Tough times call for knowing investing basics
MarketsSuccessful strategy calls for understanding needs and risks

By Carrie Schwab Pomerantz

Published: October 12, 2008

Last week, I wrote about the "why” and "what” of investing: To create wealth over the long term by using bond and equity exposure to get there. But that still leaves the big question: How do I invest? This is tougher, especially now when the markets are in turmoil.

It’s these chaotic times when the basics are more important than ever. Here’s a quick review, whether you’re a veteran of many market cycles or a beginner:

→Plan: Start by articulating your financial goals and dreams by putting a time frame on each. You might say, for example, "I want to save for college for my 3-year-old daughter.” What does that indicate in investment terms? Well, it means you have 15 years to amass a certain amount of money. And you can probably figure out how much college, public or private, is likely to cost 15 years from now. That’s the basis for an investment strategy.

Retirement is another obvious goal that requires planning. There are various tools on the Web to help figure out what you’re going to need when you leave the work force.

→Understand your risk tolerance: Now you have to decide how much chance you can take. Many people are highly risk averse when they start investing. The thought of a market decline can be disconcerting. Fear can cause some people to adjust their portfolios — "I’m moving out of stocks until the dust settles” — that may seem prudent in the short term but risky in the long term. Similarly, terrific bull markets often cause investors to take more chance than needed.

→Asset allocation: When you create a portfolio, you’ll most likely be choosing a mix of the major "asset classes”: equity, bonds and cash. Some investment professionals consider international equity as a separate asset class. This is your asset allocation, and it’s probably the most important decision you’ll make about your financial future.

You can find asset allocation calculators online or by going to a trusted financial adviser. You might come away with something like: "Your portfolio should include 65 percent in equity exposure, 25 percent bonds and 10 percent cash.” But recognize there’s not one asset allocation that’s right for everyone. The most common goals — needs, time frames and risk tolerances — will differ.

→Diversification: I touched on the critical importance in Part I. You may recall that diversification is the idea of spreading your risk. A portfolio of just one stock, to take an extreme example, would be too concentrated. If you own a dozen or several dozen, you greatly reduce the risk to your selection posed by any one security. A reasonable rule of thumb is that no single security or sector should represent more than 5 percent of your portfolio. Mutual funds can make it quite easy to achieve an appropriate level of variety.

Now that you’re in the market, you should stay up-to-date by measuring your progress and making adjustments as necessary. This isn’t an everyday task, assuming you’re a long-term investor. The day-to-day movements of the markets and funds probably have little impact on your long-term goals and strategies; however, it is a good idea to review your portfolio every three to six months. Maybe funds are up or they could be down. What must be done then?

You need to see how market changes affect your asset allocation in order to create adjustments.

Carrie Schwab Pomerantz is Chief Strategist, Consumer Education, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc., Member SIPC. You can e-mail Carrie at askcarrie@schwab.com.

Comments