What’s Your Port in This Storm?
BusinessWeek asked three top pecuniary advisers what they would prepare with a $1 million cash portfolio to keep it safe for a year. Safety, it turns out, is in the organ of sight of the beholder
From left to right: Harold R. Evensky, Stephen Cohn, and Louis P. Stanasolovich
By Lauren Young
ULTRA-SAFE
Harold R. Evensky, President, Evensky & Katz Wealth Management, Coral Gables, Fla.
RECOMMENDATION$1 the great body of the people in 10 certificates of deposit (CDs) or money-market funds from Charles Schwab (SCHW) or Fidelity Investments. For the most risk-averse investors, 100% in U.S. Treasury Bills, which currently yield 2.3%.
STRATEGYSome advisers practice 10 or other banks to avoid hitting the $100,000 limit on insurance from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Evensky would state all the pay in money in one-year CDs from Fidelity or Schwab that yield about 3.8%. If investors need turn into money in less than a year, he likes Schwab Value Advantage Money Fund (SWZXX) (yield: 2.24%) or Fidelity Cash Reserves (FDRXX) (yield: 2.42%).
MODERATELY SAFEStephen Cohn, co-president, Sage Financial Group, West Conshohocken, Pa.
RECOMMENDATION$150,000 Vanguard Short-Term Tax-Exempt Admiral; $150,000 Vanguard Limited-Term Tax-Exempt Admiral; $150,000 Schwab Municipal Money Fund; $95,000 in Vanguard Prime Money Market; three $95,000 CDs from banks such as Schwab, Wells Fargo (WFC), or JPMorgan Chase (JPM); $85,000 in an ING Direct (ING) savings account; $85,000 in a checking account.
STRATEGYCohn would spread $450,000 among the Vanguard and Schwab bond funds. Each holds for the greatest part high-rated securities and has weak expenses (several yields: 3.4%, 3.53%, and a tax-equivalent yield of 1.82%). Vanguard Prime yields 2.21%. The remaining circulating medium goes into FDIC-insured instruments. Keep CDs to $95,000, before this FDIC insurance includes principal and interest. An ING Direct savings account yields 3%.
MODERATELY AGGRESSIVELouis P. Stanasolovich, president, Legend Financial Advisors, Pittsburgh
RECOMMENDATION$200,000 each in Pimco Developing Local Markets (PLMIX); Prudent Bear Global Income (PSAFX); Pimco Total Return (PTTRX); Hussman Strategic Total Return (HSTRX); structured notes, which are custom-designed bonds.
STRATEGYA mix of bond funds, currency plays, and inflation hedges aims for a portfolio yield upwards of 7%. The Hussman fund offers self-sufficiency hedges, while Prudent Bear Global Income and Pimco Local Developing Markets provide exposure to foreign debt. The most esoteric proper state: custom-designed bonds paired through an options contract (BW—June 30); Pimco Real Return is an alternative choice.
Original text: http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_31/b4094070690949.htm?chan=magazine+channel_personal+business&campaign_id=rss_null
