Imagine this scene. Zvi Bodie describes a debate between him and Jeremy Siegel moderated by Paul Samuelson about the degree of long-term risk in equities.
It would be a Micky Mantle/Ted Williams-type matchup (moderated by Babe Ruth) for many Fi360 Conference attendees at the firm’s annual gathering in Nashville on Thursday afternoon.
Although the debate took place many years earlier, Bodie, a financial consultant, educator, and Professor Emeritus at Boston University, used the episode to make a larger point about risk.
“Risk isn’t the probability of a shortfall, but the probability of a shortfall multiplied by the damage it can do,” he explained. “I think the belief that stocks are not risky in the long run (or over a significant time horizon) is a religious belief, and it’s incredibly frustrating.”
It was why he made a strong case for Series I savings bonds.
“I want to start with a pitch for I bonds because I want to make sure it has maximum impact. I believe every American should unquestionably hold their reserve funds [emergency funds] for when they lose a job, are unemployed or something else unforeseen in I binds.”
The reason, he says, is that they’re inflation protected, tax-deferred, fully liquid after one year and are Treasury-sponsored and can only be purchased through the government agencies website.
“I’m such a fanatic, I’m constantly buying them for my grandchildren at their birthdays, graduations, etc. Yes, they are limited to $10,000 per year, but that’s more than most lower-income individuals and families will save in a year.
He adds they have a 30-year maturity, pay 0.5 percent plus the real inflation rate as determined by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
For those interested in more information or to purchase Series I Treasury bonds, visit TreasuryDirect.gov.