This brief update revisits the main tenets of “The Bleak Future of Bonds” paper and provides updates to some key numbers in the aftermath of the COVID-19/coronavirus crisis and what this means for portfolio construction going forward.

Marc’s Market Insights

Redefining Income in a Low Yield World: Historically, investors in or near retirement have relied primarily on bonds for “mailbox money” necessary to fund their golden years.  Going forward, investors and advisors will need to redefine their concept of “income” and reconsider how they fill their “mailbox”.

Over the coming decade or two, bonds are unlikely to fulfill their dual role of income and capital preservation.  Bond investors will be forced to choose between income or capital preservation, and there is a good chance they could end up with neither.

Behavioral Finance – Actionable Insights for advisors to help investors battle biases, avoid chasing returns, buying yesterday’s winners, and extrapolating a string of short-term wins indefinitely into the future

Worth the Risk?  Investors in this space have always emphasized higher levels of income or growth rather than capital preservation. While these investments are often termed “speculative,” are investors truly aware of the amount of risk in these asset classes?

The Dangers and Pitfalls of Fixed Income in a Low-Yield World

Over the coming decade or two, bonds are unlikely to fulfill their dual role of income and capital preservation.  Bond investors will be forced to choose between income or capital preservation, and there is a good chance they could end up with neither.