I am retired and widowed. Since the stock market has been so up and down, should I just put my savings (less than $100,000) in a savings account paying 3%? I feel that I am too old to always be keeping an eye on the stock market.
Robin
Florida
Robin,
The stock market is always up and down. The key is to only invest an amount of money that you can stand to see go up and down. The single biggest mistake investors make is investing too much of their portfolio and panic selling after an ordinary 10% - 20% drop in the market — often right before the market turns around.
Consider putting some of your money in a low fee stock index fund like Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX) — perhaps just 25% if you are nervous about losing money. A larger chunk, say 50%, should be in lower risk investments. A low fee bond index fund like Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX) is a decent choice with limited downside (perhaps 10% in a down market for bonds) and a roughly 5.25% yield. The rest (25%) could be in a virtually no risk investment like a Vanguard money market fund — the Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund, currently yielding just under 5%. Fidelity has an equally good and cheap lineup of similar funds.
Buy these funds through Vanguard to save on commissions that an ordinary broker may charge.
As for earning 3% in savings - shoot higher. I've linked my checking account to HSBC Direct and ING's Orange Savings account (both are “online” savings accounts — FDIC insured with no risk). You can sweep money in anytime and earn over 4% (these are not teaser rates but current rates will change with swings in shorter term interest rates). HSBC Direct currently yields a whooping 5.05%. Your bank branch can't come close to matching these rates on liquid FDIC insured money with no minimum or transfer fees.
Thanks for the question.
MAX
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Dear MAX,
I am retired and widowed. Since the stock market has been so up and down, should I just put my savings (less than $100,000) in a savings account paying 3%? I feel that I am too old to always be keeping an eye on the stock market.
Robin
Florida
Robin,
The stock market is always up and down. The key is to only invest an amount of money that you can stand to see go up and down. The single biggest mistake investors make is investing too much of their portfolio and panic selling after an ordinary 10% - 20% drop in the market — often right before the market turns around.
Consider putting some of your money in a low fee stock index fund like Vanguard 500 Index (VFINX) — perhaps just 25% if you are nervous about losing money. A larger chunk, say 50%, should be in lower risk investments. A low fee bond index fund like Vanguard Total Bond Index (VBMFX) is a decent choice with limited downside (perhaps 10% in a down market for bonds) and a roughly 5.25% yield. The rest (25%) could be in a virtually no risk investment like a Vanguard money market fund — the Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund, currently yielding just under 5%. Fidelity has an equally good and cheap lineup of similar funds.
Buy these funds through Vanguard to save on commissions that an ordinary broker may charge.
As for earning 3% in savings - shoot higher. I've linked my checking account to HSBC Direct and ING's Orange Savings account (both are “online” savings accounts — FDIC insured with no risk). You can sweep money in anytime and earn over 4% (these are not teaser rates but current rates will change with swings in shorter term interest rates). HSBC Direct currently yields a whooping 5.05%. Your bank branch can't come close to matching these rates on liquid FDIC insured money with no minimum or transfer fees.
Thanks for the question.
MAX
Want to ask MAX a question of your own? Send him an email by clicking here. Please include your name and where you live.