How to Analyze Funds, and You May Retire Sooner Than Planned

Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing

The Motley Fool

Investing, Business

4.3 • 3.1K Ratings

🗓️ 2 May 2026

⏱️ 24 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

According to the Investment Company Institute, more than 120 million individuals in the U.S. own some type of fund. After all, they may not have a choice; the most common way Americans save for retirement is through an employer plan such as a 401(k), and in most of those plans, the only investment choices are a menu of funds. Robert Brokamp and Amanda Kish discuss the factors to consider when evaluating mutual funds and ETFs. Also in this episode:-Interest rates are rising, bond prices are falling, and the Fed is staying put… as is Jerome Powell.-Approximately a third of car buyers who traded in a vehicle had negative equity, and auto loan default rates are at their highest level since 2010.-Almost half of retirees stop working sooner than expected, mostly not by choice, so factor a shorter career into your retirement calculations.-We’re already a third through 2026, so revisit those New Year’s resolutions from January by getting caught up with our “Year Well Planned” challenge. Host: Robert Brokamp, CFP®, EAGuest: Amanda Kish, CFA, CFP®Engineer: Bart Shannon Disclosure: Advertisements are sponsored content and provided for informational purposes only. The Motley Fool and its affiliates (collectively, “TMF”) do not endorse, recommend, or verify the accuracy or completeness of the statements made within advertisements. TMF is not involved in the offer, sale, or solicitation of any securities advertised herein and makes no representations regarding the suitability, or risks associated with any investment opportunity presented. Investors should conduct their own due diligence and consult with legal, tax, and financial advisors before making any investment decisions. TMF assumes no responsibility for any losses or damages arising from this advertisement.We’re committed to transparency: All personal opinions in advertisements from Fools are their own. The product advertised in this episode was loaned to TMF and was returned after a test period or the product advertised in this episode was purchased by TMF. Advertiser has paid for the sponsorship of this episode.Learn more about your ad choices. Visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	How to analyze funds, and you may retire sooner than planned. That and more on this Saturday
0:06.4	personal finance edition of the Motley Fool Hidden Gems Investing podcast. I'm Robert Brokamp,
0:18.5	and it's the first Saturday of the month, which means it's the next installment of our 2026 financial planning challenge.
0:24.2	This month, Amanda Kish joins me to discuss the factors to consider when evaluating mutual funds and ETFs.
0:30.2	The first up, some items from the news.
0:32.5	You know, oil is once again on the rise, but the stock market doesn't seem to care.
0:36.6	As of this taping on Thursday
0:38.0	morning, the ESOB 500 is up more than 12% for the month of April. But the bond market is showing
0:44.0	signs of anxiety. The rate on the 10-year treasury got over 4.4% again this week, and the rate on
0:49.5	the 30-year treasury is just a hair below 5%. Except for a brief spike in 23, the rate on the 30-year
0:56.1	treasury is getting to a level not seen since the early 2010s. As rates go up, bond prices fall,
1:02.3	which is why the bond market is about flat for the year on a total return basis, despite
1:07.0	yielding above 4%. And the bond market shouldn't expect any near-term help from the Federal Reserve.
1:12.2	The Fed concluded its latest meeting this week, leaving rates unchanged,
1:16.0	and the futures market predicts that that will remain the case for the rest of the year,
1:20.0	and that if there are any movements in rates,
1:22.6	it's just about as likely to be a hike as a cut, given rising inflation.
1:28.9	I should point out that this was likely the last meeting with Jerome Powell as chair, but he's not leaving. He has the option to remain
1:33.4	on the board as governor. Traditionally, chairs resign after their terms, but they don't have to.
1:38.0	At the post-meeting press conference, Powell said he's going to remain until an investigation
1:41.8	into the costs of renovating the Federal Reserve's
1:44.4	headquarters is, quote, well and truly over with transparency and finality, end of quote.
	...

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