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The Global Insight

What is a good stock bond ratio?

Author

Christopher Ramos

Updated on February 06, 2026

The rule of thumb advisors have traditionally urged investors to use, in terms of the percentage of stocks an investor should have in their portfolio; this equation suggests, for example, that a 30-year-old would hold 70% in stocks, 30% in bonds, while a 60-year-old would have 40% in stocks, 60% in bonds.

Are stock bonds a good investment?

Bonds can contribute an element of stability to almost any diversified portfolio – they are a safe and conservative investment. They provide a predictable stream of income when stocks perform poorly, and they are a great savings vehicle for when you don’t want to put your money at risk.

What is the difference in a stock and a bond?

The difference between stocks and bonds is that stocks are shares in the ownership of a business, while bonds are a form of debt that the issuing entity promises to repay at some point in the future.

Why are bonds more volatile than the stock market?

If it’s priced at a discount, the investor will receive a higher coupon yield, because they paid less than the face value. Bond prices tend to be less volatile than stocks and they often responds more to interest rate changes than other market conditions.

What happens when you convert from a bond to a stock?

Converting to stock also gives a former bond holder the right to vote on certain company issues. Both stocks and bonds may be traded on a public exchange. This is a common occurrence for larger publicly-held companies, and much more rare for smaller entities that do not want to go through the inordinate expense of going public.

What should be the percentage of stocks and bonds in your portfolio?

One says that the percentage of stocks in your portfolio should be equal to 100 minus your age. So, if you’re 30, your portfolio should contain 70% stocks, 30% bonds (or other safe investments). If you’re 60, it should be 40% stocks, 60% bonds.