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Cash: Benefits & Dangers

Cash: Benefits & Dangers

When stocks and bonds experience negative performance, as they have this year, many investors become interested in cash.

Indeed, some will repeat the mantra, “cash is king.”

This has certainly been the case this year as nominal yields have been increasing to levels we haven’t seen in years.

But, as with any financial decision, it is important to understand the benefits and dangers of any change in strategy before we act.

The Benefits of Cash

The greatest benefit of cash comes when we view and utilize it for short-term needs such as paying monthly expenses, buying a car, or funding an upcoming vacation. Whether the cash is set aside in our checking account or an emergency savings account, it’s not about the yield but the accessibility and dependability of the US dollar.

An allocation to cash for upcoming (or unexpected) expenses reduces the risk of having to sell stocks or bonds that are down in value to pay your bills.

Cash is of greatest benefit when it is used to pay for upcoming expenses, saved in an emergency fund for unexpected expenses, and as part of an investment strategy with stocks, bonds, and other investment assets.

The Dangers of Cash

The greatest dangers of cash are when we utilize it as an investment (or parking spot) within a long-term investment portfolio. While cash offers a positive nominal yield, it almost always produces a negative real return (interest rate less inflation rate).

Due to its negative real return, cash is not a sustainable long-term investment strategy.

Some investors are tempted to use cash as a “parking spot” when experiencing losses in their investments. While moving to cash will remove the immediate risk of short-term loss, and likely provide instant emotional relief, it introduces significantly more risk to future returns. Since cash is not a sustainable long-term investment strategy, the investor must guess when to get back in.

When are you going to feel “safe”?

Let’s say the market goes up 15% from the bottom. Is it now “safe” to get back in? What about 20%, or 30%?

What if the market goes up, the investor re-enters the market, and it goes down again? Does the investor move back to cash? And at what point would the investor realize the train has left the station (bull market) and the investor is not on board?

You get the point. Going to cash in an investment portfolio provides temporary emotional relief and stops the short-term bleeding, but introduces significantly more risk as the investor has become a speculator – trying to figure out when to get back in and how long to stay.

– Kaleb Paddock, CFP®

Learn More

You can learn more about Ten Talents and Kaleb Paddock, a financial advisor based in Parker, Colorado, by clicking here.

Kaleb can be reached at (720) 710-0939 or kaleb@tentalentsfp.com.

You can check out the Ten Talents YouTube channel by clicking here.

About Kaleb

Hi, I’m Kaleb. and I’m the Founder of Ten Talents. I’m blessed to be regularly featured in CNBC, MONEY, and Business Insider personal finance articles. I’m a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ (CFP®) Professional based in Parker, Colorado and I’m a fiduciary and fee-only advisor.

Put simply, this means that I don’t sell you financial products. I act in your best interest at all times. And my pricing is clear and easy to understand.

My Client are Eyeing Retirement Decisions

My clients are eyeing retirement decisions, often work at technology companies, or have experienced a sudden money event (inheritance, home sale, business sale, stock IPO, gift).

I love bringing confidence and clarity to your financial situation and I’m passionate about helping you take control of your financial future.

You can learn more about me and Ten Talents by visiting my website: www.tentalentsfp.com.

©2022 The Behavioral Finance Network.

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