Introduction to Investment Planning

Investment planning is an important component of a holistic financial plan. Read more to understand the basics of investing and why it’s important to construct a portfolio that is built for the long term and can weather different market conditions.

There is more to investing than just purchasing a stock and wanting to earn a quick return. Rather, investing should be considered as part of a long-term strategy; one that aligns with your financial goals. Investment planning is one element of a financial plan and begins with a proper understanding of your current financial situation and future goals.

The purpose of investing is to put your money to work with the goal of building wealth over time. To capitalize on investment opportunities, risk tolerance and time horizon are important considerations. The longer your time horizon, the longer your money has to grow. This is often referred to as the power of compounding effect – providing the benefit of time in the market.

Playing the long game has historically yielded higher returns on investment in stocks. But the stock market isn’t the only asset class you might consider. Investors can achieve diversification benefits and target their preferred risk tolerance by varying their portfolios to include real estate, bonds, commodities, and other securities.

Key takeaways

• Everyone has a different risk tolerance and time horizon – those investing at the beginning of a career may often assume greater risk than those nearing retirement. That’s because, history has shown that a longer time horizon has dramatically reduced the probability of investment losses.
• Determine the best investment planning strategy for your financial goals. One important investment axiom is the concept of risk and return. Higher risk asset classes, like stocks, offer higher longer term returns but come at the expense of higher shorter term volatility. Bonds have generally offered the opposite profile – lower longer term returns with lower shorter-term volatility.
• Learn to master fear and greed, the two emotions that drive most people to enter or exit an investment at the wrong time.

Returns-Based Investments: The Basics

Your financial goals shape your investment plan. Applying tried-and-true principles will help you achieve your financial goals.

Time in the Market is Better than Timing the Market

One basic investment principle revolves around one’s time horizon. As is often said, time in the market is better than timing the market. That’s because history shows that the longer one’s time horizon, two distinct advantages emerge – the probability of loss goes down dramatically and the return predictability goes up significantly.

Financial advisors recommend that investors keep their money in the market for at least five years to weather any storms and achieve acceptable returns.

Rule of 72

For investments that compound annually, apply the “rule of 72.” Investors use this rule to calculate the time required for an investment to double.

Simply divide 72 by the expected annual rate of return. The result is an estimate of the number of years required for your money to double. For example, imagine a bond’s rate of return is 3%. Dividing 72 by 3 results in 24, the number of years it will generally take for your original bond investment to double.

The rule of 72 is an approximation, but it provides a general expectation of how long it takes to double one’s wealth.

Investment Planning Strategies

Investors should employ a consistent, disciplined strategy to earn acceptable returns over the long term. Selecting a combination of different asset types can help you achieve your goals while insulating you from market disruptions. With both return and risk as the focus, investment planning should account for your personal goals, financial knowledge, and investment expectations.

1. Setting your risk tolerance and time horizon

Consider your objectives. Are you nearing retirement? Planning to buy a house soon? These decisions inform the types and combination of investments that may be best for you.

If retirement is in the next 10 years, having some exposure to lower risk vehicles such as bonds is common. These securities allow you to protect your nest egg while realizing slow-and-steady gains generated from the coupon payment.

2. Choosing the right investment strategy

Investing requires controlling one’s emotions. Market volatility can bring out emotional extremes, including fear and greed.

Investment strategies are numerous and can differ widely. While one approach might include a broad emphasis on Diversification another might be more narrowly focused on Momentum or Value style investing. No matter which strategy you implement, controlling your emotions is key. Allow yourself to remain objective so you can make clear long-term investment decisions. Choose an investment method that you’re comfortable with and that you know you’ll stick to through thick and thin.

Start Developing Your Investment Plan with Yellow Cardinal

Working with a trusted partner to implement a cohesive investment strategy is essential. Our wealth advisors at Yellow Cardinal Advisory Group start by taking inventory of your goals, preferences, and risk profile to develop a customized financial plan, which serves as the foundation upon which your investment plan is built.

Working hand in glove with our wealth advisors, our Yellow Cardinal Portfolio Management Team is dedicated to implementing our proven long-term investment approach in client portfolios. This team works tirelessly to combine the right top-down allocation with the right bottom-up securities in order to achieve outcomes that help our clients live their lives on their terms.

Learn more about Yellow Cardinal’s investment philosophy and process.