Stories about people losing their shirts during the last recession are prevalent. Most investors took major hits during the last round of tough times. Some lost their homes and most of their retirement account funds, and others couldn’t pay car finance loans and faced repossession. There are numerous riches to rags stories that come out of a recession. For some, it will take years to recoup those losses, and some may never fully recover from those hits. If the last recession has taught investors anything, it is that your investment portfolio will need to be restructured during tough times.

Bonds
Bonds are generally considered to be among the safest investments during tough economic times. Investors should be aware that even these investments are not completely risk-free, but the risk is minimal. As with most investments, a lower risk equates to lower returns. The yield will vary depending on the amount of your investment and other such factors. While the return is lower than the average return on stocks over the last several decades, these investment options allow you the opportunity to see some growth on your investments with minimal risk. Read more »