Cash – Critical and Unloved!
I recommend a disproportionately high amount of money to be held in cash and cash equivalent. For example, I would have more than a decade’s household expenses in cash and cash equivalent. Normally, this is the best way to prepare for a recession. If you are, say, 30 years of age, it is foolish to have so much cash in your portfolio, if you are 40 you can’t afford to, and if you are 50, you are postponing your retirement! Only a person approaching 60 can afford to trade “peace of mind” to “growth” because all the growth that one needs has already been achieved!
Now with the Corona Virus around big advisors like Goldman Sachs are also recommending a lot of cash in the client’s portfolio! Remember that like all choices in life, this too comes at a price. The price is – lower returns. Hence only a reasonably well to do investor can take this position to have more cash. However, this comes with its advantages too.
- It prepares you for a slow-down or recession or even stagflation. Immaterial of what the government of any country is telling you , you have to see what is happening in the economy. When you step out of your house, you see so many shops shut down, no hustle-bustle, you do not really expect the economy to be booming, right? Forget what bhakts and even the Ministers are saying in their Twitter Handle.
- One of the important things that cash does is it gives you the leverage to act! If you are sitting on cash and an opportunity presents itself, you can jump! Look at Buffett for international examples like how the toughest deals approach him..and how he makes a killing doing such deals. Closer home? Look at Mukesh Ambani – just the name that MA is looking to buy is enough to send prices soaring. EIH hotels, Asian Paints, Future Group, Cnbc-TV18, ..all these companies got bailed out by MDA, and some got consumed!
- Reduced portfolio variability – at a time when equity markets are at an all-time high, and interest rates are at zero, cash may not be a bad asset class at all. Only when the market falls (say dramatically) that people will talk about the virtues of holding cash. At this point in time I do have lots of cash and am sure that my 20-month cash call will be met with fresh vigour and good calls.
SS
With the Virus not tamed yet, a dull business environment with lock downs still the norm, a likelihood job loss fear looming, or a person in retirement – Would one think of putting in the hard earned money into a market or into a principal safe FD? unemployment in US is soaring to 14%.
On the other hand, the fiat currency introduced by FED in trillions and every country tuning their exchange rates to master currency, like slaves, would there be so much surplus cash and eventually run worthless? Dow Jones, Nasdaq has turned into a giant cash magnets of this fiat currency that is introduced, with zero regards to the underlying economy. It is causing an avalanche of more fools as its participants and so far going in their favor too..
ck
Mr Market ‘appears’ to reward every foolish investor. Now is precisely the time to be alarmed but not panicked
Krish
Power hungry Trump aiming to get second term at any cost seems ready to roll out our QE 3 and QE 4 which could flood couple of Trillions. Bottomline is Jeff Bezos wealth could become 200B from current 120B and so as other top 5 like Gates, Musk, WB and Balmore. Total of 4T in QEs might be the cost of second term. Sadly, unemployment figures could remain same and by the time people realize QEs are no solution to the probem, new president elections will arrive in 2024.
Dhanesh
100 Rs cash investment gives -4%(negative) return on average (aka average 4% inflation). Compare this return with all other investment opportunity at any given time and make appropriate allocation.
Anand Vaidya
Very unfortunate that you too use the word Bhakt in a pejorative meaning. This is a copyrighted word of the left liberal retards to put down whoever is oro-India, pro-BJP, pro-NaMo. Atleast you should know the deep meaning of Bhakti and Bhakt before sticking in that word. You could/should have used BJP-fans or NaMo-fans instead of Bhakt word.
Neha
Staying in Cash is never a good option. It is same as timing the market. Better call would be to invest in stocks which are immune to domestic issues such as pharma, IT and diversify across sectors in companies with strong balance sheets.
Aishwarya Pruseth
Hello Sir,
Aishwarya this side.
I came across one article of you in Indian express regarding discussing money before marriage. I really found it worthy. Indeed it’s need to be discussed. I am a 25 , I want to learn money ethics as in I want to learn how we should behave regarding money, spending and how we should value money. How exactly young generation should behave with money. I tried searching many books and articles but couldn’t find one.
Kindly help me in this regard.
I will be really greatful.
MiraD
actioned. thank you Subrabhai. was 5, now ten.
Mitesh Sharma
Great help for investors. Nice article.