Grow – Investments – Wealth Management

This is an area in which we’ll spend time. After saving and meeting your monthly needs, your investments need to be fed and grown to provide for that financial future you want or the one you’ve already built. I offer a ‘second opinion’ to those who have a variety of investments and would like a review. Using the financial plan we create together you will see how the investments play an important part of its success. We can see what you have invested where and how it all holds together. Is there a master plan that includes all your investments? Are they working together to your common good? If not, we might want to talk about that.

There’s a process to analysis and to recommending investments. Part of that process is determining the appropriate asset allocation for you.

Asset allocation is the process of selecting a mix of asset classes that closely matches an investor’s financial profile in terms of their investment preferences and tolerance for risk. It is based on the premise that the different asset classes have varying cycles of performance, and that by investing in multiple classes, the overall investment returns will be more stable and less susceptible to adverse movements in any one class.

All investments involve some sort of risk, whether it’s market risk, interest risk, inflation risk liquidity risk, tax risk. An individualized asset allocation strategy seeks to mitigate the risks of any one asset class though diversification and balance.

Individual Strategy

When done properly, an investor’s allocation of assets will reflect his desired goals, priorities, investment preferences and his tolerance for risk. Asset allocation is an individualized strategy, so there really is no perfect mix of assets. Each individual’s strategy and portfolio is built on the careful consideration of the key elements of their financial profile:

Investment Objectives: What it is the investor hopes to achieve using his investment dollars – improve current lifestyle; achieve capital growth; fund a specific goal, such as a college education

Risk Tolerance: This reflects the investor’s comfort level with market fluctuations that can result in losses. Inflation risk and interest risk need to be considered as well.

Investment Preferences: An investor may prefer one asset class over another based on a certain bias or interest towards the characteristics of that class.

Time Horizon: The length of time an investor is willing to commit to achieving his objectives.

Taxation: Investing in a mix of asset classes will have varying tax consequences.

An Evolving Strategy

A sound asset allocation strategy includes periodic reviews.

About the only certainty when it comes to the financial markets is that they will change, and so will your financial situation. Through market gains and losses, a portfolio can become unbalanced and it may be important to make adjustments to your allocation. As people move through life’s stages their needs, preferences, priorities and risk tolerance change and so too must their asset allocation strategy.

Asset allocation, which is driven by complex mathematical models, should not be confused with the much simpler concept of diversification.

Learn more about asset allocation by contacting us today.

_{Asset Allocation does not guarantee that a portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-allocated portfolio and does not ensure against market risk or protect against loss.}