The Top 3 Questions to Ask.

Oftentimes when we meet with clients there are a few common questions or topics that tend to come up regularly - things that seem to be on the minds of many of our clients. Usually, it has to do with some event or circumstance that is relevant at the time. In 2022, that question has revolved around the idea of “should I change the level of risk in my investments considering what is happening in the market.”

My favorite part of working as a wealth manager is the array of questions from our clients during all market environments.

However, times of market volatility are generally when the most impactful questions come up. This is due to the emotions that go hand in hand with market volatility.

How do you make investment decisions? Do you look at data? Or look for an interesting opportunity?  Interestingly, most people don't look at facts when making decisions. They prefer a good story.¹

Learn the 3 R's

to help you prepare for market volatility.

It's impossible to predict when the market will drop or how far it will fall. With this in mind, investors should take steps to position their portfolios against potential risk during times of growth.

Hidden Risks, Let's Talk About It

There are things that happen in life that we all know about, but rather avoid experiencing personally. Like the host at a restaurant saying it will be a 2 hour wait or your contractor muttering “uh oh” as they work on that renovation in your basement. Generally, those two little words, “uh oh,” are a sign of something lurking behind the scenes that's about to become a big problem.

Are you a risk-taker or do you play it safe? Do you jump out of airplanes for fun or is getting an extra serving of sprinkles on your soft serve your idea of risk? Each of us can look at our behaviors and determine whether the life we lead is high-flying risky or plain-vanilla safe. But can we do the same for our investments? Can you look at the stocks or funds you own and get a good idea of how risky your portfolio is? The answer is probably no.

We live in a "do it yourself" world. There are television networks and countless websites dedicated to learning how to "DIY" tasks that previously one would pay to have done for them.  

Today we’re taking a look at the important topic of Risk in your investment portfolio. What do you need to know about investment risk?  How can you be sure that you have the right amount of risk in your portfolio?

Focus on your overall approach during times of short-term volatility.

As an investor, it can be tempting to get caught up in daily news headlines. Consider how news about the election and COVID-19 vaccines have moved the markets over the past several weeks. But having a financial strategy can help you ignore short-term volatility and focus on your long-term vision.

As you know, investing is a process based on your goals, time horizon, and risk tolerance. Interestingly enough, it’s also a process that may help you prepare for life’s financial challenges.

How much should you really be saving for the retirement future you envision?

Making sure you have enough money saved for retirement is one of the top concerns for those of us not independently wealthy. In a perfect world, we will figure out how much we need to live on by calculating our monthly and yearly retirement expenses, factoring in inflation, and computing any additional income like Social Security.