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Given today’s challenging markets and unprecedented economic circumstances, a midyear review of your investments and wealth plan takes on a heightened sense of urgency this year. Stock prices are down, interest rates are up, the pandemic is still lurking and inflation hovers at a four-decade high. Add the looming retirement for many boomers, as well as the labor and housing shortage, and you have the perfect storm of uncertainty. Here are 10 strategies to consider discussing with your financial professional in this volatile market:
1. Make appropriate inflation adjustments
You likely have assumptions of a 2% to 3% inflation rate built into your long-term portfolio. As of midsummer, the 12-month change in the cost of living topped 8%. Even if it doesn’t stay that high, you may want your assumptions to reflect an elevated inflation rate going forward. This is especially important for retirees or shorter-term investments. Using what-if scenario planning to adjust various inflation rates can help you understand the implications on your long-term plan.
Inflation is also impacting home and auto values as well. Make certain your insurance coverage remains sufficient to meet replacement costs.
2. Focus on your ‘real’ returns
Many asset classes generated solid, after-inflation (or “real”) returns in recent years. That all changed in the past year as inflation soared. Assess whether your portfolio is effectively positioned to continue to earn competitive, real returns over the long run.
3. Review your expenses
You may need to adjust your spending to reflect the fact that most things are more expensive than they were even a year ago. Setting money aside to invest toward your most important goals should remain a top priority. If your budget is strained due to higher living costs, consider adjusting your spending plan to keep your long-term financial goals on track. You may have to postpone discretionary spending or those big ticket items that you planned, such as your kitchen refresh or that marquee destination trip.
4. Review your risk assumptions
This year continues to provide roller-coaster market performance and serves up a reality check for the risk assumptions built into your portfolio strategy. Are you comfortable with how much your portfolio has fluctuated and are you willing to remain patient and wait out a recovery? Or are you gnashing your teeth given the market’s seemingly persistent volatility? This is a good time for an honest assessment of your risk tolerance and to make any appropriate adjustments to your portfolio.
5. Review how rising interest rates may affect your debt
Any loans subject to variable interest rates will likely become more expensive. The recent interest rate hikes are putting more pressure on the overall cost of new housing. This can include an adjustable-rate mortgage on your home. Rates also vary on most college loans underwritten by private lenders. Make adjustments to your spending plan to account for these potential changes.
6. Consider rebalancing your portfolio
Regardless of market conditions, your asset allocation mix should remain in balance with your target allocation, based on your risk appetite and time horizon. This is true in both up and down markets. With interest rates increasing, you will likely find your bond portfolio has declined in value. As investments perform differently with market conditions and rates, the asset mix shifts away from your target allocation. This may require you to rebalance your overall portfolio, reduce positions that have grown beyond the initial levels you established, and add to positions that currently represent less than the original allocation percentage.
7. Protect your retirement income strategy
Market volatility takes a toll on those in or near retirement. If you must withdraw funds from your investments to meet current income needs (or plan to shortly), you need to be aware of “sequence of returns” risk. This is the risk of suffering a significant portfolio decline early in retirement while withdrawing funds from your investments. Your portfolio can rapidly decline in value when this occurs, putting your long-term retirement income strategy at risk.
A ready access line of credit may be a good option to hold you over until the market recovers. Also, consider adding to your portfolio sources of reliable income. This might include the addition of an annuity with a guaranteed income benefit. Ensuring you are positioned to have the income you need in down markets is a smart move.
8. Kick tax planning into high gear
The volatile markets of 2022 may offer an opportunity to sell investment positions held in taxable accounts to harvest tax losses. You can apply those losses to offset other realized tax gains. If you have more losses than gains, you can apply up to $3,000 of losses to reduce ordinary income, and/or carry those losses forward to offset gains in future tax years. This strategy makes the most sense if you determine that specific positions are no longer a good fit for your portfolio. Be sure to comply with wash sale rules if you intend to repurchase the holding at a later date.
You’ll want to conduct a midyear assessment of your tax situation. Tax brackets are adjusted higher by the IRS each year, but those adjustments don’t reflect the current rate of inflation. If your income has increased in line with or at a faster pace than inflation, you may want to double-check your tax withholding or estimated tax payments to avoid a surprise bill when you complete your 2022 tax return next April. This so-called “bracket creep” can also be an issue if state income taxes apply where you live. Check with your tax advisor.
9. Explore Roth IRA conversion opportunities
Roth IRA conversions (moving money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA) can be more effective if done at the right time. This is a taxable transaction, as ordinary income taxes apply to earnings represented in the converted amount. If you’ve given back some gains in your IRA portfolio, the current tax liability of a Roth conversion is reduced. It may be an advantageous time to convert what you can. Be sure to consult with a tax adviser to fully understand the tax implications.
10. Pay more attention to how you manage excess cash
With rising rates, investors may earn more on their cash balances. However, real returns on cash still remain in negative territory as a result of today’s high inflation rates. You want to hold sufficient cash or have liquidity options to meet emergency needs (over three to six months) and, if retired, meet income needs over the next one to three years. Any additional cash should be put to work as part of your asset allocation mix to help you achieve your long-term investment goals.
A time of transition
With so much happening in the markets and economy in 2022, now’s a perfect time to reassess your current financial strategy. Major changes aren’t mandatory, but a midyear review that discusses these and other pertinent issues in your financial life is as timely today as ever.
Angie O’Leary is head of wealth planning at RBC Wealth Management–U.S. RBC Wealth Management, a division of RBC Capital Markets, LLC, registered investment adviser and Member NYSE/FINRA/SIPC. RBC Wealth Management does not provide tax or legal advice.
