By Pilar Gomez-Bravo, CFA, MFS Director of Fixed Income – Europe The potential diversification benefits of fixed income in a portfolio are well known by most investors. Adding bonds to an equity portfolio can help reduce portfolio volatility and protect capital over time. That’s why fixed income is sometimes referred to as the “ballast” of…
Sometimes it feels like saving any more money than you are doing currently is going to be impossible. Yet, you are probably not saving enough money every month in order to plan for a comfortable retirement. Let me share with you a couple of numbers first: The average saving rate in the US is around…
Every homeowner makes a house their own by updating the décor and making upgrades. Whether it’s for a functional reason or strictly aesthetic, everything you do to your home can potentially boost or reduce its value. Before you decide which project to tackle next, take a look at which upgrades are most likely to increase…
If you consistently live paycheck to paycheck and are thinking about getting a second, or third, job, take heed: instead of busting your behind for another boss, it might be better to focus on the money that you have and how to spend less of it. This will allow you to start saving some money…
For years, reverse mortgages were considered an obscure and often frowned upon option for seniors. However, that has changed and today reverse mortgages are widely considered a more viable option for a growing number of senior citizens who are looking to make ends meet during their retirement. There are a number of reasons for this….
By William J. Adams, Chief Investment Officer, MFS Global Fixed Income In the late 1970s and early ’80s, the US steel industry was under tremendous pressure from importers, who could sell steel cheaper than domestic producers. Many in the industry called for protectionist measures to level the playing field. Ken Iverson, the late CEO of…
By Erik Weisman, MFS Chief Economist A common question we get from advisors is, “How do you protect a portfolio in a rising rates environment?” Part of my answer is this: Don’t be so sure that rates are going up — because the bull market in fixed income may not be over. We’ve experienced a…