Despite the economic uncertainty caused by the pandemic—or possibly because of it—US retirement account balances rose to record levels during the fourth quarter of 2020, as reported by Fidelity Investments. The firm said individual contributions to individual retirement accounts (IRA), as well as 401(k) and 403(b) retirement accounts remained strong during the last three months of the year.
While most fixed-income strategies face declining yields as rates fall, the Principal Spectrum PREF ETF demonstrates how preferred securities with reset features can deliver rising income. Growing from $25 million to $1.2 billion, the strategy’s exclusive focus on institutional preferreds with floating or fixed-to-reset coupons has increased its average coupon from 4.9% to 5.5%. With 60% of holdings facing resets by 2027, this active strategy offers advisors a rare solution for potential income growth regardless of rate direction.
Gold (GC=F) prices, already at record levels, are likely headed higher as rate cut expectations grow and Fed independence comes into question.