So you're specifically concerned about the 403(a), which is not only very aggressive (100% equities), but also not nearly as diversified as it could be (exclusively US)?Thank you mrb009 for sharing your experience at this particular stage of life. I'm really unable to retire before 64 and a) hope my employer keeps me and b) want to be prepared for anything including loss of job, market crash, etc. Clearly I need a more conservative AA for my own mental health.
My situation with my tax-deferred account is different than your's; I'm retiring sooner, and I'm explicitly planning for that account to fund necessary expenses during retirement once I roll it over. I have other accounts that will be much heavier in equities (that are already very diversified globally; actually tilted ex-US). I think in that context, TIPS make sense.
Aside: I have a small TIPS ladder in an inherited account. I did buy some IBIF shares there to supplement my 2029 rung because I had some left over cash that wasn't enough to buy an additional bond and I'm waiting on some asset transfers.
For you, though, you might want to consider something more straightforward: diversify globally by adding something like VXUS, or maybe switching everything to VT, and setting aside something percentage you're comfortable with for one or more bond funds?
But as others have suggested, you really want a comprehensive plan to figure out the details.
Statistics: Posted by slowriter — Sun Aug 24, 2025 8:21 am — Replies 7 — Views 839