How much should bonds take up in your portfolio? I am in my 20s and would like to build a portfolio that lasts till I retire. Currently thinking that 30% bonds are good. Any thoughts?

A good gauge will be to follow your age. However, as you are still in your 20s, you can consider 80% in stocks and 20% in bonds as you have a very long timeframe ahead of you.

In my case, bonds and endowment plans was the only investment I had in my early 20s and know nothing about investment. As your knowledge get better and your confidence grows. (And you have more money) You will adjust accordingly.

There’s a lack of information here. Is your 30% based on what you have now or your plan for what you plan to save for investment in the next few years. If it’s what you have now. Depending on the amount, might not be worth diversifying now. E.g for good bonds I personally will not subscribe less than $10K. (SSB except, cause I treat it like a high interest fix savings account.)

Don’t be too fixated on the percentage, until you have a sensible pool of investments and need to balance out, maybe do a review of all your investment every half a year or annually. (Usually the percentages are based upon a fairly large sum of money, so might not be relevant to beginners who only have a small sum to start with)

IMPORTANT. Don’t die die buy bonds because you need to put 30% in. Look for what is suitable. Similarly to your other 70%.

(Ignore my comments if you are looking into funds and their proposed allocation. I am assuming you haven’t bought anything so your first purchase will actually be 100% of your portfolio minus savings, and I’m assuming you’re not given a huge pool of investment funds by your parents.)