October 2019 Client Letter
Several years ago, the Wall Street Journal reported the investment success of Vermont resident Ronald Read. The story recounted how Read accumulated an estate valued at almost $8 million.
Richard C. Young & Co., Ltd. is a Naples, FL and Newport, RI based financial advisory firm. We have been ranked by Barron’s as one of the top independent financial advisors in the nation for the last eight consecutive years. We manage portfolios for individuals, families, and small businesses throughout the United States.
On August 15, the 10-year Treasury note offered a yield of 1.52%. The S&P 500 offered a yield of 1.83% and the NASDAQ composite a measly 0.97%. Think those yields are low? More than $15 trillion of government bonds worldwide now trade at negative yields, with 10-year German government bonds recently hitting a low of -0.71%.
You may have concerns about today’s environment and how a variety of risks could impact the long-term health of your finances. One of the biggest concerns we all face is interest rates that have been so low for so long.
Jim Grant writes in his Grant’s Interest Rate Observer newsletter, “almost $13 trillion in debt world-wide is priced to yield less than nothing. Mostly, it’s just a little less than nothing, but, still, a little less than nothing isn’t much to retire on.” He calls this a 4,000-year low in bond yields.
The first half of 2019 is over, and the current investment environment appears more uncertain today than it was at this time last year. While it’s difficult to judge how the remainder of the year will play out, we’ve decided to hand out letter grades to some of the current storylines that may impact financial markets and your investment portfolio.
NAPLES, FL
5150 Tamiami Trail North, Suite 400
Naples, FL 34103
Phone: (888) 456-5444 Fax: (239) 213-0770
NEWPORT, RI
98 William Street
Newport, RI 02840
Phone: (800) 843-7273 Fax: (401) 849-0002
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