How to hedge your bond bets in the face of oil-induced inflation Conflict in the Middle East is causing oil prices to spike—underscoring the value of diversifying not just with bonds, but within them. Key takeaways Oil price shocks from the war with Iran could drive inflation, keep borrowing costs elevated, and pressure stock valuations. Diversifying within asset classes, not just across them, can offer a crucial second layer of potential protection. Inflation-protected bonds, for example, are designed to hold up when other bonds don't, making them a powerful potential hedge in volatile markets. Despite the rise of renewable energy and natural gas, oil still makes the world—and markets—go round. Roughly a third of global energy comes from the fossil fuel, much of it from the Middle East. So while the conflict in the Middle East is less than a month old, and the Trump administration could try to unwind it sooner than later, even a temporary squeeze on the global oil supply can still impact the broader economy. The pain is first felt at the pump. But higher oil prices also increase costs downstream and can delay or reduce interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, which has the potential to weigh on stock valuations over time. All of this serves as a good reminder of why diversification matters, not just across asset classes like stocks and bonds, but within them. Take bonds, the loans investors make to companies, governments, and other entities. We offer more than five varieties in our portfolios, and it's one sub-asset class in particular—inflation-protected bonds (aka TIPS)—that has performed well since fears of persistent inflation took hold in 2022. TIPS are U.S. government bonds whose face value and twice-yearly interest payments rise with inflation. Crucially, they tend to perform well when other bond types don't, adding an extra layer of protection during market downturns. This double-layered diversification is central to our investing philosophy, and how we seek to deliver not only financial benefits to investors but psychological ones too. It’s why most of our stock and bond portfolios include some allocation to TIPS, as high as 20% in the most conservative of cases. We also make it easy to adjust your bond allocation over time and to view your portfolio's exact holdings—so you always know where you stand. Because when the world's most essential commodity becomes unpredictable, knowing your portfolio is built for more than one kind of storm can make all the difference.

Your Betterment experience has just undergone a major upgrade A better way to manage your money is here. Your Betterment experience has just undergone a major upgrade, built around one idea: making managing your money more flexible and intuitive. We’ve redesigned how your accounts and goals work together, so you can organize your money the way that makes the most sense for you. What changed—and why? We’ve always believed in goal-based investing. It’s what sets Betterment apart. But in the past, each goal in Betterment was tied to a single account. That worked when needs were simpler. But you asked for more flexibility to reflect your financial life, and we’ve delivered. Now, by separating account data from goal advice, we’ve created space for more personalized guidance, clearer navigation, and more flexibility for you and your money. What you’ll see that’s new today: A cleaner design: A modern look that surfaces what matters most—no more digging through tabs. A dedicated page for each goal: Get personalized advice, projections, and next steps, all in one place. A streamlined overview of single accounts: See balances, holdings, and performance clearly, while being able to click through directly to access account details. A dedicated goal forecaster: Get insights in one place to see how actions may affect future earnings. And as a BONUS: Your Activity Page got an upgrade 🔄 Enjoy a clearer window into trades, transfers, and transactions. And we’re just getting started. We’re already building the next phase of features to make your Betterment experience more powerful and flexible. Multiple accounts in one goal: Get combined advice across different account types and tax treatments. Smarter, goal-specific advice: We’ll help you optimize every dollar for what you care about most.
 Shared goals: Soon, you’ll be able to co-own a goal with another Betterment user.
 More tailored investing guidance: Tell us your goal, and we’ll recommend the best path to get there. A faster, more user-friendly Betterment experience. To better fit your financial needs, we’ve separated account data from goal-based advice to give you more control and a better sense of ownership over your account. Whether you're planning for retirement, building an emergency fund, or simply growing your wealth through automated investing, Betterment is now better built for how you’ll manage your money. Smarter tools, personalized advice, and goal-based investing—all working together for you.