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  • atush
    atush Posts: 18,731 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    I would certainly expect there to be Some equity investment in a pot that large. Thru ITs as suggested, or some solid equity income funds.

    But would suggest holding cash deposits as well. Some fixed rate bonds maturing in different years. And do take care to put some in the wife's name so as to use her tax allowance instead of just the husbands.
  • gadgetmind
    gadgetmind Posts: 11,130 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    atush wrote: »
    But would suggest holding cash deposits as well. Some fixed rate bonds maturing in different years. And do take care to put some in the wife's name so as to use her tax allowance instead of just the husbands.

    Pretty much our plan. We'll both have NS&I linkers and my wife will have various terms of cash holdings, a gilt ladder (if/when they regain sanity) and equity holdings, probably via ITs or trackers.

    We need our money to last 35+ years, and you can't do that without diverse holdings that includes a decent slug of equities.
    I am not a financial adviser and neither do I play one on television. I might occasionally give bad advice but at least it's free.

    Like all religions, the Faith of the Invisible Pink Unicorns is based upon both logic and faith. We have faith that they are pink; we logically know that they are invisible because we can't see them.
  • luvpump
    luvpump Posts: 1,621 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker
    bcfcctid wrote: »
    He is 74 year old homeowner wit a 73 year old wife
    has a pension and no debts

    is that ok?

    Why doesnt he just spend it , not all of it ofcourse , but enjoy life, they could both be dead tommorow !
  • gadgetmind
    gadgetmind Posts: 11,130 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    luvpump wrote: »
    enjoy life, they could both be dead tommorow !

    Yes, what could possibly go wrong.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lotus_Eater
    I am not a financial adviser and neither do I play one on television. I might occasionally give bad advice but at least it's free.

    Like all religions, the Faith of the Invisible Pink Unicorns is based upon both logic and faith. We have faith that they are pink; we logically know that they are invisible because we can't see them.
  • GeorgeHowell
    GeorgeHowell Posts: 2,739 Forumite
    jamesd wrote: »
    Then you'd guarantee a very large loss of capital if there's an income need here.

    Investments can be expected to deliver perhaps 4-6% of capital as income, more than that if there's deliberate capital drawdown. Inflation at 3-4% and that's perhaps 10% capital loss a year less interest rate unless investments are used. Perhaps fifteen years until the money has run out at 6% income taking.

    By contrast, now is a relatively good time to be buying equities. Lots of price drops already so the downside/upside risk in many markets is pretty strongly in favour of buying, though gradually to avoid shocks. Less good for high quality corporate or government bonds in Europe, US and Japan though.

    But we still don't know the objectives or risk tolerance here, so much of this is currently moot.

    I agree with the last paragraph. But otherwise this is pretty much the stock answer from those who support equities as the bedrock of any portfolio. It largely ignores the vagaries of the markets in the medium (and perhaps long) term, the ever-increasing instability of the world economy, and the fact that the historical-trend based 'equities are best' argument is surely now at best wracked with uncertainty, and arguably completely shot.
    No-one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions. He had money as well.

    The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money.

    Margaret Thatcher
  • gadgetmind
    gadgetmind Posts: 11,130 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    It largely ignores the vagaries of the markets in the medium (and perhaps long) term

    No, it doesn't ignore that at all.
    the fact that the historical-trend based 'equities are best' argument is surely now at best wracked with uncertainty, and arguably completely shot.

    "Arguably"? Who's making that argument and where?

    Of course, equities are just one asset class, and the circumstances where they should be 100% of a portfolio are few and far between. However, the same applies to being 100% in cash, gold or gilts.
    I am not a financial adviser and neither do I play one on television. I might occasionally give bad advice but at least it's free.

    Like all religions, the Faith of the Invisible Pink Unicorns is based upon both logic and faith. We have faith that they are pink; we logically know that they are invisible because we can't see them.
  • GeorgeHowell
    GeorgeHowell Posts: 2,739 Forumite
    gadgetmind wrote: »
    No, it doesn't ignore that at all.

    I don't see the word "vagary" or a synonym of it in the post, so yes it does ignore it.

    gadgetmind wrote: »
    "Arguably"? Who's making that argument and where?

    I am, here.
    No-one would remember the Good Samaritan if he'd only had good intentions. He had money as well.

    The problem with socialism is that eventually you run out of other people's money.

    Margaret Thatcher
  • gadgetmind
    gadgetmind Posts: 11,130 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    I don't see the word "vagary" or a synonym of it in the post, so yes it does ignore it.

    Perhaps you need to explain what you mean by "vagaries" and why you think that it's being ignored and by who?
    I am, here.

    No, you're making statements. If you want to back these up with well-grounded arguments, then please go ahead.
    I am not a financial adviser and neither do I play one on television. I might occasionally give bad advice but at least it's free.

    Like all religions, the Faith of the Invisible Pink Unicorns is based upon both logic and faith. We have faith that they are pink; we logically know that they are invisible because we can't see them.
  • gadgetmind
    gadgetmind Posts: 11,130 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    BTW, the best tool that I know of to play "what if" with different portfolios is firecalc.

    http://firecalc.com/

    It's got a US flavour but the principles work anywhere.

    Try 1 month treasuries as a cash equivalent and see what drawdown you can mange from a portfolio of cash and bonds. Now try adding equities.

    Note that Firecalc uses data going back to 1871. Two world wars, one great depression, loads of crashes, loads of depressions, and the odd credit crunch.

    Enough vagaries for you?
    I am not a financial adviser and neither do I play one on television. I might occasionally give bad advice but at least it's free.

    Like all religions, the Faith of the Invisible Pink Unicorns is based upon both logic and faith. We have faith that they are pink; we logically know that they are invisible because we can't see them.
  • gadgetmind
    gadgetmind Posts: 11,130 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    edited 17 June 2012 at 12:12PM
    OK, I just did a few runs. I wound fees up to 0.5%, used a 250k portfolio with 12.5k drawdown per annum for 30 years.

    75% equities gives a 68.5% success rate.

    0% is only 18.9%.

    Maybe those who would eschew equities can find a better portfolio using treasuries, bonds and cash?
    I am not a financial adviser and neither do I play one on television. I might occasionally give bad advice but at least it's free.

    Like all religions, the Faith of the Invisible Pink Unicorns is based upon both logic and faith. We have faith that they are pink; we logically know that they are invisible because we can't see them.
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