According to this principle, individuals should hold a percentage of stocks equal to 100 minus their age. So, for a typical 60-year-old, 40% of the portfolio should be equities. The rest would comprise high-grade bonds, government debt, and other relatively safe assets.
What is a balanced portfolio? A balanced portfolio seeks moderate levels of risk and return by investing in an even split of stocks and bonds. It then dials up or diversifies one or the other based on market conditions, risk tolerance or other factors.
The moderately conservative allocation is 25% large-cap stocks, 5% small-cap stocks, 10% international stocks, 50% bonds and 10% cash investments. The moderate allocation is 35% large-cap stocks, 10% small-cap stocks, 15% international stocks, 35% bonds and 5% cash investments.
Saving Enough for Retirement
Work to achieve a 15% savings target as soon as possible to help reach your retirement savings goals.
Almost Retirement: Your 50s and 60s
Sample Asset Allocation: Stocks: 50% to 60% Bonds: 40% to 50%
Income Portfolio: 70% to 100% in bonds. Balanced Portfolio: 40% to 60% in stocks. Growth Portfolio: 70% to 100% in stocks. For long-term retirement investors, a growth portfolio is generally recommended.
The rule of 110 is a rule of thumb that says the percentage of your money invested in stocks should be equal to 110 minus your age. So if you are 30 years old the rule of 110 states you should have 80% (110–30) of your money invested in stocks and 20% invested in bonds.
According to this principle, individuals should hold a percentage of stocks equal to 100 minus their age. So, for a typical 60-year-old, 40% of the portfolio should be equities. The rest would comprise high-grade bonds, government debt, and other relatively safe assets.
The old rule of thumb used to be that you should subtract your age from 100 - and that's the percentage of your portfolio that you should keep in stocks. For example, if you're 30, you should keep 70% of your portfolio in stocks. If you're 70, you should keep 30% of your portfolio in stocks.
Investments and Allocation
One general rule of thumb when it comes to portfolio allocation is to subtract your age from either 100 or 110. The resulting number is the approximate percentage you should allocate to stocks. At age 50, this would leave you with 50 to 60 percent in equities.
One frequently used rule of thumb for retirement spending is known as the 4% rule. It's relatively simple: You add up all of your investments, and withdraw 4% of that total during your first year of retirement. In subsequent years, you adjust the dollar amount you withdraw to account for inflation.
No investment is entirely safe, but there are five (bank savings accounts, CDs, Treasury securities, money market accounts, and fixed annuities) which are considered the safest investments you can own. Bank savings accounts and CDs are typically FDIC-insured. Treasury securities are government-backed notes.
Many retirement planners suggest the typical 401(k) portfolio generates an average annual return of 5% to 8% based on market conditions. But your 401(k) return depends on different factors like your contributions, investment selection and fees.
Typically, a balanced portfolio has a 50/50 or 60/40 split between stocks and bonds. And because you have a mix of stocks and bonds, you are balancing your risk level — and your possible return on investments. Having a balanced portfolio means striking a balance between preserving your capital and achieving growth.
Age: 51 to 55 -- 70% in equities and 30% in fixed income. Of the equity portion, 40% invested in large cap. growth funds, 25% small cap. growth funds, 25% in large cap.
How to Invest for Retirement at Age 60 the Right Way. One of the best ways to invest for retirement at age 60 is through an IRA, 401(k), or a combination thereof. All of these will allow you to save more money over time. And, you can use tax-free and tax-deferred advantages to pay less to Uncle Sam.
Use Balanced Funds for a Middle-of-the-Road Allocation Approach. A balanced fund allocates your 401(k) contributions across both stocks and bonds, usually in a proportion of about 60% stocks and 40% bonds. The fund is said to be "balanced" because the more conservative bonds minimize the risk of the stocks.
A common-sense strategy may be to allocate no less than 5% of your portfolio to cash, and many prudent professionals may prefer to keep between 10% and 20% on hand at a minimum. Evidence indicates that the maximum risk/return trade-off occurs somewhere around this level of cash allocation.
Commonly cited rules of thumb suggest subtracting your age from 100 or 110 to determine what portion of your portfolio should be dedicated to stock investments. For example, if you're 30, these rules suggest 70% to 80% of your portfolio allocated to stocks, leaving 20% to 30% of your portfolio for bond investments.
For decades, investors relied on the so-called 60/40 portfolio—a mix of 60% stocks and 40% bonds, or something close to it—to generate enough stable growth and steady income to meet their financial goals.
What should a 70-year-old invest in? The average 70-year-old would most likely benefit from investing in Treasury securities, dividend-paying stocks, and annuities. All of these options offer relatively low risk.
Most experts say your retirement income should be about 80% of your final pre-retirement annual income. 1 That means if you make $100,000 annually at retirement, you need at least $80,000 per year to have a comfortable lifestyle after leaving the workforce.
The rallies of recent years were a boon to 60/40 portfolios, with rock-bottom interest rates pushing up both bond prices and stock valuations, particularly those of high growth companies. The mix delivered an average return of 18% from 2019 through 2021, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.