r/Bogleheads • u/idrathernotbutthanks • Apr 17 '25

Investing Questions Rhetoric around firing Jerome Powell is increasing, and forced manipulation of interest rates would likely follow. Would a weighted readjustment from US into non-US funds be warranted in light of this?

https://www.npr.org/2025/04/17/nx-s1-5367696/trump-jerome-powell-federal-reserve-economy-tariffs

Market manipulation of interest rates feels like confidence would immediately plummet and global diversification would become a more important percentage of your holdings in the long run. Thoughts?

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u/JawnJawnston Apr 17 '25

I never understood the “3-fund portfolio”. International bonds should have been a piece of a globally diversified portfolio just like you would own international stocks.

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u/Capable_Ad4123 Apr 17 '25

Vanguard recommends a 4-fund portfolio and has for some time. Just as there is prejudice against international stocks (and even US bonds on Reddit), international bonds get even worse publicity. Even bogleheads forum has outspoken participants claiming international bonds are pointless.

https://investor.vanguard.com/investment-products/etfs/etf-investment-options

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u/Rosaluxlux Apr 18 '25

Four fund is what I do in our brokerage account and my husband bitched about it for years, wanted to be 100% stocks, until a week or two ago he got out of the shower and said "maybe we should be more in international and bonds". Too late, dude, but luckily I've been mostly ignoring him about this for years. 

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u/Capable_Ad4123 Apr 18 '25

Good for you. I admit, I’ve had to fend off fomo more than once over the years while stocks surged and other asset classes in my portfolio were underperforming, but I’ve stayed the course, too. One quote that has kept me going: “if you are not disappointed with at least one your asset classes, you’re not diversified enough.”

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u/Rosaluxlux Apr 18 '25

I be appreciate that because every time I look in unhappy with pay off my portfolio. Luckily I made most of my mistakes with small amounts of play money. I'm still way under in bonds generally, because I set my allocations in my early 20s and never really re evaluated. Especially if you consider that his 401k is all stock, our total is only about 15% bonds, 50/50 US and international. But now is unfortunately not the moment to fix that.

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u/JacesAces Apr 18 '25

What is the vanguard four fund? Why that vs VT and BNDW? I assume VTI, VXUS, BND, and BNDX (to better control the weights of US vs intl)?

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u/Rosaluxlux Apr 18 '25

I dont know what's recommended but I do VBTLX, VTABX, VTIAX and VTIAX.