You seem to be talking about a portfolio manager, not a financial advisor. A financial advisor would look at your total financial picture - your portfolio, your tax strategy, your SS claiming strategy, Roth conversions, withdrawal structure, estate planning, etc, etc.
In order to answer this question fully, we'd need to know all your other assets and income, and expenses, along with your experience as an investor.
However, not knowing that, I will say:
If you know little about investing, and just want absolute safety, then 4-week Treasury bills with auto-roll will fit the bill. You'll get about 4% with no state income tax.
If you feel comfortable with investing, and are willing to give up some safety, a corporate bond ETF might be worth looking at, assuming it would kill you in taxes.
If you are more skilled as an investor, a conservative portfolio of 80% dividend stocks and 20% preferreds would give income and some growth.
At the bank where I worked, they would match up to 5% of your salary in your 401K and give you up to 14% of your salary into a cash-value pension fund. This all came to an end in 2008, but the veteran workers did collect sacks of money.
Yep, age 61, offered 1 years severance, took it. I was only going to work a couple more years anyway. And like Ken, I had retiree medical insurance. It was really a very good deal for me.
For singles, there's a giant bracket from just above $200K up to $500K - once you're in it, you can increase your income by hundreds of thousands of dollars and not pay anything additional.
Now about that NII.....
If you are more conservative in your investments than the market as a whole, yes, you will receive lower returns during boom years. But when the crash comes, your portfolio will go down less than the market as a whole, and will recover more quickly. This is what retirees should be doing. While the market as a whole may provide splendid returns over the long term, your term is not so long any more. If you have managed to save a lot of money, you are looking to match inflation,or maybe a little more, and make it all the way to the end. This year, I increased my assets by 10.5% while the S&P 500 returned 18%. Yes, I could have made more by investing in the tech-heavy S&P, but maybe, just maybe, the tech stocks are a powder-keg waiting to blow up. No one can know what will happen in the immediate future, and the immediate future is where retirees are living. The market may hit new highs in 2060, but I won't be here.
There are many approaches that will work. The big question is how much money do you have, and how much do you need to spend? Maybe you need to draw down your assets, maybe you can continue to build up your assets. That's why personal finance is personal.
You could raise the tax and raise the payout - just put in a third bend point that pays a very small percentage. This would keep the principles of SS intact: the more you put in, the more you get out. But how many people make more than $180K over 35 years? A very small number. Yes, 10 or 20 years in the future SS might have to pay out slightly more to a small number of people, but it would have little overall impact.
Comments
You seem to be talking about a portfolio manager, not a financial advisor. A financial advisor would look at your total financial picture - your portfolio, your tax strategy, your SS claiming strategy, Roth conversions, withdrawal structure, estate planning, etc, etc.
Post: Let’s Be Clear
Link to comment from January 7, 2026
In order to answer this question fully, we'd need to know all your other assets and income, and expenses, along with your experience as an investor. However, not knowing that, I will say:
- If you know little about investing, and just want absolute safety, then 4-week Treasury bills with auto-roll will fit the bill. You'll get about 4% with no state income tax.
- If you feel comfortable with investing, and are willing to give up some safety, a corporate bond ETF might be worth looking at, assuming it would kill you in taxes.
- If you are more skilled as an investor, a conservative portfolio of 80% dividend stocks and 20% preferreds would give income and some growth.
But we really need more information.Post: What to do with a $500,000 inheritance ?
Link to comment from January 4, 2026
At the bank where I worked, they would match up to 5% of your salary in your 401K and give you up to 14% of your salary into a cash-value pension fund. This all came to an end in 2008, but the veteran workers did collect sacks of money.
Post: What Age Did You Retire—and What Made You Decide It Was Time?
Link to comment from December 31, 2025
Yep, age 61, offered 1 years severance, took it. I was only going to work a couple more years anyway. And like Ken, I had retiree medical insurance. It was really a very good deal for me.
Post: What Age Did You Retire—and What Made You Decide It Was Time?
Link to comment from December 31, 2025
For singles, there's a giant bracket from just above $200K up to $500K - once you're in it, you can increase your income by hundreds of thousands of dollars and not pay anything additional. Now about that NII.....
Post: Enough with IRMAA complaining
Link to comment from December 31, 2025
Well, if you manage to hit the top bracket, you're paying the full cost. Over $500K for singles, $750K for married couples.
Post: Enough with IRMAA complaining
Link to comment from December 31, 2025
If you are more conservative in your investments than the market as a whole, yes, you will receive lower returns during boom years. But when the crash comes, your portfolio will go down less than the market as a whole, and will recover more quickly. This is what retirees should be doing. While the market as a whole may provide splendid returns over the long term, your term is not so long any more. If you have managed to save a lot of money, you are looking to match inflation,or maybe a little more, and make it all the way to the end. This year, I increased my assets by 10.5% while the S&P 500 returned 18%. Yes, I could have made more by investing in the tech-heavy S&P, but maybe, just maybe, the tech stocks are a powder-keg waiting to blow up. No one can know what will happen in the immediate future, and the immediate future is where retirees are living. The market may hit new highs in 2060, but I won't be here.
Post: Average vs. Humble Average
Link to comment from December 29, 2025
There may not be cuts, but they will find a way to tax wealthy retirees more. So in effect, there will be cuts for some.
Post: Who cares if Social Security benefits are cut?
Link to comment from December 27, 2025
There are many approaches that will work. The big question is how much money do you have, and how much do you need to spend? Maybe you need to draw down your assets, maybe you can continue to build up your assets. That's why personal finance is personal.
Post: The Only Other Spending Rule Article You Will Ever Need
Link to comment from December 27, 2025
You could raise the tax and raise the payout - just put in a third bend point that pays a very small percentage. This would keep the principles of SS intact: the more you put in, the more you get out. But how many people make more than $180K over 35 years? A very small number. Yes, 10 or 20 years in the future SS might have to pay out slightly more to a small number of people, but it would have little overall impact.
Post: The dilemma of fixing Social Security. Quinn has a few ideas focused on fairness for future and current retirees
Link to comment from December 26, 2025