His 'Guy' Has His Investments Earning 6% in Bonds. Dave Ramsey Says, 'You're Getting Destroyed. This Guy Doesn't Know What He's Doing'

Adrian Volenik

Tue, September 8, 2026 at 6:45 PM GMT+3 5 min read

Benzinga and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue on some items through the links below.

A 53-year-old investor was already questioning his portfolio's 6% return. Then personal finance personality Dave Ramsey heard how little the Alabama man understood about where his money was invested and told him the problem went far beyond one disappointing number.

Davis told "The Ramsey Show" that he recently met with his investment adviser, whom he repeatedly called "my guy." The adviser said Davis was earning about 6% and was trying to get that figure closer to 7%. But Davis had often heard Ramsey say retirement investments should average at least 10%, so he asked his adviser about the gap.

Don't Miss:

Want rental property income without fixing leaky faucets or screening tenants? Arrived lets you invest in rental homes starting at just $100
AI Doesn't Run On Chips Alone. This Startup Is Building The Energy Storage Technology Behind The Power Demand.

'You're Getting Destroyed'

According to Davis, the adviser replied, "The market's going to get 10%, but you would never get 10%."

Ramsey immediately wanted to know why.

"What are you invested in?" he asked. "That sucks."

Davis couldn't provide a clear answer. He believed the portfolio had something like a 60/40 allocation, but he couldn't say exactly what he owned. Ramsey suspected a large portion of his money had been placed in bonds.

"I think he's got you too heavily in bonds, and you're getting milked," Ramsey said. "You're getting destroyed. This guy doesn't know what he's doing."

Ramsey was especially surprised after learning Davis was only 53. While bonds may provide stability and income, they generally offer lower growth potential than stocks. Holding a substantial bond allocation can make sense for some investors, depending on their goals, time horizon and tolerance for market swings. Ramsey, however, believed Davis was invested far too cautiously.

"Why has he got you in bonds?" Ramsey said. "That's dumber than crud."

Trending: There's More Than One Way To Put Cash To Work. Some Accredited Investors Are Looking Beyond Savings Accounts.

This is also why finding an adviser who understands someone's full financial picture matters. Advisor.com aims to make that process easier by connecting you with vetted fiduciaries suited to your needs. Its matching quiz takes about five minutes, and you can find help with investing, budgeting, taxes, estate planning and more before booking services with the professional you choose.

Ramsey compared Davis' return with the S&P 500's recent performance. "Year to date, we're up 12%," he said. "Last year, it was up 18% for the year. The year before was up 25% for the year, and the year before was up 26% for the year."

"Meanwhile, this bozo's got you in bonds at 6%," Ramsey added. "So, I know you're getting slaughtered."

The Bigger Failure Wasn't the 6% Return

Ramsey's sharpest criticism wasn't ultimately about bonds or performance. It was that Davis had handed over responsibility for his investments without understanding what his money was buying.

"His job is for you to know what's going on," Ramsey said of the adviser. "He's a teacher, not a salesman."

See Also: Most brokers charge you to trade options. Public shares up to 50% of its revenue back with you — earning eligible traders $0.06–$0.18 per contract.

That doesn't mean investors need insider knowledge or a finance degree. Self-directed platforms such as Webull provide market data and tools for investing in products including stocks, ETFs, fractional shares and crypto. Webull charges $0 commissions on stocks and ETFs and no contract fee on equity options trades, though regulatory and exchange fees may apply. New users who deposit at least $100 can qualify for up to 12 free shares, each randomly selected and worth between $3 and $300.

Whether someone invests alone or hires professional help, Ramsey's main point was the same: They should be able to explain what they own, how it works and why it belongs in their portfolio.

"Never again put a dime in anything unless you tell me how it works and what it is and why you put it there," Ramsey told Davis. "You're the guy. You got to take care of you."

Image: Shutterstock

Read Next: Still Wondering Where Your Money Goes Each Month? See Why More People Are Linking Their Bank Accounts With Albert.

Building Wealth Across More Than Just the Market

Building a resilient portfolio means thinking beyond a single asset or market trend. Economic cycles shift, sectors rise and fall, and no one investment performs well in every environment. That's why many investors look to diversify with platforms that provide access to real estate, fixed-income opportunities, precious metals, and even self-directed retirement accounts. By spreading exposure across multiple asset classes, it becomes easier to manage risk, capture steady returns, and create long-term wealth that isn't tied to the fortunes of just one company or industry.

Arrived

Backed by Jeff Bezos, Arrived Homes makes real estate investing accessible with a low barrier to entry. Investors canbuy fractional shares of single-family rentals and vacation homes starting with as little as $100. This allows everyday investors to diversify into real estate, collect rental income, and build long-term wealth without needing to manage properties directly.

Qnetic

As electricity demand rises alongside AI, data centers, and renewable energy, long-duration energy storage is becoming increasingly important.Qnetic is developing a kinetic energy storage system designed to provide long-lasting, chemical-free electricity storage , offering investors exposure to the infrastructure supporting a more resilient and reliable power grid.

EquityMultiple

For accredited investors looking beyond stocks and bonds, EquityMultiple provides access to vetted commercial real estate deals starting at $5,000, with only ~5% of opportunities passing their due diligence process.

FarmTogether

Farmland has historically held its value through market volatility and delivered returns uncorrelated to stocks and bonds. For accredited investors,FarmTogether offers direct access to high-quality U.S. farmland starting at $15,000 — fully managed, with no landlord headaches.

Fundrise

Private real estate and private credit can add income and stability to a stock-heavy portfolio.Fundrise offers access to diversified private real estate and credit strategies through an easy-to-use platform, with professionally managed portfolios designed to generate passive income and long-term growth.

This article His 'Guy' Has His Investments Earning 6% in Bonds. Dave Ramsey Says, 'You're Getting Destroyed. This Guy Doesn't Know What He's Doing' originally appeared on Benzinga.com