The reality is that stocks do have market risk, but even those of you close to retirement or retired should stay invested in stocks to some degree in order to benefit from the upside over time. If you're 65, you could have two decades or more of living ahead of you and you'll want that potential boost.
As a general statement, though, you probably wouldn't want any more than 30% of your assets in stocks after age 70 or so. Your tolerance for risk should naturally decline with time, since you're less concerned about return on investment and more concerned about maintain financial solvency. Good luck to you!
Recessions do not mean that you should pull out of all your investments. A decline in stocks can mean opportunities for investors to buy valuable long-term investments at discounted prices. Distinguishing between what you should let go of and what you should stay invested in is a crucial first step.
The 100-minus-your-age long-term savings rule is designed to guard against investment risk in retirement. If you're 60, you should only have 40% of your retirement portfolio in stocks, with the rest in bonds, money market accounts and cash.
Generally Recommended Allocation for 65-Year-Olds
Respected investment firm T. Rowe Price has a model that's closer to this more modern version of allocation, recommending that investors in their 60s have 45% to 65% in stocks, with 30% to 50% in bonds and 0% to 10% in cash.
The 10,5,3 rule will assist you in determining your investment's average rate of return. Though mutual funds offer no guarantees, according to this law, long-term equity investments should yield 10% returns, whereas debt instruments should yield 5%. And the average rate of return on savings bank accounts is around 3%.
However, while moving to cash might feel good mentally and help you avoid short-term stock market volatility, it is unlikely to be a wise move over the long term.
Older investors in their 70s and over keep between 30% and 33% of their portfolio assets in U.S. stocks and between 5% and 7% in international stocks. Generally speaking, your age determines how much risk you're willing to take on your investments.
Treasuries are safe investments because they are backed by the “full faith and credit” of the US federal government. The US government has never defaulted on a debt obligation. One special category of treasury securities is Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS). TIPS interest rates are indexed to inflation.
At age 60–69, consider a moderate portfolio (60% stock, 35% bonds, 5% cash/cash investments); 70–79, moderately conservative (40% stock, 50% bonds, 10% cash/cash investments); 80 and above, conservative (20% stock, 50% bonds, 30% cash/cash investments).
hold their existing stocks until the market recovers will see no change in their projected retirement incomes from the no-crash scenario. But those who sell their stocks before the market can recover will lose on their initial investments and will lose retirement income between the no-crash and full-recovery scenarios.
Time in the market is important
Companies pay out dividends to reward their shareholders for holding on to their investments. If you're investing in dividend-paying companies you're doing yourself a disservice if you pull your money out due to drops in the market.
AbbVie, Coca-Cola, and Southern Company are three stocks that offer high dividends for retirees. They have been increasing their payouts for years, at rates that should offset the effects of inflation. Their low beta values suggest they can be good, low-volatility investments to hang on to for the long haul.
CDs are one option that can help protect your investment from times of turmoil by providing stable income. The returns gained from these investments usually won't be as high as those provided by stocks but they can serve as a cushion to balance your portfolio and keep it afloat when the market is down in the dumps.
Avoid becoming a co-signer on a loan, taking out an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM), or taking on new debt. Don't quit your job if you aren't prepared for a long search for a new one. If you own your own business, consider postponing spending on capital improvements and taking on new debt until the recovery has begun.
Liquidity is crucial in uncertain times. “I've seen people struggle during a recession because their assets were too tied up in investments. This is why I suggest keeping some of your money in cash or in easily liquidated instruments like Treasury bills,” Kovar said.
On average, it takes around five months for a correction to bottom out, but once the market reaches that point and starts to turn positive, it recovers in around four months. Stock market crashes, however, usually take much longer to fully recover.
For most retirees, having 1 to 2 years of expenses in cash is a prudent guideline, offering greater financial security and flexibility during retirement.
$3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year. $36,000 / 6% dividend yield = $600,000. On the other hand, if you're more risk-averse and prefer a portfolio yielding 2%, you'd need to invest $1.8 million to reach the $3,000 per month target: $3,000 X 12 months = $36,000 per year.
The 40/30/20/10 rule is a budgeting framework that separates what you earn into categories for spending your after-tax income: 40% for needs. The biggest category for most people is day-to-day needs. This includes housing, utilities, transportation, health care and groceries.
The "100 minus your age" rule is a longstanding rule-of-thumb that helps you allocate your portfolio between stocks and bonds based on your age. It's been around for decades and is popular for three main reasons: It simplifies asset allocation. It provides a basic risk management technique.
Thumb Rules for Investing. Investors often wonder what kind of returns they can expect from their investments. The 10,5,3 rule offers a simple guideline. Expect around 10% returns from long-term equity investments, 5% from debt instruments, and 3% from savings bank accounts.