OK, Your Survival Guy wasn’t in sunny Key West this holiday season, but there was sand. That would be the sand from the snowplows spreading it around town, and me sprinkling it on our icy steps and walkway. That’s what happens when a day of rain is followed by an arctic blast that sets in for days. It was two degrees on the morning of our departure, with a real feel of -20. The crunch, crunch felt like walking on the moon.

You know who doesn’t care if it’s cold outside? Our dog, Stanton. When the sun comes out (or doesn’t), Your Survival Guy and Gal layer up, put on our spikes, and hit the trail. Stan will chase a ball all day long. Returning it to sender is another matter. It’s a 50-50 deal. Sort of makes one feel like a fool trying to get it back from him.

As you know, my favorite three letters in investing are Y-O-U. How you’re invested. Is your asset allocation 50-50 (stocks-bonds) or some other mix along Dick Young and Ben Graham’s favored 70-30, 30-70? Are you comfortable with it? Because the person who needs to be isn’t anyone other than you (and your spouse, of course).

Action Line: You can still sink your teeth into bond yields today. Looking back on 2025, a 50-50 mix was a pretty nice place to be. When you want to talk about how you’re invested, email me at ejsmith@yoursurvivalguy.com. And click here to subscribe to my free monthly Survive & Thrive letter.

Originally posted on Your Survival Guy.