financial secrets Archives

Positioning your portfolio in turbulent times

23 September, 202017 September, 2021 Updated on17 September, 2021 Finance, Investing, Superannuation

As any experienced investor knows, all investment markets have their ups and downs. Regardless of investor experience, turbulent times are a cause of anxiety, and that can lead to poor decision-making. So, if turbulent markets are inevitable, even if their timing is not predictable, how should portfolios be positioned in anticipation of and in response to market volatility? What’s your objective? First up, it’s important to go back to your investment objective. Is it to grow wealth over the medium to long term? Or are you more concerned with preserving capital? Your objective also needs to take account of your risk profile. With your risk tolerance and objectives clarified, it’s time to get to grips with asset allocation. This is the process of deciding what proportion of your portfolio will be allocated to each of the major asset classes: cash, fixed interest, property and shares. Asset allocation is the engine room of your portfolio. The amount that you apportion to the major asset classes has the biggest effect on your portfolio performance. It has a greater bearing on your returns than individual asset selection. Asset allocation is also your key risk management tool, the more you allocate to shares and property the greater the volatility, and therefore the risk. However, in this context, risk isn’t always a bad thing. A higher risk portfolio may at times fall more in value than a lower risks portfolio, but over the long term it is also more likely to generate higher returns. Oops, too late Unfortunately, the motivation to position a portfolio for turbulent times is often a sudden upset in investment markets. But this doesn’t mean it’s too late to do anything. If your investment objectives and risk tolerance haven’t changed, rebalancing your portfolio (i.e. bringing the asset allocation back to its ideal position) may help to position it for the next upswing in investment markets. Waiting out the storms While positioning can help with portfolio risk management, many investors opt to wait out any storms. Why? Because for all the ups and downs, bull markets and bear markets, bubbles and crashes, major share markets have delivered solid long-term growth. In fact, it has been claimed that investors have lost more money trying to anticipate corrections, than they would have lost in riding out actual corrections. A detached view Concerned about the financial outlook and your portfolio’s current position? We can provide an impartial assessment of your portfolio, help you identify your objectives and your risk tolerance, and recommend investments to help you weather the turbulent times. Talk to us today to get started. The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.

Unlocking financial secrets for different phases of life

9 September, 202017 September, 2021 Updated on17 September, 2021 Finance, Investing

One of the keys to financial success is to adopt the right strategy at the right time. As you move through the stages of life, here are some tried and tested ‘secrets’ that will help you build and protect your wealth. Teens and young adults Time is on your side so get saving. Through the magic of compound interest, a little bit invested now can grow into a big amount over time. Most young people don’t want to think about life in 50 years time, but if a 15-year-old starts saving just $10 per week into an investment returning 5% pa (after fees and tax), when they turn 65 their total outlay of $26,000 will have grown to over $116,000. Contributing those savings to a tax-favoured vehicle such as superannuation may provide an even higher final return. Single life Saving is still a key strategy as careers are established, but usually with a shorter timeframe and a specific purpose in mind – buying a home, for example. This is a time when savings strategies can be brought undone by the allure of desirable things and the ease with which one can go into debt. Take care not to indulge in too many luxuries, and avoid taking on any high interest debt, such as credit cards. Rather, commit to working out a budget and sticking to it. Family focus The time of kids and mortgages is also the time of peak responsibility. It’s likely that your most valuable asset is your ability to earn an income, and illness, disability or death could deprive you and your family of that income. The financial consequences of each of these possibilities can be managed with a blend of income protection, total and permanent disability, trauma and life insurances. Preparing for retirement With offspring launched into the world and earning capacity often at a peak, a wealth of opportunities open up for pre-retirees. By all means enjoy some lifestyle spending, but don’t forget to supercharge your super in anticipation of a long retirement. In times of normal interest rates, using surplus income to pay off any outstanding home loan is often recommended, however, when interest rates are very low, investing spare income into super and leaving debt repayments until later may deliver a better outcome. Golden years Australians are up there with the leaders when it comes to enjoying long and healthy retirements. That means retirement savings need to last, so a): don’t go too hard too fast in spending your super, and b): don’t invest too conservatively, particularly in times of ultra-low interest rates. On the plus side, if you’ve employed the above secrets in each phase of life, you should be in good shape to enjoy a long, financially comfortable retirement. Whatever your stage of life, there are many things you could be doing to secure your financial future. To find out more, talk to us today. The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.