Why Keep Bonds At Your Portfolio Party?

Stocks might be driving you crazy with their manic ups and downs. But there is no doubt; they’re still the life and soul of the party. No matter what the economy tosses at the markets, stocks continue to deliver. Despite the COVID-led market bath in March, the S&P 500 gained about 7.3 percent from January 1st to October 7, 2020.

That’s on top of 31.2 percent last year. All told, U.S. stocks have gained about 370 percent since January 2009. That’s a compound annual return of 14.13 percent.

Bonds, in contrast, are like uninvited guests. Twenty years ago, they eked out decent interest. But now they slump at their stools and seem to barely breathe.

This has many people asking, “Should I own bonds at all?”