Any mutual fund that delivers regular income payments can be a retirement income fund. Dividend funds, balanced funds and bond funds are three compelling income options, although there are a range of other fund types that can provide retirees with cash flow.
Arranging a dependable stream of income is a key part of your retirement plan. Income should come from multiple sources, like Social Security, personal savings, annuities and even part-time work. Mutual funds that generate regular cash flow—so-called retirement income funds—can also play a big role.
Balanced Funds
A balanced fund owns a portfolio that includes both stocks and bonds. The fund aims to balance its potential growth by owning stocks with the stability and income generation of fixed-income assets.
Balanced funds have a target allocation between stocks and bonds, which is usually stated in the fund’s prospectus. The allocation can vary depending on the fund’s objectives and strategy. A very common target allocation is 60% stocks and 40% bonds.
Bond Funds
Bond mutual funds own fixed income assets, like government bonds, corporate bonds, municipal bonds, or a combination of these. When you invest in a bond, you are lending money to the issuer in exchange for periodic interest payments and the return of the principal amount at maturity.
By investing in a broad portfolio including hundreds or even thousands of assets, bond funds spread your investment risk across different issuers, sectors, maturities and credit ratings. By holding a diversified portfolio, managers reduce the impact of any individual bond’s performance on the overall fund.
Dividend Funds
A dividend fund owns the stocks of companies that regularly pay dividends to their shareholders. They aim to generate income from the dividend payments, and also deliver increased value from capital appreciation of the stocks.
Public companies that pay dividends are typically mature and stable firms with a history of consistent payouts. Dividend funds often target stocks with relatively higher dividend yields, seeking to provide investors with attractive income potential.
FAQs
Some of the best investments of 2024, according to Bankrate, are high-yield savings accounts, long-term CDs, corporate bond funds, dividend stock funds and value stock funds.
What is the best investment for 2024? ›
Some of the best investments of 2024, according to Bankrate, are high-yield savings accounts, long-term CDs, corporate bond funds, dividend stock funds and value stock funds.
What is the best income fund for retirees? ›
Best retirement income funds
- Vanguard LifeStrategy Income Fund (VASIX).
- Vanguard Target Retirement Income Fund (VTINX).
- Fidelity Freedom Index Income Fund Investor Class (FIKFX).
- Schwab Monthly Income Fund Income Payout (SWLRX).
- Schwab Monthly Income Fund Flexible Payout (SWKRX).
These seven low-risk but potentially high-return investment options can get the job done:
- Money market funds.
- Dividend stocks.
- Bank certificates of deposit.
- Annuities.
- Bond funds.
- High-yield savings accounts.
- 60/40 mix of stocks and bonds.
Conventional wisdom holds that when you hit your 70s, you should adjust your investment portfolio so it leans heavily toward low-risk bonds and cash accounts and away from higher-risk stocks and mutual funds. That strategy still has merit, according to many financial advisors.
What mutual funds to buy in 2024? ›
Best-performing U.S. equity mutual funds
| Ticker | Name | 5-year return (%) |
|---|
| MAEIX | MoA Equity Index Fund | 13.40% |
| BSPSX | iShares S&P 500 Index Service | 13.33% |
| VLACX | Vanguard Large Cap Index Investor | 13.30% |
| GRMSX | Nationwide S&P 500 Index Svc | 12.92% |
3 more rowsMay 1, 2024
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What is the top 1 retirement income? ›
Here is a breakdown of the estimated top 1% retirement savings by age group:
- 30-34 years: $365,000.
- 35-39 years: $730,000.
- 40-44 years: $1,234,600.
- 45-49 years: $1,397,000.
- 50-54 years: $2,311,000.
- 55-59 years: $3,105,000.
- 60-64 years: $3,550,000.
- 65-69 years: $4,574,000.
Social Security
“Additionally, a nonworking spouse can still qualify for half that amount at their full retirement age.” Over two-thirds of retired Americans depend on Social Security as their primary retirement income source.
Which pension funds are performing the best? ›
Ten best-performing pension funds
| Fund | 3 yrs (%) |
|---|
| AXA Wealth Jupiter UK Growth | 56.35 |
| FL Jupiter Distribution AP | 24.78 |
| FL Jupiter Distribution EP | 23.98 |
| Scottish Widows Jupiter Distribution | 23.22 |
6 more rowsWhere can I get 10 percent return on investment?
- Invest in stocks for the short term. ...
- Real estate. ...
- Investing in fine art. ...
- Starting your own business. ...
- Investing in wine. ...
- Peer-to-peer lending. ...
- Invest in REITs. ...
- Invest in gold, silver, and other precious metals.
While the quest for a 6% return on your savings today may require some effort, CDs and high-yield savings accounts are two viable options to consider. These accounts offer competitive interest rates, safety through FDIC insurance and ease of management.
Should a 75 year old be in the stock market? ›
Indeed, a good mix of equities (yes, even at age 70), bonds and cash can help you achieve long-term success, pros say. One rough rule of thumb is that the percentage of your money invested in stocks should equal 110 minus your age, which in your case would be 40%. The rest should be in bonds and cash.
How much should a 72 year old retire with? ›
How Much Should a 70-Year-Old Have in Savings? Financial experts generally recommend saving anywhere from $1 million to $2 million for retirement. If you consider an average retirement savings of $426,000 for those in the 65 to 74-year-old range, the numbers obviously don't match up.
How much should a 70 year old have in the stock market? ›
If you're 70, you should keep 30% of your portfolio in stocks. However, with Americans living longer and longer, many financial planners are now recommending that the rule should be closer to 110 or 120 minus your age.
What is the best retirement mix? ›
At age 60–69, consider a moderate portfolio (60% stock, 35% bonds, 5% cash/cash investments); 70–79, moderately conservative (40% stock, 50% bonds, 10% cash/cash investments); 80 and above, conservative (20% stock, 50% bonds, 30% cash/cash investments).
Which sector is best to invest in in 2024? ›
Here is a list of sectors for India in 2024 that have a good chance of doing well in 2025, 2030, 2050, and beyond.
- Energy sector.
- Real Estate.
- Financial sector.
We foresee both headline and core inflation falling to around 3% year over year by the end of 2024, down from 3.4% and 3.9% on a “trimmed mean” basis, respectively, in February. We expect inflation to fall to the midpoint of the RBA's 2%–3% target range in 2025.
What are the best investments in 2025? ›
3 Stocks That Can Help You to Get Richer in 2025 and Beyond
- Pfizer's recent slump is understandable and not likely a long-term issue.
- Veeva Systems has a lot to offer its 1,400-plus customers, and they tend to stick around.
- The S&P 500 is also worth considering, as it includes many fast growers and pays a dividend, too.
Fortunately, analysts see positive earnings and revenue growth for all eleven market sectors this year. The healthcare sector is expected to generate a market-leading 17.8% earnings growth in 2024, while the information technology sector is expected to lead the way with 9.3% revenue growth.
