Should I be in cash in 2024?
Earning low interest on cash
- January: Build a monthly budget.
- February: Pick a debt repayment strategy.
- March: Hire a tax professional.
- April: Open a high-yield savings account for emergencies.
- May: Start a sinking fund for the holidays.
- June: Get a travel credit card.
- July: Optimize your shopping and spending.
Cash is seen as the most attractive asset class moving into 2024, according to a new survey. But with interest rates forecast to drop, investors are likely to start reinvesting in risk assets soon.
"Some traders predict a flat or down market in the first half of 2024 due to high inflation, recession fears and rate hikes from the Fed. However, others foresee a bull market continuing, citing potential Fed rate cuts, earnings growth and historical trends around election years."
| Rank | Fund | 3-year return to 1 Feb (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Vanguard LifeStrategy 80% Equity | 16.05% |
| 3 | Fundsmith Equity | 24.6% |
| 4 | Jupiter India I Acc | 108% |
| 5 | Royal London Short Term Money Mkt | 6.73 |
- When You Spend, Do It Mindfully. Spending often gets out of hand when people are not tracking their finances. ...
- Focus On Your Payment Plan, Not Your Debt. ...
- Don't Just Save; Invest.
For starters, having your money in cash instead of bonds means you will miss out on capital gains when interest rates drop, pushing bond prices up. Second is reinvestment risk, the risk that you will have to reinvest a maturing short-term security at a lower rate in the future.
As people move toward more electronic or digital forms of payment, it might seem like paper money is on its way toward obsolescence. But experts say that cash will always be around.
While the future demand for cash is uncertain, it is unlikely that cash will die out any time soon.
Wall Street analysts are expecting earnings to rebound in the first half of 2024, projecting a 4.6% increase in S&P 500 earnings in the first quarter and another 9.4% growth in the second quarter.
Should you invest in stocks in 2024?
Economists agree — 2024 may be a strong year for U.S. stocks. The S&P 500 rose 24% in 2023, according to MarketWatch, and recently crossed the 5,000 mark, according to Barron's. This year, we may see a “stock-pickers paradise,” according to Savita Subramanian, head of equity and quant strategy for Bank of America.
As a whole, analysts are optimistic about the outlook for stock prices in 2024. The consensus analyst price target for the S&P 500 is 5,090, suggesting roughly 8.5% upside from current levels.
- Pay Off Debt.
- Open a High-Yield Savings Account.
- Put Money into a Retirement Account.
- Invest in Real Estate.
- Invest with a Robo-Advisor.
- Fund a Brokerage Account.
- Cryptocurrencies.
- Invest in ETFs.
| Stock | 2024 performance through Jan. 31 close |
|---|---|
| Dyne Therapeutics Inc. (DYN) | 60.9% |
| Edgewise Therapeutics Inc. (EWTX) | 62.9% |
| NewAmsterdam Pharma Co. NV (NAMS) | 83.3% |
| Super Micro Computer Inc. (SMCI) | 86.3% |
- Vanguard 500 Index Fund (VFIAX) ...
- Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSAX) ...
- Vanguard Total Bond Market Index Fund (VBTLX) ...
- Vanguard Balanced Index Fund (VBIAX) ...
- Vanguard Growth Index Fund (VIGAX) ...
- Vanguard Small Cap Index Fund (VSMAX)
“Household formation costs are very expensive, college is very expensive – everything costs more. I have a lot of empathy for people who are just starting out.” That said, the typical age of financial independence should be between 20-23 years old, according to a Bankrate survey.
A new Pew Research Center analysis of Census Bureau data finds that, in 2018, 24% of young adults were financially independent by age 22 or younger, compared with 32% in 1980. Looking more broadly at young adults ages 18 to 29, the share who are financially independent has been largely stable in recent decades.
Americans say they'd need to earn about $94,000 a year on average to feel financially independent. That's about $20,000 more than the median household income of $74,580.
Cash equivalents are financial instruments that are almost as liquid as cash and are popular investments for millionaires. Examples of cash equivalents are money market mutual funds, certificates of deposit, commercial paper and Treasury bills. Some millionaires keep their cash in Treasury bills.
- Start a side hustle. The gig economy is still thriving, and the easiest way to make extra cash is to pick up a side hustle. ...
- Ask for a raise. ...
- Earn a promotion. ...
- Look at a career change. ...
- Monetize what you're already doing. ...
- Learn new skills. ...
- Go back to school. ...
- Leverage LinkedIn.
What is the safest investment right now?
- U.S. Treasury Bills, Notes and Bonds. Risk level: Very low. ...
- Series I Savings Bonds. Risk level: Very low. ...
- Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) Risk level: Very low. ...
- Fixed Annuities. ...
- High-Yield Savings Accounts. ...
- Certificates of Deposit (CDs) ...
- Money Market Mutual Funds. ...
- Investment-Grade Corporate Bonds.
For financial security, keep some cash in the bank. Double emphasis on some, because there are good reasons not to keep too much money in cash, too. Inflation decreases the value of any money you hold in cash. Inflation, aka rising prices over time, reduces your purchasing power.
Keep Cash to a Minimum
From a security point of view, cash is the most insecure asset you can have. Keeping the amount of cash you have in the house to a minimum in the case of fire or theft is a good rule of thumb, said Ryan McCarty, CFP, lead advisor at Castle Rock Investment Company.
“Some of your funds should be positioned in cash instruments to meet more immediate needs, but money that is intended to achieve long-term objectives should be invested in assets like stocks and bonds to work toward those goals.”
Physical currency isn't becoming obsolete any time soon, so it's important to weigh up your options before deciding to go fully cashless in 2024. Ensuring you can accept some cashless payments though, is essential to keeping with today's trends and customer expectations.
