The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates near zero for more than six years. With the economy finally showing signs of recovery, is it now time to think about raising rates a bit? The Fed is widely expected to raise interest rates later this year, perhaps as early as June, according to some industry observers.
Knowing who the actual winners and losers are during a rate hike is very difficult to predict, given the lack of historical precedent. With that said, several financial advisors who attended the recent TD Ameritrade Conference in San Diego weighed in on what the impact of rising interest rates would be for individual investors.
Additionally, in light of recent statements from Warren Buffett, who has been a cheerleader for U.S. stocks for quite some time, these financial advisors discussed the pros and cons of international stock exposure in a client’s portfolio. They explained how important it is to use international stocks for a portfolio diversification benefit.