With inflation picking up again and highly anticipated Federal Reserve interest rate cuts delayed, it may be a good time for Americans to tweak their investment and retirement portfolios, financial advisers say.
While U.S. rate cuts are on hold, the European Central Bank (ECB) suggested last week that its first rate cut could come in June. Though Europe’s economy is anemic compared to the U.S., those rate cuts could ignite more stock market growth that would benefit investors, advisers say. On the flipside, high U.S. rates could make U.S. fixed income a better investment.
“It’s an excellent time to buy U.S. bonds with yields near the highest levels since October 2023,” said James Sahagian, managing director of Ramapo Wealth Advisors at Steward Partners. “I also think it’s worthwhile to diversify outside of the U.S.”
Europe’s stock market is already on the rise
The Eurostoxx 50, comprised of European blue-chip stocks, is outperforming its U.S. counterpart, the Dow Jones Industrial Average. As of Tuesday, Eurostoxx 50’s one-year return is 15.77% and its year-to-date gain is 8.75%, according to Bloomberg. That compares to the Dow’s 13.91% and 0.29%, respectively.
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“In Europe, their economy’s starting to expand a little and (the ECB) can aid that by reducing rates a little,” said Derek Miser, investment advisor and chief executive at Miser Wealth Partners.
Europe has room to lower rates because “unlike in the United States, there is little evidence of overheating” to resurrect inflation, wrote Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas, economic counsellor and director of research at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a blog post about the IMF’s World Economic Outlook report released Tuesday.
The IMF also predicts Europe’s economy will expand, registering 1.5% growth by 2025, but U.S. growth will gradually slow to 1.9%.
How do lower rates help the economy?
Central banks often lower interest rates to jumpstart lackluster economies, as long as inflation is contained. Lower rates mean lower borrowing costs, which encourage people to spend and companies to invest. That, in turn, boosts corporate profits, production, output and the overall economy.
The opposite is true if central banks raise rates. Higher rates increase borrowing costs, which discourages spending and investing to slow down a hot economy and inflation. They also encourage saving because people can earn a higher return on their money.
Valuations
After a string of record highs for U.S. stocks, some financial advisers see the market as overextended compared with European stocks.
“European companies are considerably more attractive based on valuations,” Sahagian said. “That merits more consideration.”
At the end of March, Europe’s STOXX 600 index traded at about 15 times its one-year forward price-to-earnings (PE) ratio, while its U.S. counterpart S&P 500 index traded at 26 times, according to LSEG data. A lower PE multiple indicates a more attractive investment opportunity.
Bank of America’s global fund manager survey last month showed the largest allocation increase to European Union stocks since June 2020.
Stick with U.S. Treasuries
If U.S. rates are going to stay higher for longer now, investors should keep their Treasuries, which are yielding around 5%, advisers said.
It will also add some stability to your portfolio because it’s steady income, Miser said.
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What should my 401(k) look like if I take these steps?
Your allocation of stocks and bonds should always depend on your risk tolerance and how close you are to retirement, advisers say. The higher your risk tolerance or further away from retirement, the heavier the equity weighting, they say.
After you’ve decided your stock and bond allocation, you might consider taking 20% of whatever your equity position is and allocate it to a global investment fund, Miser said.
In the fixed-income portion of your portfolio, Sahagian likes the “barbell,” which means investing in short-term and long-term bonds. You gain from the high short-term interest rates while also locking in some decent long-term returns in case rates begin to fall.
Miser likes 40% in two- to five-year notes, 30% in 5- to 10-years and then the rest in 30-year bonds. The varying maturities give you the flexibility to reinvest money at various times and in various ways, including buying new Treasuries.
But with all retirement investments, consumers should consider what stage they are in life and what their goals and risk tolerance are before making moves, advisers said.
Are Costco gold bars a good investment?
Gold prices are near an all-time high around $2.400 per ounce, reflecting a “crisis of confidence,” Sahagian said. “People are looking at other assets that will hold up in the wake of uncertainties and upheaval.” They’re dissatisfied with government and monetary policy after the highest inflation in four decades and concurrent wars in Ukraine and Palestine, advisers said.
“Costco’s a trusted source (for buying things, including gold bars), and people are searching for alternative ways to invest,” Sahagian said. “Most cultures around the world value gold, like in India and Africa. So is it a good idea and liquid? Yes, you can monetize it at some point.”
Miser’s not so sure.
“Gold may have been a good idea 3-1/2 to 4 years ago when you could buy low and sell high,” he said. “That’s the opposite of buying gold now. Today, you’re buying at the highest it’s been in a long time, which typically means prices are reaching near their end.”
Costco gold bars may be better left as a novelty purchase, he said.
Medora Lee is a money, markets, and personal finance reporter at USA TODAY. You can reach her at mjlee@usatoday.com and subscribe to our free Daily Money newsletter for personal finance tips and business news every Monday through Friday.
A teen from Illinois is speaking out on the importance of early investing after she said smart financial choices allowed her to purchase her first car, a Tesla, at just 17 years old.
Sophia Castiblanco, now a junior in high school, started making money as a social media influencer at age 14, mostly producing lifestyle content like self-care tutorials showcasing her favorite products and purchases.
“I primarily generate income from TikTok brand deals and YouTube ad revenue,” Castiblanco told USA TODAY this week.
Upon witnessing her success, Castiblanco’s parents encouraged her to invest in Vanguard and Berkshire Hathaway index funds to start building long-term wealth. The teen also chose a couple of her favorite companies to purchase stock in. First, it was Tesla and Apple. “I’ve also invested in Amazon and NU,” Castiblanco shared.
That investing has really paid off: Castiblanco said she has earned over 6-figures in returns.
Here’s her advice for teens wanting to invest.
Investing advice for teens
“My content area revolves around lifestyle, focusing on sharing insights into my daily life as a homeschooled teen creator,” Castiblanco told USA TODAY.
Though most of her vlogs center around beauty and shopping, Castiblanco also produces content for teens wanting to learn investing.
“There is no minimum age to start investing,” she said, adding that investing even a little at a time will add to long-term success.
Castiblanco advises teens to open custodial accounts under a parent’s name. In her TikTok videos, she goes over which index funds to start with and also things like choosing a broker and which stocks to buy.
As for where to start, “investing in index funds diversifies your risk and gives you a more balanced portfolio,” she shared with her audience of over 383,000 followers.
As for purchasing stocks? “It’s a long-term game,” Castiblanco shared.
“You’re investing in your future. Remember to be patient. Let your investments grow over time.”
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The young investor’s future plans
When asked about her future plans, Castiblanco shared that she is focused on content creating in the lifestyle space and will continue investing as she continues to earn.
“My goals also include venturing into real estate investing and starting my own business this year,” she said.
The publicity around her success has been “a positive experience,” Castiblanco shared. Though there are privacy concerns as she continues to grow, the teen said she is “grateful for the supportive community [she’s] built online.
“I’ve enjoyed being able to inspire other teens to invest and pursue their dreams.”
Investing in Maryland is a safe bet, according to a recently released Maryland Economic Development Association study.
The January report, completed with the help of Salisbury University’s Business Economic and Community Outreach Network, found every dollar invested in county economic development operations in Maryland yielded an estimated $9.17 in return.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the impact of the economic development community in the state of Maryland,” said John Hickman, director of BEACON.
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The study was conducted to better quantify the impact of economic development efforts using empirical data to demonstrate the importance and value of economic development programs. The data, compiled by BEACON’s research team, focused on jobs added or retained, as reported by county economic development offices, and the funding invested by each county to support economic development operations.
Analysis of the 2022 and 2023 data supplied by participating county economic development offices, modeled with IMPLAN, a regional economic analysis software application, revealed varying returns on investment across communities. The estimated statewide average return for 2022 and 2023 demonstrated the generated state and local tax revenue for each dollar invested.
“As the trade association for professionals in the state at every level, it’s our partners that contribute to economic development. It includes housing and community (investment) and workforce development coming together to enhance an economy. We wanted to quantify it in terms of dollar amount on that return on investment,” said Lawrence Twele, president and founder of Eastport Partners and members of the association for over 20 years.
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Anticipating the economic needs of a growing Eastern Shore means taking stock of its assets. In Wicomico County, that starts with recognizing that much of its success boils down to location.
“This study gives a sense of investment on a broad basis that is relayed to the legislative bodies that need this data,” said David Ryan, executive director of Salisbury Wicomico Economic Development. “Our major assets are two highways intersecting in Salisbury, freight rail networks, and the Wicomico River that brings agricultural products and fuel and building aggregates. That moves the supply chain in the county, and we still have the regional airport.”
According to Ryan, the Salisbury Regional Airport accounts for an estimated $150 million in return on investment and economic impact.
Training programs like those for aviation maintenance technicians are key in addressing the shortage in labor for the next 20 years. The creation of high-paying job also draws a workforce that will need additional industries like housing, utilities and other infrastructure. More importantly, it adds to a healthy tax base.
“(This) is an opportunity to grow the aviation and aeronautics sector. Our region’s economy includes agriculture, healthcare, higher education and manufacturing. We can add other sectors to that, and not every community has an airport,” Ryan said.
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Post-pandemic, ‘an influx of interest in Somerset County’
Daniel Thompson, executive director of Somerset County Economic Development, echoed concerns over labor shortages and noted the pandemic came with its own economic challenges and surprises.
“As a rural area with a smaller population, our workforce tends to come from outside the county to sustain business growth,” Thompson said. “Before the pandemic, we were competing with the more metropolitan areas across the state, but during, we actually saw an influx of interest in Somerset County. Many people were stepping back from their business model and started looking into rural parts of Maryland.”
That coincided with aggressive market positioning to bring natural gas and its related infrastructure into the county. County commissioners also doubled down on their investment into broadband internet.
“We had incentives like enterprise and opportunity zones, and we marketed them. Things like quality of service and relationships with the contacts were important. It was more than just getting businesses there, it was getting them there for the long haul,” Thompson said.
Concerns over cyclical troubles in business were tempered by assurances the county would continue to support investors’ business goals.
Investments pay off with jobs, tax revenue and more
“The impacts of these investments is that for every project the county worked on, it retained jobs, it attracted new ones, and those jobs and the income taxes they create and taxes those businesses paid all come back as revenue. This was a way of telling the story of that return,” Twele said.
The association behind the study, in cooperation with BEACON, is a nonprofit organization of economic development professionals. Established in 1961, MEDA members promote the economic well-being of Maryland by working to improve the state’s business climate and the professionalism of those in the field of economic development.
MEDA’s membership includes economic development practitioners employed by the government, businesses, and chambers of commerce as well as other professionals with an interest in the economy of Maryland.
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