Secrets About Investment Diversification
For most people the old adage about not putting all one's eggs in one basket makes perfect sense. Most people can see how this applies to their investing decisions. We by our very nature can be very cautious people and dislike the thought of losing money on investments. However does investor diversification really work for the smaller investor?
Depending where you are in your investment life your acceptance of risk, known as your risk profile, will change. As a young parent your risk level may be low - it is hard enough to save the money, you can't afford to lose it. As your move into your main earnings years you are a little more risk attuned. You have the ability to weather any particular losses and time to make up those losses. When you have reached retirement and are living off those investments your risk profile may be low again. In all those stages the level of portfolio diversification is likely to be different.
The problem with diversifying is that while you may limit your risk, you may limit the gains you can make as well. If all your money is in stock picks and the property market has a boom you will not participate in any of these high returns.
Another problem for the small investor is the smaller pool of funds he has to play with. It would be great to have a portfolio of property, a wide range of stocks and bonds, bank deposits and investment art. But to buy into all of these areas the small investor risks having such tiny investments in each that it isn't worth the effort.
There definitely examples out there of people who have specialized and reaped the benefits of that specialization; Henry ford and Bill Gates are two examples. But such successes there are numerous others who have been burned by one big bad investment wiping their portfolio.
Investor diversification is different for every investor - just make sure you know what your options are. - 23217
Depending where you are in your investment life your acceptance of risk, known as your risk profile, will change. As a young parent your risk level may be low - it is hard enough to save the money, you can't afford to lose it. As your move into your main earnings years you are a little more risk attuned. You have the ability to weather any particular losses and time to make up those losses. When you have reached retirement and are living off those investments your risk profile may be low again. In all those stages the level of portfolio diversification is likely to be different.
The problem with diversifying is that while you may limit your risk, you may limit the gains you can make as well. If all your money is in stock picks and the property market has a boom you will not participate in any of these high returns.
Another problem for the small investor is the smaller pool of funds he has to play with. It would be great to have a portfolio of property, a wide range of stocks and bonds, bank deposits and investment art. But to buy into all of these areas the small investor risks having such tiny investments in each that it isn't worth the effort.
There definitely examples out there of people who have specialized and reaped the benefits of that specialization; Henry ford and Bill Gates are two examples. But such successes there are numerous others who have been burned by one big bad investment wiping their portfolio.
Investor diversification is different for every investor - just make sure you know what your options are. - 23217
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posted by X - Men @ 12:38 PM
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