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Your Money Guide on the Side

Should I Invest in Bonds?

Your Money Guide on the Side

Tyler Gardner

How To, Entrepreneurship, Business, Education, Investing

4.92.4K Ratings

🗓️ 17 March 2025

⏱️ 13 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

And in case you missed it, check out last week's episode of Your Money Guide on the Side where we answer the question, What even is Cryptocurrency?  Bonds have been a staple in portfolios for decades, often hailed as the “safe” investment that brings stability and protects wealth. But what if I told you that this belief is outdated, and in many cases, dangerously misleading? In today’s episode, I take a hard look at why bonds are overrated, the risks most investors overlook, and whether they deserve a spot in your portfolio at all. While bonds can serve a purpose, blindly following the 60/40 portfolio mantra without questioning its effectiveness can be a costly mistake. We’ll break down the three biggest risks of bonds and why they may not be as “safe” as you think: ✅ Interest Rate Risk – When rates go up, your bond values drop. It’s that simple, and 2022 proved it when the Bloomberg U.S. Aggregate Bond Index suffered its worst year in history. ✅ Inflation Risk – Your 3% return isn’t a real 3% return if inflation is running at 4-5%. That’s a recipe for losing purchasing power over time. ✅ Opportunity Cost – For every dollar you park in bonds, you’re missing out on investments with real growth potential—whether that’s stocks, real estate, or other wealth-building assets. Many investors believe bonds guarantee stability, but I argue that true long-term financial security comes from growth, not just preservation. The reality? A well-diversified stock index fund has statistically near-zero risk of going to zero, while bonds can quietly eat away at your purchasing power. So, do bonds ever make sense? Maybe—if you’re already financially set and just want to protect what you have. But for most investors, the classic advice to shift heavily into bonds at retirement may be one of the biggest financial missteps. This episode isn’t about hating bonds—it’s about thinking critically before defaulting to outdated strategies. Are you actually protecting your wealth? Or are you unknowingly holding yourself back? 👉 Tune in now, challenge conventional wisdom, and decide for yourself.

Transcript

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0:00.0

Hello, friends. This is Tyler Gardner, welcoming you to another episode of your money guide on the side,

0:06.1

where it is my job to simplify what seems complex, add nuance to what seems simple, and learn from

0:12.0

and alongside some of the brightest minds in money, finance, and investing. So let's get started and get you one step closer to where you need to be.

0:21.5

Today we're talking about something that might ruffle a few feathers in the old finance world,

0:27.1

and I get it. This is one of those sacred cows that I'd like to slowly watch pass away.

0:33.3

That sounds terrible. But it's also just how I think about it. This episode will be dedicated to

0:38.3

why I hate bonds. Or more lovingly, why I don't love bonds. Now, don't get me wrong, bonds

0:46.4

have their place, and I will get to what that place is and why you'd be silly to dismiss

0:51.8

such a beloved asset class based on some rambling ding-dong's thoughts.

0:56.2

They serve a function in portfolios, as most things do, and they're often seen as the

1:01.2

conservative, steady anchor in a well-balanced investment strategy. They're also seen as safe

1:06.7

by many, a term associated with them that is anything but safe.

1:11.5

Bluntly, bonds are overrated, especially when you consider three major factors,

1:16.1

all of which we'll get to throughout this episode in more detail.

1:19.9

Interest rate risk, inflation risk, and opportunity cost.

1:25.1

And by the end of this episode, my goal is for you to at least see slightly

1:29.1

more clearly as to the true cost and potential lack of safety associated with bonds. First off,

1:35.4

I never want to assume my audience is at step two when we need to take a moment to explore

1:39.7

step one. A bond is essentially a loan you give to a government, a corporation, or some other

1:45.4

entity. Think about it as you're loaning money to a friend. And now this friend can either be a

1:50.7

very trusted friend who is good with paying back your debt and you might ask for 3% interest

1:55.4

on the loan because it's not that high risk of a loan to you. Or it's a friend who you should

...

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