Is 60% stocks and 40% bonds a good mix?
The 60/40 portfolio is the standard-bearer for investors with a moderate risk tolerance. It gives you about half the volatility of the stock market but tends to provide good returns over the long term. For the past 20 years, it's been a great portfolio for investors to stick with.
The classic investment portfolio of 60% stocks and 40% bonds is doing very well at the moment — it's risen 17% in the past year. Why it matters: After more than a decade when interest rates were at or near zero, bonds provide real income again — without the volatility inherent to stocks.
There are many adages to help you determine how to allocate stocks and bonds in your portfolio. One says that the percentage of stocks in your portfolio should equal 100 minus your age. So, if you're 30, such a portfolio would contain 70% stocks and 30% bonds (or other safe investments).
While many analysts and experts predicted the demise of the 60/40 rule at the close of 2022 — a particularly brutal year for both stocks and bonds — this long-term investment strategy is looking favorable once again in 2024 and beyond.
It's exposed for 60% on the Stock Market. In the last 30 Years, the Stocks/Bonds 60/40 Portfolio obtained a 8.42% compound annual return, with a 9.60% standard deviation. Discover new asset allocations in USD and EUR, in addition to the lazy portfolios on the website.
The 60/40 portfolio invests 60% in stocks and 40% in bonds. This approach provides investors with the growth potential of stocks with the added stability and income of bonds. Therefore, investors can achieve reasonable returns while keeping risk under control.
Here's Why. After a disastrous 2022, it turned out not to be dead after all. The dual bear market for both stocks and bonds in 2022 created the perfect storm for the 60/40 portfolio, which had been a popular asset-allocation strategy for the past couple of decades.
The rule of thumb advisors have traditionally urged investors to use, in terms of the percentage of stocks an investor should have in their portfolio; this equation suggests, for example, that a 30-year-old would hold 70% in stocks and 30% in bonds, while a 60-year-old would have 40% in stocks and 60% in bonds.
The primary advantage of a 90/10 allocation is the potential for higher long-term returns due to the significant exposure to stocks. This strategy may be suitable for investors with a high risk tolerance and a long investment horizon, such as those saving for a retirement decades in the future.
Ramsey's investing philosophy
Ramsey does not recommend investing in bonds, CDs, real estate investment trusts, or cash. Even if you are about to retire, he recommends having your retirement funds invested in all equities.
Is a 60/40 portfolio aggressive?
The traditional 60/40 investment portfolio may be too conservative, according to some financial experts, but the allocation can be a helpful guidepost.
According to this principle, individuals should hold a percentage of stocks equal to 100 minus their age. So, for a typical 60-year-old, 40% of the portfolio should be equities. The rest would comprise high-grade bonds, government debt, and other relatively safe assets.
Vanguard's research paper on this subject suggests that, for most investors, rebalancing on an annual basis is adequate. “Whether it's 60/40 or another asset allocation, rebalancing will help make sure your portfolio is consistent with your risk tolerance,” Schlanger said.
Key Takeaways. The 60/40 portfolio is the standard-bearer for investors with a moderate risk tolerance. It gives you about half the volatility of the stock market but tends to provide good returns over the long term. For the past 20 years, it's been a great portfolio for investors to stick with.
The 60/40 Benchmark Portfolio | QuantStart. The traditional 60/40 portfolio is an allocation of 60% to equities and 40% to bonds. It is periodically rebalanced (usually once per month) in order to maintain this proportion as each asset class grows or shrinks between rebalances.
The outlook for 60:40 returns is challenging
The US-centric portfolio is expected to deliver an annualised total return of around 6.5% over the next 10 years, with the global portfolio slightly better at 6.8%.
Inflation is the biggest risk to a 60/40 portfolio because it can trigger central bank tightening which pushes up real rates, which weighs both on equities and bonds. That risk is now going the other way, where rates can come down and equities can be buffered by bonds.
Their analysis shows that, over 6-month time frames, there is a 66% chance that a 60:40 portfolio beats cash. Over 12 months, there is a 69% chance. In fact, the longer the time period, the greater the likelihood that cash underperforms investment portfolios.
The 60/40 portfolio could suffer additional challenges in the future. If inflation resurfaces, correlations between stocks and bonds would likely remain elevated. In our previous research, we found stock/bond correlations trend higher during periods of high inflation.
Tax Ramifications of the 4% Rule
Structurally, the 4% withdrawal rule states that a 65-year-old retiree who has a 60/40 portfolio (60% equities, 40% bonds) can also safely withdraw up to 4% from their portfolio each year without worry of depleting their funds or outliving their portfolio.
What is the best mix of stocks and bonds for retirement?
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).
Indeed, a good mix of equities (yes, even at age 70), bonds and cash can help you achieve long-term success, pros say. One rough rule of thumb is that the percentage of your money invested in stocks should equal 110 minus your age, which in your case would be 40%. The rest should be in bonds and cash.
It seems that Buffett has softened his stance. Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio includes a significant amount of short-term bonds, despite its leader's infamous public position. Speaking to CNBC's Becky Quick on Aug. 3, 2023, Buffett admitted: “Berkshire bought $10 billion in U.S. Treasurys last Monday.
According to Buffett, you should invest 90% of your retirement funds in stock-based index funds. According to Buffett, the remaining 10% should be invested in short-term government bonds. The government uses these to finance its projects.
- You can consider investing heavily in stocks if you're younger than 50 and saving for retirement. ...
- As you reach your 50s, consider allocating 60% of your portfolio to stocks and 40% to bonds. ...
- Once you're retired, you may prefer a more conservative allocation of 50% in stocks and 50% in bonds.
