Investing doesn’t require sifting through earnings reports and analyst predictions, trying to identify the stocks that are about to take off. In fact, the key to reaching your long-term financial goals is often to keep investing simple.
Vanguard founder Jack Bogle pioneered low-cost investing, which ushered in a new era of affordable mutual funds and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). If you’re in your 50s and nearing retirement, you may be wondering how to shift your portfolio to align with your risk tolerance, time horizon and goals. Bogle’s low-cost investing model can help – and implementing it can be fairly simple.
The compounding power of lower fees
Investing in low-cost index funds instead of funds with much higher expense ratios won’t change your returns overnight, but it can result in significant savings in the long run. There are plenty of ETFs that mirror the S&P 500 and other popular benchmarks with expense ratios below 0.10%. Funds charging 1% expense ratios look a lot less attractive in comparison.
For instance, someone with $500,000 in their portfolio invested in funds with a 1% expense ratio will pay $5,000 in fees by the end of the year. But someone investing the same amount in funds with 0.25% expense ratios will pay just $1,250.
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Why simplicity reduces risk for late-stage investors
Bogle’s recommended approach is to invest in a handful of broad index funds and have long holding periods. That way, your wealth doesn’t depend on a single stock or sector. It gets to rise during bull markets, but the losses are often less severe during bear markets and corrections.
Consistently buying shares of index funds via dollar-cost averaging, such as each month, and holding them for the long haul helps you avoid making investing decisions based on emotions.
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How to go ‘Bogle-style’ in your 50s
Implementing Bogle’s investing advice once you’re in your 50s may not require substantial changes. It involves an audit so you can see which funds you’re invested in and how much you’re paying in fees. If you aren’t diversified across assets, such as stocks and bonds, domestic and international assets, and assets of different sizes and sectors, invest in funds that offer more diversification. If you’re paying more than you’re comfortable with in fees, you can sell shares in high-cost funds and invest in more affordable ones.
As you’re nearing retirement, it can make sense to max out your retirement savings accounts so you can enjoy tax advantages along the way. While Roth accounts shield you from taxes on withdrawals, a traditional retirement plan lets you enjoy tax-deferred contributions.
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Analyze your current tax situation and which tax bracket you expect to be in the future to determine which type of account you should invest in. Tax diversification can also help reduce risk and costs in retirement: Many investors put money in their employer-sponsored retirement accounts like 401(k)s, as well as individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and taxable brokerage accounts.
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