[UweSchmidt]

I had the opportunity to hear major german bank disappoint affluent customers by telling them that, in stark contrast to the past, there is no risk-free 4% in the stock market any more (when using the basic strategies available retail like investment funds etc). If true, you might have to play a more active role and "run a business" instead of "invest some".

[morgante]

It sounds like they're pushing an agenda (everything else is terrible; buy our products).

No asset is "risk-free" but it's certainly possible to get risk-adjusted returns of 4% in the stock market. Even if you include 2008, you would average 4% over any 30 year period.

At a minimum, you can get ~2% in treasuries. There are even savings accounts offering 1% returns.

[pc86]

What's the "risk-free" amount then? 2%? 1%? 0.25%?

2% just means you need more money saved, not that you need to actively run a business into your 80's to continue feeding yourself.

[UweSchmidt]

They said risk-free would be -0.4% or something. I suppose they would have been biased to say "buy our funds", and they didn't really push any other products except maybe real estate. Everyone was bummed out.

Curious to hear other opinions.