Kiplinger\'s Personal Finance 03.2020

IF DEBT LIGHTS THE FIRE

of every financial crisis, as

author Andrew Ross Sorkin

once observed, then we may

have a problem brewing. Com-

panies have loaded up on a re-

cord amount of debt in recent

years, thanks in part to rock-

bottom interest rates. Most

market watchers don’t expect

the buildup to trigger an immi-

nent credit disaster. Still, inves-

tors should be aware of risks

that are building and choose

carefully as they invest in bonds

or stocks. // Years of low inter-

est rates have fueled a decade-

long economic expansion and

a bull market in stocks and

bonds, and such ideal economic

IS A

DEBT

BOMB

TICKING?

Corporations have amassed

a ton of debt. Protect yourself

with these funds and ETFs.

BY NELLIE S. HUANG

03/2020 KIPLINGER’S PERSONAL FINANCE 19

ILLUSTRATION BY DAN PAGE