In 2021 and 2022, bond funds experienced a historic downturn as the Federal Reserve rapidly hiked interest rates to combat soaring inflation. Leading to some of the worst performance in the history of the fixed-income market. The NAV of the bond fund went down!
One factor depends in what stage of retirement you are in for the amount of reserve money in cash, money markets or CDs you need.
If you are in your eighties you may need 10 years of reserve since you may not have enought life left to see a recovery of a 50% dip in the market.
I picked Fidelity because they have a local office.
I do my own management of my portfolio at Fidelity for over 20 years.
I have a person assign to me and we talk once a year. He knows my plan and how to help my wife when the time comes.
Now that I am getting older I need a place where my wife can go if something happens to me as it relates to my portfolio.
If you did have $100,000 in a Total bond market fund, like BND (IRA) in 2022 and you reinvested all dividends, who long would it take to get your original investment of $100,000 back?
If interest rates continue to fall will BND recover faster?
in a combination of cash and short-term bonds. Strictly according to the math, that might be sufficient, but I wouldn’t stop there.
Would you also consider a bond / CD ladder for your safe money or maybe something else?
What about implementing Bill Bernstein’s line “If you’ve won the game, stop playing”
Trying to understand buying iShare iBond TIPS compare to US TIPS. If I build a 10 year TIPS bond ladder today (7/25) for yearly inflation income using tipsladder.com for $100,000 I would cost me $925,329.
How would I do the same thing using iShares (TIPS) IBIB through IBIL to generate $100,000 of inflation income.
What would it cost me using iShares iBond TIPS?
Where is the best place to keep your money if you are a follower of William Bernstein: "If You've Won the Game, Stop Playing" and you are 80 years old?
Last year I finally bit the bullet and sold it at a capital loss of $21K
According to Morningstar if you had $100,000 of VBILX on Jan 31, 2020 and you reinvest dividends, today you would have $99,808. A loss of 0.19% (-$192).
Comments
In 2021 and 2022, bond funds experienced a historic downturn as the Federal Reserve rapidly hiked interest rates to combat soaring inflation. Leading to some of the worst performance in the history of the fixed-income market. The NAV of the bond fund went down!
Post: High Interest Savings Accounts vs Bond funds
Link to comment from February 8, 2026
One factor depends in what stage of retirement you are in for the amount of reserve money in cash, money markets or CDs you need. If you are in your eighties you may need 10 years of reserve since you may not have enought life left to see a recovery of a 50% dip in the market.
Post: Should I Lock in CD Rates Now or Stay in Money Market?
Link to comment from January 14, 2026
I picked Fidelity because they have a local office. I do my own management of my portfolio at Fidelity for over 20 years. I have a person assign to me and we talk once a year. He knows my plan and how to help my wife when the time comes. Now that I am getting older I need a place where my wife can go if something happens to me as it relates to my portfolio.
Post: Schwab or Vanguard?
Link to comment from January 12, 2026
If you did have $100,000 in a Total bond market fund, like BND (IRA) in 2022 and you reinvested all dividends, who long would it take to get your original investment of $100,000 back? If interest rates continue to fall will BND recover faster?
Post: Best Bond Funds for Your Portfolio: Treasurys, Corporates, and Municipals Explained
Link to comment from September 20, 2025
Post: Risky Business
Link to comment from August 30, 2025
Trying to understand buying iShare iBond TIPS compare to US TIPS. If I build a 10 year TIPS bond ladder today (7/25) for yearly inflation income using tipsladder.com for $100,000 I would cost me $925,329. How would I do the same thing using iShares (TIPS) IBIB through IBIL to generate $100,000 of inflation income. What would it cost me using iShares iBond TIPS?
Post: Has anyone used iBonds to build a bond ladder?
Link to comment from July 25, 2025
Where is the best place to keep your money if you are a follower of William Bernstein: "If You've Won the Game, Stop Playing" and you are 80 years old?
Post: Bond Conundrum
Link to comment from July 24, 2025
If you reinvested the interest income distributions from your original bond funds would you still have losses today?
Post: The Bond Fund Crash: What I Learned When “Safe” Investments Tanked
Link to comment from July 24, 2025
Post: The bond market
Link to comment from April 10, 2025
Being a value investor in retirement (IRA for 20 years) and holding 50% of US equity portfolio in DFA US CORE EQUITY II (DFQTX).
Post: My Mistakes
Link to comment from February 21, 2025