Stocks, Bonds, Real Estate…What Should I Be Investing In? Help!
A popular topic of conversation here at Oakwood Financial Group is, how should I invest? Or what types of things should I invest in? The answer is, it’s different for everyone. Just because your neighbor, brother, or co-worker invests in fund A or stock B doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you. Just like in Vegas, they’re only going to tell you about their winners, not about the investments that didn’t work out so well.
That said, in the spirit of the question, there are a few things you should keep in mind when weighing your investment options. Here’s our list of three key points:
Everyone’s investment portfolio is unique.
Does that mean no one at Oakwood Group owns the same investments? Not at all. However, they may hold them in different allocations for various reasons. That means buy and sell disciplines are unique for everyone. Generally speaking, there is a considerable difference between someone who is 35 years old with two children versus someone who is 65 and looking at the possibility of retirement as an empty nester. Demographics with that much spread are generally going two different directions. Your portfolio should reflect your financial goals and objectives.
Make sure you have a strategy.
When looking at your financial space, make sure you have a process or strategy built on more than what’s pulsing through our news cycle. The business news will throw up colorful graphics and use catchy phrases to suck you into the “hot trends.” It’s certainly fun to follow and may work for a while. However, there are two sides to the hill. Yes, there is an upside, but there can also be a downside. It’s important to understand that from a strategic standpoint. Again, do what’s right for your financial space.
Understand the difference between sell discipline and buy discipline.
When you are putting together your investment portfolio, it’s as essential to understand what a sell discipline is as it is a buy discipline. This is a big idea. Most people think about buying stocks and when they would like to buy them, sometimes even putting limit orders in. Not as many people think about the sell discipline. In other words, when would it be wise to sell a given holding? Again, it’s different for everyone. Planning for a sell and buy discipline in advance will help take the emotion out of things when the time comes.
If you have questions about investing, your financial strategy, or your asset allocation, call us at (412) 928-8801 or visit us at www.oakwoodfinancialgroup.com. If you wish to schedule an introductory meeting, we would be happy to meet with you at no cost or obligation to you.
These Blogs are provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment advice. Any opinions or forecasts contained herein reflect the subjective judgments and assumptions of the authors only and do not necessarily reflect the views of SagePoint Financial.
