Role of cash in the absence of tight money

[I Shrugged]

While everyone else seems to fret about one of the other three pieces of the PP, I hate the cash portion.  In the current world, there is not going to be any such thing as a tight money recession.  And even if there is, so what?  By definition it's a short period. But there won't be one unless and until the central banks allow one.  Which they will not, no way no how, not in any forseeable circumstance.

Comments?

[AdamA]

I love holding cash.  It dampens the PP's volatility and also gives me a sense of security.

I like knowing that if I need cash I have it readily available. 

[ozzy]

I Shrugged – I'm in your camp too.  Aside from my emergency fund, I don't hold any cash in my portfolio.  That said, I'm in the accumulation phase with steady employment.

[mortalpawn]

Cash hedges against deflation, which is what we are seeing (in part) with the rising dollar.  As the dollar increases in value, other assets become cheaper and it is actually better to hold cash than stocks, bonds, or gold. 

Also if the stock or bond bubbles do pop, there will likely be a fire sale as the big derivative holders rush to sell assets to cover their bad bets.  In such a scenario, cash would be king - at least for a while.  This event would also be deflationary, as it was after the 1929 crash and during much of the great depression.

[koekebakker]

I don't view the PP as just an investment potfolio. The roles of gold and cash are broader than that. Gold and cash give you extra protection. Gold against extreme economic/political events and cash againt the more common individual setbacks.

Holding a substantial cash portion also prevents me from getting greedy and invest too much of my money.

[fi50@fi2023]

Before the PP, I tended to stay too heavily invested in the market and had limited liquidity.  The cash portion forces me to keep dry powder on the sidelines.

[mathjak107]

why couldn't you keep a cash position with any portfolio ?  just make it part of the portfolio allocation .

we are retired and keep 2 years withdrawals and a 50k emergency fund on the side  (10% cash ) .  no reason any portfolio can't keep powder dry

[Tyler]

I don't view the PP as just an investment potfolio. The roles of gold and cash are broader than that.

+1.  Sometimes people get so caught up in future returns that they neglect the money management side of asset allocation.  Investments are great for the future, but the stability and liquidity of cash are way more helpful for the here and now.  IMHO, cash is a great addition to any portfolio.