Is the Proper Investment Asset Allocation Rule Outdated?
The standard rule – of a portfolio ratio of 60 percent stocks and 40 percent bonds – undoubtedly served investors well for a long time. The once golden rule was based on the concept that stocks carry the likelihood of substantial medium- to long-term gains whereas bonds provide a safety net of reliable, if lower, returns. However, for the last 20 years or so, ever since the dot-com boom of the late 90s, the investment world has realized that traditional advice is no longer fit for purpose. At a time when stocks are soaring and bonds are returning minimal values, investors understandably doubt the wisdom of a 40% bond holding.