In 2025 I moved into a larger cash/bond position than I have ever had in the past.  I think I lost a lot of growth because of this but I could sleep better with less in the market.

 

I had a larger than expected capital gain distribution from a mutual fund so currently have a couple of sell orders on unrealized capital gain loses. This should get me back within the 0% capital gains bracket for 2025 but will just raise my  position in cash.

 

I am not sure if I want to put some of this cash back into the stock market or just leave it where it is.

 

If you are willing I would be interested to hear your investment strategy and outlook for 2026.

 

I have put this post in the US/Canada topic since I could not seem to open it in investments.

I'm in TH, so different for me.   No new strategy, and same as last 20 yrs, buy land, or should say, wife buys land.   Guaranteed return & risk free.

 

If back in the USA, due to my age, probably keep in the market, with Dividend Aristocrats and or Dividend Kings portfolios.

 

If younger, much younger, possibly RE investment to rent out.   Still places in USA, where houses are inexpensive enough to make money using HUD Section 8 program.   Even better if handy and can rehab some crappy ones, that just need cosmetics and minor repair to qualify for Sec 8.

 

Depends how much effort you want to invest.   Let it run on auto pilot, or sweat equity.

Gold   !

60% stocks/equities etf’s. 30% bonds. 10% high yield cd’s.

Manufacturing stocks in USA? 

Weapon production in Europe? 

7 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Manufacturing stocks in USA? 

Weapon production in Europe? 

Do you even know what that is?

2 hours ago, biervoormij said:

Do you have an investment strategy for 2026 

Property. 

 

I've been spending a lot of time in the Chonburi Provincial Land Office. 

 

Sadly, It has moved to a new location. 

Easy and convenient when in Suksabai. 

 

 

30 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I'm in TH, so different for me.   No new strategy, and same as last 20 yrs, buy land, or should say, wife buys land.   Guaranteed return & risk free.

 

If back in the USA, due to my age, probably keep in the market, with Dividend Aristocrats and or Dividend Kings portfolios.

 

If younger, much younger, possibly RE investment to rent out.   Still places in USA, where houses are inexpensive enough to make money using HUD Section 8 program.   Even better if handy and can rehab some crappy ones, that just need cosmetics and minor repair to qualify for Sec 8.

 

Depends how much effort you want to invest.   Let it run on auto pilot, or sweat equity.

Thanks for the info. 

 

Land is out for me. I am not married so investing in land in Thailand is not something I would know how to do. I live in Thailand full time so would not want to do rentals in the US but I do have some shares in a real estate ETF for some diversification. Maybe I could increase my position in it but I feel it has under preformed. 

 

I have a large % in an ETF focused on dividends but this is one I was already considering increasing in 2026 so probably will follow that advice. 

 

I am not looking for sweat equity and honestly if I just beat inflation by half a point I would be happy.

1 minute ago, biervoormij said:

Thanks for the info. 

 

Land is out for me. I am not married so investing in land in Thailand is not something I would know how to do. I live in Thailand full time so would not want to do rentals in the US but I do have some shares in a real estate ETF for some diversification. Maybe I could increase my position in it but I feel it has under preformed. 

 

I have a large % in an ETF focused on dividends but this is one I was already considering increasing in 2026 so probably will follow that advice. 

 

I am not looking for sweat equity and honestly if I just beat inflation by half a point I would be happy.

I'm not married either, I put land in my children's names. 

 

How about condominiums? 

You can still find bargains at times. 

 

36 minutes ago, Jim Blue said:

Gold   !

How would suggest investing in gold? I do not want a physical asset and have never looked at a gold fund and know nothing about commodity trading.

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

2 minutes ago, biervoormij said:

How would suggest investing in gold? I do not want a physical asset and have never looked at a gold fund and know nothing about commodity trading.

 

Thanks for the suggestion.

Etf

39 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Manufacturing stocks in USA? 

Weapon production in Europe? 

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

I am not sure that US Manufacturing is really a good investment just yet but you could be correct. I have missed other things that have soared in the past so I may just miss the boat.

 

Do you have investments in European weapons? I would be interesting in hearing more.

3 minutes ago, biervoormij said:

Thanks for the suggestion.

 

I am not sure that US Manufacturing is really a good investment just yet but you could be correct. I have missed other things that have soared in the past so I may just miss the boat.

 

Do you have investments in European weapons? I would be interesting in hearing more.

Why did you give me a thumbs down?

9 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I'm not married either, I put land in my children's names. 

 

How about condominiums? 

You can still find bargains at times. 

 

Thanks for the suggestion. 

 

I don't have Thai children either so that would not work for me.

 

I would not want to be a landlord even if it is a good investment and I do not really want to bring more money into Thailand than a bit over what I need live. 

Earlier this month I almost pulled out 25k from my mutual funds, I would've had to pay 12% on that. Anymore I would've had to pay 22%. But then what could I earn off that 17K? 3% in CD's? 

 

So, for 2026 I'll maintain:

- 60% Mutual Funds and my similar government "Thrift Fund"

- 30% CD's(3.2% Int)

- 10% Cash

 

 

 

 

1 hour ago, novacova said:

60% stocks/equities etf’s. 30% bonds. 10% high yield cd’s.

Thanks for the recommendation. 

 

I think I will keep about 50% stock since I am getting older but think a lot of people that give advice would recommend that split.

 

I have not seen any 10% CDs but would love to do that.

I know two good gold stocks. Not telling now as you always give thumbs down.

 

 

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

Manufacturing stocks in USA? 

Weapon production in Europe? 

 

https://www.wisdomtree.eu/en-gb/etfs/thematic/wdef---wisdomtree-europe-defence-ucits-etf---eur-acc

9 minutes ago, Furioso said:

Earlier this month I almost pulled out 25k from my mutual funds, I would've had to pay 12% on that. Anymore I would've had to pay 22%. But then what could I earn off that 17K? 3% in CD's? 

 

So, for 2026 I'll maintain:

- 60% Mutual Funds and my similar government "Thrift Fund"

- 30% CD's(3.2% Int)

- 10% Cash

 

 

 

 

I agree with what you decided to do and miss paying the taxes. I think I may go a little bit less than you on the mutual funds/stock etfs and aim for 50%. I just don't want to stick a large amount of money back in the market all at once. I invested in mutual funds over a long time doing monthly dollar cost averaging so am a bit scared to make big moves. 

 

I have been doing some gain harvesting over the past few years to take some of the profits out of my mutual funds but over did it a bit this year so need to sell something or pay some tax.

 

I don't think there is a 12% and 22% bracket for long term capital gains. I think you may be thinking about normal income tax brackets. You can take over $48,000 in long term capital gains with no taxes. 

 

Thanks for the recommendation. 

16 minutes ago, biervoormij said:

I agree with what you decided to do and miss paying the taxes. I think I may go a little bit less than you on the mutual funds/stock etfs and aim for 50%. I just don't want to stick a large amount of money back in the market all at once. I invested in mutual funds over a long time doing monthly dollar cost averaging so am a bit scared to make big moves. 

 

I have been doing some gain harvesting over the past few years to take some of the profits out of my mutual funds but over did it a bit this year so need to sell something or pay some tax.

 

I don't think there is a 12% and 22% bracket for long term capital gains. I think you may be thinking about normal income tax brackets. You can take over $48,000 in long term capital gains with no taxes. 

 

Thanks for the recommendation. 

Excluding my UK house, I was 100% invested in Equities so 3 months back decided to sell 20% and invest in UK longish term (13 years) bonds to get a 4.75% annual income (Because I bought them below strike price the yied to maturity is approx 4.95%).  

 

No tax (I've been Non UK Tax resident for >17 years so don't pay tax on Capital gains + any non Non-UK tax resident doesn't pays tax on the yield from Government Gilts)... 

 

So, although the shares I sold went up by another 25% I was happy (can sleep better at night) locking in some gains and the extra 25% on the 80% I still have invested was very nice thank you. 

 

I'm going to do another 20% soon to put me on 60:40 Equities/Gilts.

 

Same as always.

 

Proper mix between Total Stock Market Index and Total Bond Market Index Funds.  Depending on age and risk tolerance.

 

Long term.

 

Jack Bogle had it right.

Everything in THAI BAHT

Investment strategy for 2026 ?

 

Hold on tight to gold and silver.

I would not buy it now.

You have to already have it, so hold it tight in 2026.

 

Small edit :

If silver hits 3 figures , maybe change it to gold if ratio is less than 40.

I invest in karma....... do good, spend money wisely to help others.. reap the returns in a later life 🙂  What would I do with gold or a sports car or houses or stocks and shares??? Don't need them!

1 minute ago, simon43 said:

I invest in karma....... do good, spend money wisely to help others.. reap the returns in a later life 🙂  What would I do with gold or a sports car or houses or stocks and shares??? Don't need them!

 

  Simon : You couldn't buy a  retirement house in the UK using Karma as payment, now could you 

1 minute ago, simon43 said:

I invest in karma....... do good, spend money wisely to help others.. reap the returns in a later life 🙂  What would I do with gold or a sports car or houses or stocks and shares??? Don't need them!

Does Karma pay your bills,  pay the rent or mortgage, feed you, fly you to ones home country periodically etc ?

 

Keep dreaming.

Eat 30%  less than last year .

Re-use the paper towels .

Take home uglier girls . 

 

Maybe buy all the canned goods (check expire date) from grocery stores and keep them for a year .  Sell at that time for a nice 20% gain ! 

Never lose on that investment ..............

2 hours ago, Jim Blue said:

Gold   !

Nice idea 2 years ago.

8 minutes ago, simon43 said:

I invest in karma....... do good, spend money wisely to help others.. reap the returns in a later life 🙂  What would I do with gold or a sports car or houses or stocks and shares??? Don't need them!

 

simon says :   "if you ain't got nothin.... you got nothin to lose .  "

 

(but these damn UTI's  are PI**ING me off !)

3 minutes ago, rumak said:

 

simon says :   "if you ain't got nothin.... you got nothin to lose .  "

 

(but these damn UTI's  are PI**ING me off !)

 

   If you ain't got nothing .

Then, you must have something