In the early throes of the recent global pandemic, the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates twice, resulting in a 0-0.25% federal-funds rate that hasn’t budged. But with coronavirus vaccinations in progress and the U.S. economy showing signs of recovery, many expect interest rates to rise, though few agree on when this will happen. Rising rates have a negative impact on strategies with long duration (a measure of interest-rate risk), and recent rising-rate anticipation has led many investors to take a closer look at the durations of their funds. But duration alone won’t make or break performance for thoughtfully curated allocation strategies. Other characteristics of the portfolio’s profile, such as the size of the equity sleeve relative to that of the bond sleeve, geographic and sector diversification, and tilts to lower credit risk, can offset the effects of a longer duration relative to peers. Let’s consider a few Morningstar Medalist allocation strategies during two rec
Yields declined sharply in 2020 as the Federal Reserve lowered interest rates in response to the pandemic. Though interest rates have jumped recently, in December 2020 the 10-year Treasury bond yield was stuck below 1%.
For total-return-minded retirees using a bucket strategy, however, watching already-meager interest rates head down even further is a nonevent. That s because trimming appreciated holdings, especially stocks, can provide cash flows for bucket investors even as income distributions slow to a trickle. In off years for rebalancing, a cash bucket can serve as a buffer, providing cash flows and staving off the need to withdraw from assets when they re down.