In an article for BankRate, Karen Bennett discussed whether CDs or annuities are the best option for someone saving for retirement. Both are low risk compared to other options, however there are some important differences.

A CD pays a guaranteed rate of return for a certain amount of time, but the funds are completely locked up for the entire term at which point the principal is returned. However if the money needs to be accessed early, then there is likely to be a penalty which negates the earned interest and even potentially cuts into the interest. 

In contrast, an annuity is a contract that guarantees a certain amount of income for an upfront cost. Typically, annuities last for the remainder of one’s life, or it can be for a pre-set length of time. Typically, the counterparty in an annuity is an insurance company. Annuities also come in many forms. They can be structured to allow one to build wealth in a retirement account, or it can be like life insurance and pay out a benefit upon death. 

Some differences to consider are that annuities typically pay higher rates than CDs, offer similar amounts of security, higher taxes on income from CDs, and higher penalties for annuities if you need to access your principal. 

Finsum: Annuities and CDs are low risk ways to build wealth for retirement. Here are some differences to consider. 

In an article for ThinkAdvisor, Dinah Wisenberg Brin shared some tips from experienced financial advisors on the best way to integrate model portfolios into your practice. The category has seen rapid growth in recent years with nearly $400 billion in assets as of January 2023 which was up more than 20% over the previous year.

In many ways, model portfolios level the playing field between large and small firms. While some clients will always require a personal touch, model portfolios can be valuable in serving clients who have more typical goals and circumstances. Additionally, model portfolios allow advisors to focus more on enhancing the client experience and growing their business rather than managing investments. 

Another advantage is that they give smaller practices the ability to leverage tools and resources of major asset managers. These portfolios are also scalable and also leads to more optimal and efficient asset allocation. 

However, one clear disadvantage of model portfolios is that they cannot be customized especially in terms of allocations, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Therefore, they may not be appropriate for clients who have special circumstances or unique goals. 

Finsum: Model portfolios are a new innovation and are exploding in popularity. Find out if they are a good fit for your clients. 

In an article for MarketWatch, Vivien Chen covered the decline in Treasury yields following the May FOMC meeting. Although the Fed did hike rates, investors were willing to look ahead as it seems increasingly likely that this was the final hike of the cycle. According to Fed fund futures, the market now expects the Fed to begin cutting rates in Q1 of next year.

Recent economic data which continues to show a weakening labor market, decelerating growth, and softening inflation also confirm this narrative. Additionally, many regional banks continue to struggle given the inverted yield curve which many fear could lead to a credit crunch.

At the FOMC press conference, Chair Jerome Powell continued to assess the inflation battle as being a “long way to go” and that the labor market remains “very tight”. Despite Powell’s hawkish tone, fixed income markets were stronger across the board. Odds for no change in the fed funds rate reached a 95% probability. Additionally, the market’s target for the year-end fed funds rate declined slightly to 4.25% which implies a reduction of 75 basis points. 

Finsum: Treasury yields are modestly lower since the Fed’s rate hike. Odds of a pause at the next meeting have also climbed higher.