From: "noreplysoccer@hotmail.com" 
Newsgroups: misc.invest.financial-plan
Subject: Re: Longish: IRA Consolidation/Asset Allocation Questions
Date: Sat, 12 Mar 2005 13:15:17 CST
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"When factoring in non-retirement investmts the allocation of my total
present funds is as follows:  Bonds - 19%; Equities - 70%; Cash - 11 %
(Yes, my funds are heavily weighted towards the regular IRA's due to
having started those investments earliest.)


Much of what Ive read about preparing for retirement says that someone
like me with only a few years to go to retirement should adjust their
asset allocation to lower risk.  I've also been told that, since I'll
have a good (federal) pension income that shouldn't be going away (like

a private pension might), I can have take more risk in my investments
than what's usually recommended.   Based on these 2 somewhat
conflicting
statements, is my mix too conservative? "

I do not think 70% equities, 20% bonds and 10% cash is "too
conservative" under too many definitions.  Considering how clse you are
too retirement, I think more people will tell you to decrease the
stock/equity exposure rather than increase it.

a couple of thoughts- is 10% cash more or less than 4 years worth of
basic living expenses?  I might suggest having enough cash "on hand" in
CDs, money markets or savings accounts to allow you to live comfortably
for 4 years.  This way if the market turns 70% equities into 50%
equities, you do not have to draw down investments which are poised for
a rebound.

the 60% pension- is it enough to live on?

what are your retirement plans (travel, spoil the granschildren, start
a new business...)