How Not to Worry About the Debt Ceiling Limit

Investor worries about the potential impact of a default on the value of government bonds are a growing concern in today's uncertain financial landscape. While these concerns are understandable, let’s explore the role of government bonds, the impact of a potential default, and the likelihood of our debt ceiling being lifted in the future.

The Role of Government Bonds

First, let's define what a government bond is. Government bonds, also known as sovereign bonds, are debt securities issued by a national government in order to finance their budget and other expenditures. Depending on the government issuing the bonds of course, these bonds are often considered low-risk investments when the issuing government is seen as having the ability to repay its debt obligations through taxation and other means. However, in the event of a default, bondholders may not receive the full return of their investment, which can result in a decrease in the value of government bonds.

While the likelihood of a default is low (again, depending on the government issuing the bonds), the impact of such an event would depend on several factors, including the specific country's financial situation and the size of its economy. In the case of a large economy like the United States, a default would likely cause significant disruptions in the global financial market and result in a decrease in the value of U.S. Treasury bonds. This could also lead to increased interest rates, which would impact the cost of borrowing for both the government and private individuals.

Throughout modern history, the U.S. has never defaulted on its debt.

The U.S. Debt Ceiling

In terms of the debt ceiling, this is a legal limit set by the U.S. government on the amount of debt that it can issue. This limit is designed to prevent the government from becoming overburdened with debt, but it can also create challenges in terms of financing government operations. The debt ceiling has been a source of political debate in recent years, with some calling for it to be lifted or increased to allow for greater flexibility in financing government operations.

Despite the challenges posed by the debt ceiling, it's important to note that the likelihood of a default by the U.S. government is very low. The U.S. has a long history of repaying its debt obligations, and it is considered to have a strong credit rating (rating agencies Moody's and Fitch both have a AAA rating for the United States – the highest credit quality status they can assign to a borrower).

This, combined with the size and stability of our economy, makes it unlikely that the U.S. government would default on its debt obligations.

What Investors Should Do

While the impact of a default on U.S. government bonds and the challenges posed by the debt ceiling are concerns, it's important that investors make informed investment decisions and avoid making hasty, fear-based decisions driven by unfounded media-hype that could negatively impact their financial future.

As Congress continues to bicker and the media reports every little argument as if it’s the end of the world, just remember these two things:

1. The likelihood of a default by the U.S. government is very, very low and
2. The stability of our economy and its long history of repaying its debt obligations make U.S. government bonds an attractive investment opportunity for those seeking low-risk investments.

The best course is to develop a plan for what to do if market conditions do take a sharp turn for the worse. This means having pre-planned exit points to limit the damage and prevent over-reactions. It also means developing a plan for re-entry after the storm that triggered those exit points has passed.

Maybe there is a debt-limit crisis lurking just around the corner. Maybe interest rates will go up this year faster than they did last year. Maybe we will see a private-debt related crisis, triggered by credit-quality concerns. Maybe, maybe, maybe…

Call so we can discuss your plan.