Wes Moss, a fiduciary financial advisor, shares insights on navigating the current turbulent market. He highlights a significant trend of retirement account trading driven by alarming headlines, advocating for confidence in uncertain times. Moss introduces the 'Dry Powder Principle' to protect your portfolio amidst volatility. The conversation emphasizes understanding risk tolerance and adapting investment strategies throughout life stages, while exploring the dynamics of dividend stocks in relation to overall financial planning.
The surge in retirement account trading reflects concern over market instability, prompting a shift to stable value funds for safety.
Implementing the 'Dry Powder Principle' ensures retirees maintain a strategic reserve of liquid assets to protect against market fluctuations.
Deep dives
Enhanced Credit Management Tools
The Credit Karma app provides users with free access to credit scores and reports from major credit bureaus. It not only allows for active monitoring of credit but also sends alerts for significant changes, enabling users to maintain oversight of their credit health. Users can find tailored credit card offers based on their financial profile, ensuring they select options aligned with their specific needs. With over 140 million members relying on its services, Credit Karma simplifies credit management and promotes informed financial decisions.
Psychological Strategies for Retirement Savings
Utilizing psychological insights can enhance retirement savings significantly. Research from Indiana University and UCLA highlights that prompting individuals to visualize their future selves can lead to an average increase in savings of 14%. Techniques such as the 'going home effect' can make savings feel more tangible by reducing uncertainty associated with future planning. This visualization process can be as simple as drawing plans at the dinner table, which can improve decision-making regarding financial contributions to retirement plans.
Understanding Dry Powder Investments
Dry powder refers to liquid assets available for investments that can serve as a protective cushion during market fluctuations. Retirees are encouraged to maintain three years' worth of expenses in safer options, such as bonds or cash equivalents, rather than high-yield or risky investments. Different types of bonds and cash instruments can qualify as dry powder, offering a level of safety as they provide easier access to funds without excessive risk. This strategy allows retirees to balance their portfolios while ensuring they have sufficient funds available during retirement years.
Navigating Risk Tolerance Over Time
Risk tolerance tends to shift as individuals age, shifting from aggressive investments in earlier decades to a more conservative approach in later years. Data indicates that peak risk tolerance occurs around age 55, with many beginning to favor conservative portfolios as they approach retirement. Younger investors may still lean toward cautious strategies, but a noticeable shift towards preserving capital happens as retirement nears. Financial planning guidelines suggest tailored allocations based on age and investment horizons to ensure risk is appropriately managed throughout different life stages.
Are you seeing unsettling headlines about 2025? You're not alone. Reports show a surge in retirement account trading, with a staggering 40% of people moving to stable value funds. Fiduciary financial advisor Wes Moss explains why "Tariff Terror" is driving these decisions – and the incredible reason why we should navigate uncertainty with confidence. Also, with market dips and volatility on the rise, how can you protect your portfolio? Wes introduces the "Dry Powder Principle” -- your strategic reserve of safety assets.
Plus, Christa shares your #AskWes questions and Wes gives his take. All this and more on the March 18, 2025, Ask an Advisor episode of the Clark Howard podcast. Submit your questions at clark.com/ask.
We hope you enjoy our weekly Ask An Advisor episodes, in which Christa and Wes discuss investing and retirement savings in depth. Let us know what you think in the comments!