We believe in honest risk disclosure:
Interest Rate Risk: When interest rates rise, bond prices fall. If rates increase significantly, your investment value will decline temporarily. However, bonds held to maturity return full principal regardless of interim price fluctuations.
Credit Risk: Corporate bond issuers could face financial difficulties, potentially defaulting on payments. Our investment-grade focus and diversification mitigate but don’t eliminate this risk.
Inflation Risk: If inflation exceeds 4.25% target returns, your real purchasing power declines. Fixed income underperforms during high inflation environments.
Liquidity Risk: While bonds are generally liquid, certain corporate bonds or agency securities may have limited trading during market stress, potentially requiring sales at unfavorable prices.
Reinvestment Risk: When bonds mature or pay coupons in a falling rate environment, reinvesting proceeds at lower yields reduces future income generation.
Opportunity Cost Risk: During strong equity market rallies, fixed income’s conservative 4.25% target significantly underperforms stocks. You sacrifice growth potential for stability.
No Guaranteed Returns: The 4.25% annual target is an objective, not a promise. Returns will vary based on interest rate environment, credit spreads, and market conditions.
Important: All investments carry risk of loss. The historic 0% negative return months and -1% maximum drawdown reflect past performance, which does not guarantee future results. Only invest capital you can afford to keep invested for 3-5+ years.