What should my 401(k) look like?

If U.S. rates are going to stay higher for longer now, investors should keep their U.S. Treasuries, which are yielding around 5%, advisers said. It will also add some stability to your portfolio because it’s steady income, Miser said. That said, your allocation of stocks and bonds should always depend on your risk tolerance and how close you are to retirement, advisers say. The higher your risk tolerance or further away from retirement, the heavier the equity weighting, they say.

After you’ve decided your stock and bond allocation, you might consider taking 20% of whatever your equity position is and allocate it to a global investment fund, Miser said.

In the fixed-income portion of your portfolio, Sahagian likes the “barbell,” which means investing in short-term and longterm bonds. You gain from the high shortterm interest rates while also locking in some decent long-term returns in case rates begin to fall.

Miser likes 40% in two- to five-year notes, 30% in 5- to 10-year and then the rest in 30-year bonds. The varying matur

ities give you the flexibility to reinvest money at various times and in various ways, including buying new Treasuries.

But with all retirement investments, consumers should consider what stage they are in life and what their goals and risk tolerance are before making moves, advisers said.

Should you consider those much-talkedabout Costco gold bars? Gold prices are near an all-time high, around $2,400 per ounce, reflecting a “crisis of confidence,” Sahagian said. “People are looking at other assets that will hold up in the wake of uncertainties and upheaval.” They’re dissatisfied with government and monetary policy after the highest inflation in four decades and concurrent wars in Ukraine and Palestine, advisers said.

“Costco’s a trusted source (for buying things, including gold bars), and people are searching for alternative ways to invest,” Sahagian said. “Most cultures around the world value gold, like in India and Africa. So is it a good idea and liquid? Yes, you can monetize it at some point.”

Miser’s not so sure.

“Gold may have been a good idea 3 1/2 to 4 years ago when you could buy low and sell high,” he said. “That’s the opposite of buying gold now. Today, you’re buying at the highest it’s been in a long time, which typically means prices are reaching near their end.”

Costco gold bars may be better left as a novelty purchase, he said.