Why I Hate Total Bond Market Index Funds
Posted: Wed May 17, 2023 12:59 pm
Don't know if any of you are invested or have invested in Vanguard's Total Bond Fund. In the past and recently I've given strong thought to investing in it.
But after reading this excellent and highly informative article is it now permanently off my list of future investments.
Vinny
Why I Hate Total Bond Market Index Funds
https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/total ... 2010787574
Problems with Total Bond Market Fund
Now that we've defined the fund, let's talk about why I don't use it.
#1 TBM Is Not Total
For something that purports to own “everything,” there are an awful lot of bonds that are not included in the fund. Here are some of the omissions:
EE Savings Bonds
I Savings Bonds
TIPS
Junk (High-Yield) Bonds
Municipal Bonds
Foreign Bonds
Private Bonds
It's only a “one-stop shop” if you don't want any of that other stuff. Imagine if a total stock market fund left out REITs, tech stocks, and healthcare stocks. You wouldn't consider it to be very “total,” would you? You don't have to invest in everything, but if you're going to say you do, you actually should.
#2 No Inflation Protection
#3 Takes Risk on the Bond Side
#4 Owns Mortgage Bonds
#5 Bad in Taxable
But after reading this excellent and highly informative article is it now permanently off my list of future investments.
Vinny
Why I Hate Total Bond Market Index Funds
https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/total ... 2010787574
Problems with Total Bond Market Fund
Now that we've defined the fund, let's talk about why I don't use it.
#1 TBM Is Not Total
For something that purports to own “everything,” there are an awful lot of bonds that are not included in the fund. Here are some of the omissions:
EE Savings Bonds
I Savings Bonds
TIPS
Junk (High-Yield) Bonds
Municipal Bonds
Foreign Bonds
Private Bonds
It's only a “one-stop shop” if you don't want any of that other stuff. Imagine if a total stock market fund left out REITs, tech stocks, and healthcare stocks. You wouldn't consider it to be very “total,” would you? You don't have to invest in everything, but if you're going to say you do, you actually should.
#2 No Inflation Protection
#3 Takes Risk on the Bond Side
#4 Owns Mortgage Bonds
#5 Bad in Taxable