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underpants

(194,584 posts)
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:20 PM Apr 2025

I moved my 401K type plan into bonds today

I was in a 2030 plan that was 67% in stocks. Returns suck across the board.

Talking to our retirement rep today I figured bonds would be safer.
50% in a Retirement portfolio that’s 65% bonds
50% in an Inflation protection plan that 97% bonds and then cash.

Not a huge balance. Sort of a cash in the backyard thing for me to dip into when I retire (about 10 - 15 years from now). Maybe a couple trips or some unexpected car repair or something like that. I have Soc. Security* and a defined benefit pension.

* 🤞

30 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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I moved my 401K type plan into bonds today (Original Post) underpants Apr 2025 OP
DOW futures are down 2.7% gab13by13 Apr 2025 #1
Smart man. Ellipsis Apr 2025 #2
People are worried about stagflation gab13by13 Apr 2025 #3
I didn't touch our portfolio... WarGamer Apr 2025 #4
Ditto central scrutinizer Apr 2025 #10
In fact... I might even add-in to our port if we see discount prices in the next few months. WarGamer Apr 2025 #11
What a strategy: catch a falling knife. . . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2025 #16
I tinker with mine, occasionally - Ms. Toad Apr 2025 #26
Because everything is normal & normal indicators apply & normal patterns apply? Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2025 #15
This message was self-deleted by its author BannonsLiver Apr 2025 #22
Agreed. Ms. Toad Apr 2025 #25
I am currently doing a government money market fund anciano Apr 2025 #5
I moved a large percent into 3 and 5 year funds with guaranteed 4.5 and 5% respectively in Dec and late Jan. MLAA Apr 2025 #6
My financial advisor has done pretty much the PoindexterOglethorpe Apr 2025 #7
I was just talking to people at one account today Meowmee Apr 2025 #8
Royal Bank Canada and BMO (Bank of Montreal) have Canadian funds available in US dollars, and US operations Bernardo de La Paz Apr 2025 #17
Yes I know thanks 😁 Meowmee Apr 2025 #20
If I had that long before retirement I would have stayed invested in stocks, esp dividend paying stocks. beaglelover Apr 2025 #9
Yup. Ms. Toad Apr 2025 #27
Smart move. Will be a rough 3-4 months for any Krasnov portfolio. bucolic_frolic Apr 2025 #12
I moved them into Money Market not long ago. Earthrise Apr 2025 #13
You're lucky to have a defined pension plan, they mostly did away with those years ago ... cliffside Apr 2025 #14
Defined Pension Plans are also invested heavily into stocks MichMan Apr 2025 #23
True and probably should have said that professional money managers might have taken a more defensive ... cliffside Apr 2025 #24
I'm not too far from retirement age, so I've got significant exposure to bonds, and I'll tell you... LudwigPastorius Apr 2025 #18
Been thinking about that as well exboyfil Apr 2025 #30
Probably a good move. radius777 Apr 2025 #19
Longer term charts SPX and consolidation periods ... cliffside Apr 2025 #21
4.2% IRA CD CountAllVotes Apr 2025 #28
My primary IRA was 70% Bond 30% stock exboyfil Apr 2025 #29

gab13by13

(31,053 posts)
3. People are worried about stagflation
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:32 PM
Apr 2025

I’m thinking maybe deflationary. With massive unemployment who will have money?

WarGamer

(18,218 posts)
4. I didn't touch our portfolio...
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:34 PM
Apr 2025

I invest in the long term and think the next "all time high" will be within the next 12 months.

Go long.

central scrutinizer

(12,648 posts)
10. Ditto
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:56 PM
Apr 2025

I’ve never tinkered with my investments. I bought into a socially responsible mutual fund thirty years ago and it’s averaged 10% over that time.

Ms. Toad

(38,092 posts)
26. I tinker with mine, occasionally -
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 11:39 PM
Apr 2025

when the growth has been uneven and I need to rebalance the portfolio. By occasionally, I mean once every few years.

Bernardo de La Paz

(60,320 posts)
15. Because everything is normal & normal indicators apply & normal patterns apply?
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 10:11 PM
Apr 2025

Most on DU have noticed that the situation is very abnormal with contractionary pressures in labour, government spending, and tariffs are all operating simultaneously.

Good luck If you have any wisdom for why you think stocks will make a new high within twelve months, I'm all ears. You think business will shrug off a little bit of tariffs and contract cancellations and invest heavily in new plant here because of tRump's tariff? You buy tRump's statement that manufacturing will increase dramatically in the US very very soon? You buy his claim there will be no pain (or on other days he says little pain)?

I can't advise anybody, but I can say I got completely out of stocks early January.

Response to WarGamer (Reply #4)

Ms. Toad

(38,092 posts)
25. Agreed.
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 11:37 PM
Apr 2025

Anyone who sells low because of panic, when they aren't withdrawing the cash because they need the cash in the short term - or because of Required Minimum Distribution, probably doesn't have the risk tolerance to be in the stock market in the first place.

anciano

(2,151 posts)
5. I am currently doing a government money market fund
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:37 PM
Apr 2025

and a high yield savings account. At my age (77) I no longer have the proverbial "long run" to ride out the market ups and downs.
Good luck and best wishes.

MLAA

(19,657 posts)
6. I moved a large percent into 3 and 5 year funds with guaranteed 4.5 and 5% respectively in Dec and late Jan.
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:39 PM
Apr 2025

PoindexterOglethorpe

(28,407 posts)
7. My financial advisor has done pretty much the
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:46 PM
Apr 2025

same thing for me this past year. I'm still taking out 4%, and the money is growing.

I need to have a conversation with him about spending down as much as possible while I am alive. My one son, known here as My Son The Astronomer has had the wonderful good fortune to have been gifted money by his wealthy paternal grandparents. He's also inherited from at least two relatives who have passed away themselves.

I often joke that someone should go after him for his money.

Meowmee

(9,212 posts)
8. I was just talking to people at one account today
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:52 PM
Apr 2025

And will be doing something similar this week. I made a contribution to my roth ira and put it in a federal money market account with 4% returns, instead of the mutual fund, and I will be changing the balance after talking to a bond adviser tomorrow to 50% /50%. If you're really worried you can put all the money into a federal money market account as it will be safe there. But they told me even bonds will not be totally safe. This account has recouped some of the loss in December. The other one I need to do that soon too. 10% loss so far in both accounts.

I wanted to buy into a Canadian Government bond fund but they did not have that and I don't know if US government bonds are safe now. For some reason in the first account I never diversified it to some bonds which I should have done.

Bernardo de La Paz

(60,320 posts)
17. Royal Bank Canada and BMO (Bank of Montreal) have Canadian funds available in US dollars, and US operations
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 10:15 PM
Apr 2025

If you invest or want to invest, you can talk to their advisors too.

Meowmee

(9,212 posts)
20. Yes I know thanks 😁
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 10:34 PM
Apr 2025

We are going to do that too. Some is already there from my father but it hasn't been probated yet. I have to start that. It is not easy to do and we had to wait for the US probate first for 2-3 years. The lawyer was crazy, delayed everything, and was disbarred towards the end, then he became very ill. There is still so much to do. When that is done that will go right back into those same bonds.
But this fund here is American and he said they have no Canadian bond funds... I will ask again when I talk to the specialist tomorrow.

Kicking myself for many reasons over hiring him instead of a lawyer a friend recommended who would have got it done quickly and a lot cheaper etc.

beaglelover

(4,416 posts)
9. If I had that long before retirement I would have stayed invested in stocks, esp dividend paying stocks.
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 07:53 PM
Apr 2025

bucolic_frolic

(53,792 posts)
12. Smart move. Will be a rough 3-4 months for any Krasnov portfolio.
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 08:14 PM
Apr 2025

I may bail on a few things, but I'm ok.

Earthrise

(15,738 posts)
13. I moved them into Money Market not long ago.
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 09:10 PM
Apr 2025

I remember coworkers nearing retirement who saw their retirement account drop by 1/3 during Bush’s recession.

cliffside

(1,580 posts)
14. You're lucky to have a defined pension plan, they mostly did away with those years ago ...
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 10:03 PM
Apr 2025

if one has enough gains hiding out for a bit is not a bad idea. I lucked out in late 1999/early 2000 and started reading about markets, technical analysis, bought the Edwards and Magee book, patterns of accumulation and distribution etc. I remember the day vividly, 3/31/2000, end of quarter window dressing when I sold our entire IRA account and closed the computer with a smile on my face. The market had already gone up 20% for a few years, not normal in historical terms, then waited for 2+ years to reinvest. Lost lots of sleep, we did not have a defined pension plan, so it was a wild ride.

'Investing for the long term' depends on where one is in their life cycle, how much they have saved/gained. During that time Peter Lynch, of the Magellan fund, and maybe others, told people to hang in there. My thoughts went to those who were nearing retirement. If you are young the market will go up eventually and you are averaging down if contributing on a regular basis, if one is older and has nice gains then pay more attention.

Best of luck!



MichMan

(16,532 posts)
23. Defined Pension Plans are also invested heavily into stocks
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 02:55 PM
Apr 2025

They are also facing significant losses. If they are for government employees and teachers, the taxpayers will be required to make up the difference which will likely mean cuts in schools and programs

cliffside

(1,580 posts)
24. True and probably should have said that professional money managers might have taken a more defensive ...
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 10:41 PM
Apr 2025

position. Many individuals do not have the time or training to do so managing their own retirement accounts.

LudwigPastorius

(14,047 posts)
18. I'm not too far from retirement age, so I've got significant exposure to bonds, and I'll tell you...
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 10:26 PM
Apr 2025

I worry that Trump, being the complete moron and Putin agent he is, will order the Treasury to default on bond payments. That way, in his twisted mind, he'll screw foreign debt holders and "erase" the deficit.

https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/trump-second-term-less-risk-averse-could-try-to-default-on-us-debt-by-william-l-silber-2024-04

radius777

(3,921 posts)
19. Probably a good move.
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 10:31 PM
Apr 2025

The market 'always going up' was based upon a post WWII global order that Trump is dismantling. Especially the post 2008/post GFC order. What Trump is doing is at odds with the recommendations of most economists on both the left and right. Safe haven assets like treasuries, money markets and gold etf's are probably the best bet at this point.

cliffside

(1,580 posts)
21. Longer term charts SPX and consolidation periods ...
Wed Apr 2, 2025, 11:25 PM
Apr 2025

not making any predictions, but over history the markets do go up, but there are also long periods of consolidation and drawdowns that should be respected. Moving past the 1929 period, just look at the periods of the late 60's- early 80's and then 2000 high to low in 2009. The SPX did not reach the 2000 high until January 2013. Looking at historical charts help.

https://www.tradingview.com/x/daaedugc/

https://www.tradingview.com/x/lOfRYoTs/



CountAllVotes

(22,055 posts)
28. 4.2% IRA CD
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 11:44 PM
Apr 2025

For another couple of years.

Not a whole lot but insured and safe in a credit union.



exboyfil

(18,332 posts)
29. My primary IRA was 70% Bond 30% stock
Sat Apr 5, 2025, 11:50 PM
Apr 2025

That is about 90% of my retirement money (12x current annual salary). Dumped 7% that was equity to cash early on (wife's IRA and current 401k). Got another 3% in cash in HSA. If it drops another 5 to 10%, then that 10% goes to equities. Think I am about a 1/3rd of my annual salary down. My bigger concern is losing my job which happened to me last year. My current job pays about 65% of my previous job.

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