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Taking Sides

Adam M. Grossman

WHEN IT COMES TO financial questions, there are two common reasons people disagree. Sometimes, they disagree about the facts—whether, say, interest rates are headed higher. But sometimes, people disagree for another reason: They see the world through different lenses.

Last week, I mentioned that Ray Dalio, a prominent hedge fund manager, had recently said that bonds “have become stupid.” I disagreed, but not because of the facts. There’s no disputing the impact of today’s low rates. But I think the wisdom of owning bonds depends on what you’re trying to accomplish. If you’re a hedge fund manager like Dalio, your objectives will be different from those of an individual investor. For a hedge fund, maybe bonds are stupid. But for an individual investor, they might make a ton of sense. It’s a matter of perspective.

Below are five other issues that I also see as matters of perspective.

1. Asset allocation. Investment advisor and author William Bernstein is often quoted as saying, “When you’ve won the game, stop playing.” In other words, if you’ve already accumulated enough savings to meet your needs—or if you’re on track to—then you should dial back your portfolio’s risk. There’s no sense continuing to take risk when you don’t need to. Warren Buffett has expressed the same sentiment: “It’s insane to risk what you have and need in order to obtain what you don’t need.”

Suppose you’ve saved $5 million for retirement and only need $100,000 on top of Social Security to meet your expenses. With these numbers, implying a modest 2% withdrawal rate, you’d be in great shape. If you took Bernstein’s approach, you would manage your portfolio conservatively to avoid jeopardizing that strong position. But some might reach precisely the opposite conclusion, reasoning that with $5 million in the bank and modest needs, you could afford to take more risk.

What’s the right answer? My view is that there isn’t one. It will depend on your goals and what’s most important to you. Are stability and security most important, or are you looking to grow your portfolio as much as possible? Where you come out on this question is an entirely personal decision.

2. Alternative investments. David Swensen was the longtime manager of Yale University’s endowment before he passed away recently. Swensen was a pioneer in developing complex investment strategies. But in a book he wrote for individual investors, Swensen advocated the exact opposite approach. His advice: Buy simple, low-cost index funds and steer clear of complexity.

Swensen had concluded that individuals simply didn’t have the resources to pursue the same strategies that worked for an endowment. Many investors have accepted this message and don’t pursue complex strategies. But nothing is absolute. I know plenty of individuals who have done well with private equity, angel investments and other non-standard investments, including cryptocurrencies.

I still don’t recommend such investments. But I don’t think anyone can say they’re wrong per se, especially if you’re at the stage I referenced above, where you can afford more risk. It’s a matter of perspective.

3. Retirement income. When claiming Social Security, the math says that most people will benefit by waiting until age 70, when they can collect the largest possible monthly check. Personally, that’s what I usually recommend. But I appreciate that there’s another point of view.

Some people who try to wait until 70 are filled with financial stress during their 60s as they wait for their 70th birthday. In my view, that’s hardly a victory. This is another case where it isn’t just about the math. As long as you aren’t jeopardizing your plan by claiming too small a benefit too early, no one should say in absolute terms that it’s wrong to start benefits a little earlier. As with bonds, perhaps you’re giving up some number of dollars, but you’re also gaining something in return: stability and peace of mind. It’s a matter of perspective.

4. Prepaying mortgages. Among the questions I get most frequently: If I can afford to pay off my mortgage, should I? This question is tricky, I think, because it seems like a straightforward financial decision. But when it comes to your home, no question is purely financial. There’s always an emotional component.

For that reason, I’ve observed a spectrum in how people think about mortgages. Some point to the numbers and conclude that they’re better off borrowing as much as they can when rates are low. That would allow them to invest more productively elsewhere. But others don’t care what the numbers say. They derive so much satisfaction from being debt-free that they never give a second thought to the potentially more productive investments that they gave up. Again, neither of these points of view is necessarily right or wrong. It’s a matter of perspective and what matters most to you.

5. Estate planning. Today, the federal estate tax stands at a hefty 40% for families whose assets exceed a certain threshold. If your family is in that category—or expects to be—there’s a clear incentive to pursue tax-saving strategies.

But other families aren’t as aggressive. They see these strategies as adding unwanted complexity to their lives. It’s true that implementing these kinds of strategies requires upfront time and cost. In addition to legal fees, there’s the mental energy of moving assets around and tracking those changes. There are ongoing costs, too. An irrevocable trust, for example, requires an independent trustee—and trustees generally like to be paid. In addition, these trusts require their own tax return.

For those reasons, I have seen more than one high net worth family decide that they don’t want to spend their days working on estate planning. Instead, they simply accept that some part of their assets will be paid to the government. Or they structure things so that any amount that can’t pass tax-free to their children will be donated to charity. What’s the right answer for your family? Again, it depends on your priorities. It’s a matter of perspective.

Adam M. Grossman is the founder of Mayport, a fixed-fee wealth management firm. In his series of free e-books, he advocates an evidence-based approach to personal finance. Follow Adam on Twitter @AdamMGrossman and check out his earlier articles.

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SanLouisKid
3 years ago

One of my all-time favorite quotes is from the old Leave It To Beaver TV show. Beaver: Gee, there’s something wrong with just about everything, isn’t there Dad? Ward: Just about, Beav. (Maybe the opposite is true, too.) My wife and I have not maximized anything financially, but we’ve done enough moderate things that have turned out ok. It seems that “stretching” is what gets a lot of people in trouble.

Peter Blanchette
3 years ago

Your column can be summarized in 2 words. Risk tolerance. As a financial advisor you need to be reading Michael Kitces. He has written a whole series of articles that speak to the many issues surrounding people’s risk tolerance. Each person has a different risk tolerance based on age, assets at different ages, plain tolerance for risk and need to take risk based on age and assets and goals. Go to Kitces.com and input “Risk Tolerance” in the search function.

SCao
3 years ago

It is good to voice our and different opinions. However, we think we could all communicate in a more respectful and mature manner.

Matt Simerson
3 years ago

I recently paid off my mortgage for the third time. I did so with money that had been earning a much higher return than 3.x%. It wasn’t the maximal growth strategy but it accomplished several other priorities: it diversified some funds away from Mr. Market and into real estate, it reduced risk by moving money into an asset (primary residence) with special bankruptcy status if we were bankrupted by a medical or other calamity, and by shedding our largest monthly payment, it greatly reduced the amount of cash we need in our rainy day fund.

Last edited 3 years ago by Matt Simerson
Adam Grossman
3 years ago
Reply to  Matt Simerson

That’s great. Those all sound like good reasons. Congratulations!

Roboticus Aquarius
3 years ago
Reply to  Matt Simerson

+1. Nice way to think about future funding needs.

Last edited 3 years ago by Roboticus Aquarius
Roboticus Aquarius
3 years ago

Our best investment ever was our first house. We’re not real estate investors: we were simply lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time. They say life is like a box of chocolates…

Adam Grossman
3 years ago

Agreed. Over the course of an investment lifetime, my sense is that everyone has a few investments that turn out better than expected and a few that turn out worse. Unfortunately, the ones that turn out worse sting more, which makes us forget the ones that worked out well. So I like your perspective.

Purple Rain
3 years ago

Another dogma pushed by “experts” is indexing.

Dollar cost averaging into index funds is by and large a sound strategy.

Based on the circumstances, it may not be ideal for everyone. For instance, if one has a lump sum to invest in an overvalued market, one may be better off buying fairly valued individual stocks.

parkslope
3 years ago

Your article is a nice antidote to today’s polarized viewpoints advanced by those who assume that there is only one correct approach.

Adam Grossman
3 years ago
Reply to  parkslope

Thanks. I always try to use this thought experiment: Whenever I think I’m 100% right on some question or argument, I say to myself, “Isn’t it coincidental that the position I hold just so happens to be the correct one.”

David Powell
3 years ago

Love how you always keep the person in personal finance. 🙂

Adam Grossman
3 years ago
Reply to  David Powell

Thanks, David!

Guest
3 years ago

Thank you Mr. Grossman. This column is right down my alley. It kills me to hear blathering talking heads like Suze Orman and Dave Ramsey go on with “rules” of personal finance as if they all apply to everyone and there is no middle ground. Those folks add very little value to personal finance. In so many situations the first answer to what is most prudent is “it depends”. And often the answer is not just what’s right from a financial perspective but what’s best from an emotional well-being, sleep better at night perspective.

Adam Grossman
3 years ago
Reply to  Guest

Thanks. It is tricky because there are some questions that do seem more obviously black-and-white to me. You can’t say “it depends” to everything. Some things are like a hot stove, and there’s no argument in favor of going near them. But I agree with you that there too many people going around telling other people what they should do without taking into account the other person’s circumstances.

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