Protecting Retirement Savings with Alternative Investments: The Role of Mortgage Investment Corporations (MICs)



Diversifying your investment portfolio is crucial in an ever-changing financial landscape. Alternative investments, such as Mortgage Investment Corporations (MICs), offer unique benefits for both growth and income. This article explores why it’s important to include alternative investments in your retirement portfolio and how MICs can be a robust component for achieving financial stability and growth.

The Importance of Alternative Investments in Retirement Planning

Alternative investments provide a hedge against market volatility and offer diversification that traditional stocks and bonds cannot. Including alternatives in your portfolio can reduce overall risk and enhance returns over the long term, helping to combat the impact of inflation on your retirement savings. Here are a few of the benefits of alternative investments, such as mortgage pools, when it comes to retirement savings and investing:

Hedging Against Market Volatility

Traditional investment vehicles like stocks and bonds are subject to market fluctuations and economic cycles, which can significantly impact their value. During periods of market downturns or economic instability, alternative investments like MICs tend to be less correlated with the stock market, providing a cushion against volatility. 

Diversification Beyond Traditional Assets: 

Diversification is a fundamental principle of sound investing. By including alternative investments, you can spread risk across various asset classes, reducing the impact of any single investment’s poor performance. MICs, for instance, offer exposure to real estate and mortgages, which are different from the usual equity and fixed-income investments. 

Inflation Protection

One critical challenge in retirement planning is protecting against inflation, which erodes the purchasing power of your savings over time. Alternative investments like real estate, commodities, and MICs often have intrinsic value that rises with inflation. 

Mitigating Sequence of Returns Risk: 

The sequence of returns risk refers to the danger of experiencing poor investment returns early in retirement, which can deplete your savings faster than anticipated. Alternative investments like MICs can help mitigate this risk by providing more consistent returns, irrespective of stock market performance. This consistency helps in maintaining the longevity of your retirement portfolio.

Understanding Mortgage Investment Corporations (MICs)

MICs are an alternative investment type that pools capital to invest in a diversified portfolio of mortgages. They provide an attractive option for investors looking for income and growth opportunities.

What is an MIC? 

A MIC is a company that invests primarily in residential and commercial mortgages. These investments generate income through interest payments, which are then distributed to shareholders. MICs offer substantiation benefits to an investment portfolio for retirement. Some of these benefits are:

  • Regular Income: MICs provide regular income distributions, making them ideal for retirees seeking steady cash flow.
  • Diversification: Investing in a MIC offers exposure to real estate without the need to directly purchase properties.
  • Professional Management: MICs are managed by professionals specializing in mortgage investments, reducing the burden on individual investors.
  • Stability: MICs provide a more stable income than the often volatile stock market or other alternative investment types.
  • Predictable Returns: The income from MICs is typically more predictable, helping with financial planning during retirement.
  • Real Estate Exposure: MICs offer indirect exposure to real estate, which can be a valuable asset class for long-term investment.

Alternative investments, especially MICs, are critical in protecting and enhancing your retirement portfolio. By diversifying your investments and including MICs, you can achieve a balanced approach that offers both growth and income opportunities. Understanding the unique benefits of MICs and how they fit into your overall investment strategy is essential for long-term financial health and stability. To learn more, contact Jordan on our team today. 

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