
• 40s – Find they have a hard time saving while having to pay out college expenses.
• 50s – Enjoy the fruits of higher income, often developing lifestyles that cannot be maintained in retirement.
• 60s and up – Overestimate their capabilities and may wait too late to delegate important financial responsibilities (e.g., assisted living facility, assigning power of attorney).