There are many types of risk associated with investing. Understanding each type and the effect it may have on your portfolio is crucial to your investing success.
There are many types of risk associated with investing. Understanding each type and the effect it may have on your portfolio returns is crucial to your long-term investing success.
When it comes to investing, many people associate risk with losing money. Investing entails different types of risk. Understanding each type -- and the potential return associated with your retirement portfolio -- can help you determine whether your investments are appropriate for your situation.
Examining Risk and Return
Stocks historically have exhibited the highest level of market risk -- or the potential that an investment may lose money in the short term. Over long periods of time, however, stocks have outperformed both bonds and cash investments. This risk/return tradeoff may influence how you allocate your investments. For instance, consider weighting assets that you intend to keep invested for 10 years or more toward stock investments.
Bonds carry their own risks -- credit risk, or the possibility that a bond issuer could default on interest and principal payments; and interest rate risk, the chance that rising interest rates could cause a bond's price to fall. Ascending interest rates historically have influenced the prices of bonds more directly than the prices of stocks. When short-term rates are on the rise, investors may sell older bonds that pay a lower rate of interest -- causing their prices to fall -- in favor of newly issued bonds that pay higher interest rates. On the plus side, bonds historically have exhibited less short-term volatility that stocks, although past performance is no guarantee of future results.
It's also important to look at cash investments, such as 3-month Treasury bills, from a vantage point of risk and return. Although Treasury bills typically experience a low level of volatility, they may be subject to inflation risk -- or the possibility that their returns may not keep pace with the rising cost of goods and services. For this reason, you may want to use cash investments for short-term situations when you expect to access your money within 12 months or less.
Putting Risk in Perspective
Because all investments entail risk, you may want to review your mix of stocks, bonds, and cash investments with an eye toward creating a risk/return profile that is appropriate for your situation. Owning different types of assets may increase your chances of experiencing the benefits associated with each, while mitigating the corresponding risk. Your retirement portfolio won't be risk free, but you will have the confidence of knowing that you've done what you can to manage a potential downside.
Curious if your portfolio matches your risk tolerance? Contact us today to schedule your portfolio review.
The information provided in these articles is intended for informational purposes only. It is not to be construed as the opinion of Central Bancompany, Inc., and/or its subsidiaries and does not imply endorsement or support of any of the mentioned information, products, services, or providers. All information presented is without any representation, guaranty, or warranty regarding the accuracy, relevance, or completeness of the information.
Category: Investing
