There's no fool like an old Motely Fool

[glueonquark]

Years ago I put money in a Vanguard Index Fund after reading about it on Motely Fool.  It has been great for me because I'm very uninterested in the Stockmarket, but with Vanguard I can just let my money grow over time.  My question is, I'm a widow, retired and I can live on half of my pension and I don't need to use the money in Vanguard (it's just shares following the S&P 500) should I follow Mr. Money Mustache's suggestion and invest in Vanguard Bonds as well (I barely know what a bond is)?  My children will inherit the fund most likely, and blow it on SUV's and Nordstrom.

[solon]

Welcome to MMM, glueonquark! Are you physicist, or a Star Trek fan?

Since you can live completely on your pension, my advice is to leave your Vanguard money in the index fund. If it goes down a little in the short term, it doesn't matter. But over the long term, the index fund should perform better than bonds.

[Scortius]

There's no need to handicap it by putting it in bonds. Just let it continue to grow and then donate a large majority of it to charity when you get older or through your will.

[accolay]

Or keep most of it in the stocks and a little in bonds a la JLCollins?

http://jlcollinsnh.com/2012/10/01/stocks-part-xii-bonds-and-a-bit-on-reits/

[Radagast]

Welcome to MMM, glueonquark! Are you physicist, or a Star Trek fan?

Since you can live completely on your pension, my advice is to leave your Vanguard money in the index fund. If it goes down a little in the short term, it doesn't matter. But over the long term, the index fund should perform better than bonds.

Yup. Leaving it in the S&P will probably offer better growth and quite likely lower taxes. Bonds are unnecessary if your pension provides more than your living expenses.

[glueonquark]

Thanks everyone for your replies and helpfulness.  I'm a big fan of the BBC radio 4 podcast 'Inside Science', hence the user name!

[rementis]

  My children will inherit the fund most likely, and blow it on SUV's and Nordstrom.

What a great quote.  Good on you for not even needing the money!

[One]

https://www.cnbc.com/video/2018/02/26/buffett-id-choose-equities-over-bonds.html

[eljefe-speaks]

My children will inherit the fund most likely, and blow it on SUV's and Nordstrom.

If you are more than just joking here, pamper yourself instead.

"I would as soon leave my son a curse as the almighty dollar."
- Andrew Carnegie

[KBCB]

My children will inherit the fund most likely, and blow it on SUV's and Nordstrom.

If you are more than just joking here, pamper yourself instead.

"I would as soon leave my son a curse as the almighty dollar."
- Andrew Carnegie

After I read this Parks and Rec popped into my head "Treat Yourself" :)

[mjb]

There's no need to handicap it by putting it in bonds. Just let it continue to grow and then donate a large majority of it to charity when you get older or through your will.

Just want to add a vote to this. Consider your pension your bond allocation.