Investments

Before you add bonds to your portfolio, you should understand how they work and what variations exist among them. Just as importantly, you need to identify the risks that come with owning bonds and how you can protect yourself from them.

Bond Basics

Bonds are essentially IOUs, issued by federal, state, and municipal governments as well as by corporations and governmental agencies. They are intended to raise revenue for a wide variety of activities. For example, governments issue bonds to finance the construction of infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, airports, public housing, and schools. Corporations may use the proceeds of bonds to pay for the construction of new manufacturing facilities, research and development, or to expand into new markets.

Bond investors essentially loan money to the bond’s issuer. In return, they receive interest payments at specified intervals plus a promise that the issuer will return the bond principal to investors when the bond’s term ends on its maturity date.1

Interest Rate Risk

Bonds are not a risk-free investment. Rising interest rates may reduce the desirability of the bonds you own because there is an inverse relationship between bond prices and yield. If you opt to sell a bond before it matures because interest rates on newly issued bonds have gone up, you will most likely have to accept a lower price than you paid for it.

The Importance of Credit Quality

Credit risk — or the risk that a bond issuer will fail to make promised interest and principal payments — is another important consideration. Bonds issued by companies or entities that are financially healthy are not as risky as bonds from issuers that are less financially sound. Bonds with low credit ratings offer higher yields to compensate for added risk to your portfolio.

Rating Agencies

Rating services assess municipal bonds, all types of corporate bonds, and international bonds. U.S. Treasury bonds are not rated. Before rating a bond, analysts assess various factors that could affect the issuer’s willingness and ability to meet its obligations to bondholders. For example, they examine other debt the company carries and how fast the company’s revenues and profits are growing. They take a holistic approach in that they also review the state of the economy and the financial health of other companies in the same business. In the case of municipal bond issuers, they examine and compare municipalities of a similar size and similar budget.

Credit ratings influence the interest rate an issuer must pay in order to sell its bonds. However, credit ratings are opinions about credit risk. Even though credit ratings are forward looking in that they assess the impact of foreseeable future events and can be useful to investors, they are not a guarantee that an investment will pay out or that an issuer will not default. While investors may use credit ratings in making investment decisions, they are not indicators of investment worth nor are they buy, sell, or hold recommendations. You can learn more about the rating systems of the two major services, Standard & Poor’s and Moody’s, on their websites.

This information is not meant as tailored investment or tax advice. Before building a portfolio that includes bonds, you may find it helpful to discuss your strategy with a financial professional.

1Bonds can gain or lose value based on economic conditions and market events. Principal is not guaranteed.

It is important for investors to understand that every investment has its own set of risks. One key to successful investing is to recognize the different types of risks that could be a threat to one’s financial well-being and to take steps to minimize their impact. What follows is an overview of the primary forms of investment risk as well as some tips on how to minimize that risk.

Market Risk

This is the risk that the prices of securities may fall due to external factors such as world events, economic changes, or investors’ expectations and outlook. Stock investors are more likely to be impacted by this form of risk than fixed-income investors.

Inflation Risk

Also known as purchasing power risk, this is the risk that is connected to the uncertainty over the future purchasing power of the income and principal of an investment. When prices rise (inflation), purchasing power typically falls. Historically, stocks have been less impacted by this type of risk since they have been able to appreciate in price at a faster rate than the rate of inflation. Typically, lower yielding cash equivalents are more likely to be affected by a rise in inflation.

Interest Rate Risk

When interest rates move up and down, bond prices change. When interest rates move up, newly issued bonds will generally pay a higher interest rate than similar, older bonds. What happens next is that the market of existing bonds falls because there is less demand for them. In other words, they lose market value. The opposite happens when interest rates fall: Older, previously issued bonds will pay higher rates of interest than newly issued bonds, making the older bonds more appealing to investors. The bottom line is that falling interest rates are generally beneficial to bond owners.

Maturity Risk

Since it is impossible to predict how the financial markets will perform in the future, long-term bonds are generally considered to be riskier investments than short-term bonds. This type of risk is known as maturity risk. Issuers of long-term bonds attempt to compensate for the additional risk by offering higher yields.

Credit Risk

Credit risk is the risk that a bond issuer will be unable to pay interest on the bonds it issued or repay principal when the bonds mature. Rating services, such as Moody’s Investor Services and Standard & Poor’s, carefully investigate the financial health of a bond issuer in order to alert investors to the risks of a particular issue. The rating services rate municipal bonds, corporate bonds, and international bonds. They do not rate Treasury bonds since the assumption is that they are solid, backed by the full faith and credit of the federal government. The rating services rate bond quality according to a system that employs letters and numbers, with AAA or aaa indicating the highest quality issues and CCC or ccc and below indicating poor quality issues that could default.

Credit ratings influence the interest rate an issuer must pay in order to sell its bonds. However, credit ratings are opinions about credit risk. Even though credit ratings are forward looking in that they assess the impact of foreseeable future events and can be useful to investors, they are not a guarantee that an investment will pay out or that an issuer will not default.

Currency Risk

Changes in currency exchange rates will have an impact on returns from overseas investments. For example, when the dollar rises in value in relation to the Euro, the return on a fund that holds a large number of stocks in European businesses is reduced when the Euros are converted to U.S. dollars. The opposite occurs when the dollar falls in value in relation to the Euro.

All investments have risks. Before buying a security, understand that the key to investing success is balancing risk. You can do this by having a well-diversified portfolio and an asset allocation strategy based on your risk tolerance and the number of years until you retire.

Diversification helps you manage risk by spreading your assets among a broad mix of different investments. When you do this, you are taking advantage of the fact that securities usually don’t move in the same direction at the same time. When some investments drop in value, others may rise or remain unchanged, offsetting to some degree those investments that lose value. Of course, diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss in a declining market.

Be sure to talk to your financial professional for insights on how you can balance risk in your investment portfolio.

Cryptocurrency, once a niche concept, has now become a significant player in the world of finance and investing. Born out of the desire for decentralized and borderless transactions, cryptocurrencies have rapidly evolved from mere digital tokens to complex financial instruments that can be both revolutionary and highly risky. In this article, we’ll delve into the world of cryptocurrency and explore the nuances of investing in this exciting, yet volatile, asset class.

Understanding Cryptocurrency

At its core, cryptocurrency is a digital or virtual form of money that uses cryptography for secure transactions and control of new units creation. The most well-known cryptocurrency, Bitcoin, was introduced in 2009 by an individual (or group) using the pseudonym Satoshi Nakamoto. Since then, thousands of alternative cryptocurrencies, commonly referred to as altcoins, have emerged, each with unique features and purposes.

The Blockchain Technology

Central to the functioning of cryptocurrencies is blockchain technology. A blockchain is a distributed and decentralized digital ledger that records all transactions across a network of computers. This technology ensures transparency, security, and immutability of transactions, eliminating the need for intermediaries like banks. The blockchain’s potential extends beyond finance, finding applications in supply chain management, healthcare, and more.

Investing in Cryptocurrency

Cryptocurrency investing is akin to navigating a digital frontier. While potentially lucrative, it comes with substantial risks due to its volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and evolving nature. Here are some key considerations for those looking to invest in cryptocurrencies:

1. Research: Before investing, it’s crucial to thoroughly research the cryptocurrency you’re interested in. Understand its underlying technology, use case, market trends, and the team behind its development.
2. Diversification: Just like with traditional investments, diversification is essential in the world of cryptocurrencies. Rather than putting all your funds into a single asset, consider spreading your investments across different cryptocurrencies to mitigate risk.
3. Risk Management: Due to their volatility, cryptocurrencies can experience rapid price fluctuations. Only invest what you can afford to lose without jeopardizing your financial stability.
4. Security: Cryptocurrency exchanges can be vulnerable to hacking and other security breaches. Use reputable exchanges and consider storing the majority of your holdings in offline wallets for added security.
5. Long-Term Vision: Cryptocurrency markets are known for their short-term price fluctuations. However, successful investors often adopt a long-term perspective, focusing on the potential of the technology over time rather than day-to-day price movements.
6. Regulatory Landscape: Regulations around cryptocurrencies vary widely across countries and can impact the market’s stability. Stay informed about the legal environment in your region and globally.

Challenges and Future Outlook

While the potential of cryptocurrencies is undeniably exciting, several challenges remain. Regulatory uncertainty, scalability issues, and concerns about energy consumption are among the factors that could impact the future of cryptocurrencies. Additionally, the market is prone to speculative bubbles, which can lead to rapid price crashes.

However, many experts believe that the underlying blockchain technology will continue to evolve and find innovative applications. Central banks are exploring the concept of central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), which could further legitimize the space. Cryptocurrencies might also become a hedge against traditional financial systems and a way to enable financial inclusion for underserved populations around the world.

Cryptocurrency has ushered in a new era of financial innovation, offering both opportunities and challenges. Investing in this space requires careful research, risk management, and a long-term perspective. While the road ahead is uncertain, one thing is clear: cryptocurrencies and their underlying technology are reshaping the financial landscape, and those who approach them with knowledge and caution stand to benefit from the digital revolution.