FYI: Over the last three or four Januarys, the advice for investing in bonds has been remarkably consistent. It’s gone something like this: Beware of them, because inflation is going to rise, interest rates are going to spike and bond holders are going to lose enormous amounts of money. When it came to losses, comparisons were made to what happened to equities in 2008.
There were exceptions to this analysis, of course. But for the most part, this view was repeated year after year, with charts, graphs and reams of historical data marshaled in its defense. On paper it made sense.
In portfolios, not so much. In fact, the exact opposite occurred: Inflation failed to materialize, interest rates went down, and bond holders made money on their investments.
But for investors, knowing what to expect from their fixed-income portfolio is essential. Bonds serve as ballast for rough times.
Regards,
Ted
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/03/your-money/asset-allocation/for-bond-investors-ignoring-expert-advice-has-been-profitable.html?ref=your-money&_r=0
Comments
Here's one from 2014:
investmentnews.com/section/video?playerType=CMWealth&bctid=3708741801001&date=20140801
Here's one from 2013:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=d1iTkEdJXRA