It’s the scariest time of the year. Halloween is here. It’s time for trick-or-treaters, haunted houses, spooky home decorations, and more.
This may be the scariest time of the year, but it only lasts a month. The truth is there could be gaps in your investment strategy that could come back to haunt you for years or even decades. Below are a few common retirement planning mistakes that can have frightening long-term consequences. If any of these sound familiar, it may be time to meet with a financial professional.
Wrong Risk Tolerance
Asset allocation is an important part of any retirement strategy. Your allocation influences your risk exposure and your potential return. Generally, risk and return go hand-in-hand. Assets that offer greater potential return usually also have higher levels of risk. You can use asset allocation to find the right mix of assets for your goals and risk tolerance.
Having the wrong allocation can be problematic. For example, many people have less tolerance for risk as they approach retirement. As you get closer to retirement, you have less time to recover from a loss and thus less tolerance for risk. However, if you don’t adjust your allocation, you could have more risk exposure than is appropriate. A downturn could substantially impact your nest egg.
How can you make sure your allocation aligns with your risk tolerance? A consultation with a financial professional is a good first step. They can analyze your risk tolerance and your portfolio and then suggest action that can eliminate gaps and minimize risk.
No Risk Protection Tools
Asset allocation is one way to reduce risk, but it’s not the only way. You could also use tools that offer growth potential with limited downside exposure. For example, certain types of annuities offer potential growth with downside protection. You can participate in returns linked to the market without experiencing volatility and risk. Annuities aren’t right for everyone, however. Be sure to talk to a financial professional about whether they make sense for your strategy.
Impulsive Decisions
It’s natural to feel stress and anxiety when the market turns downward. Take the first quarter of 2020 for example. When the COVID pandemic began in late February, the S&P 500 declined by 33.93% in a month. You may have felt tempted to sell your investments and move to “safer” assets. However, had you done so, you may have missed out on the market’s bounce back. Since March 23, the S&P 500 has climbed 49.35%.1
The problem with impulsive decisions to move to safety is that they can often suppress your returns over time. From 1995 through 2015, the S&P 500 averaged a return of 9.85% per year. Over that same period, the average equity investor averaged a return of only 5.19%.2
Why the discrepancy in returns? Investors often make decisions based on emotion rather than a long-term strategy. While those decisions may feel right in the moment, they could lead to lost opportunity as the investor misses out on a market recovery. A financial professional can help you focus on the long-term and avoid decisions that may do more harm than good.
Infrequent Reviews
When’s the last time you reviewed your investment strategy with a financial professional? If it’s been a while, now may be the time to do so. A lot can change in a few months or even a year. Your goals and needs may change. Your tolerance for risk could change. Your contributions to your retirement accounts may change. This is especially true during the COVID pandemic, when economic news seems to vary on a monthly basis.
Let’s schedule a review today and find the monsters hiding in your investment strategy. Contact us today at Oliver Asset Management. We welcome the opportunity to consult with you and help you implement the right strategy for your needs and goals. Let’s connect today and start the conversation.
1https://www.google.com/search?q=INDEXSP:.INX&tbm=fin&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgecRowi3w8sc9YSntSWtOXmNU5eIKzsgvd80rySypFBLnYoOyeKW4uTj1c_UNDM0qi4t5FrHyePq5uEYEB1jpefpFAAAU6wGESAAAAA#scso=_QQBhX8b3K5K-tQbo56XwCw7:0
2https://www.thebalance.com/why-average-investors-earn-below-average-market-returns-2388519
Advisory services offered through Change Path, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser. Change Path, LLC and Oliver Asset Management are unaffiliated entities.
Licensed Insurance Professional. This information is designed to provide a general overview with regard to the subject matter covered and is not state specific. The authors, publisher and host are not providing legal, accounting or specific advice for your situation. By providing your information, you give consent to be contacted about the possible sale of an insurance or annuity product. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting insurance professional. The statements and opinions expressed are those of the author and are subject to change at any time. All information is believed to be from reliable sources; however, presenting insurance professional makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. This material has been prepared for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to provide, and should not be relied upon for, accounting, legal, tax or investment advice. This information has been provided by a Licensed Insurance Professional and is not sponsored or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency. 20420 - 2020/9/18
April Fool’s Day is all about jokes and pranks, but when it comes to retirement planning, getting fooled can cost you real money. Today, we’re uncovering the beliefs that can fool retirees and pre-retirees into making bad financial moves. We’ll cover some of the most common myths that can damage your retirement plans and explain why they might not make much sense for you.
Using a Tax Refund to Fund an IRA
Top 10 IRA Rollover Mistakes
Many retirees and pre-retirees dream of owning a vacation home that they can visit throughout the year. But if you decide to make this move, how should you go about financing a second property? That’s the question one of our listeners, Ted, asked Frank this week.
We've got a great listener question for you today! This week, Barry shares that he has a life insurance policy through his job, as well as a whole life policy he purchased several years ago. Now, he’s wondering- does he really need both, or should he consider canceling one?
Social Security claiming strategies can vary greatly depending on family dynamics. This episode explores how different family situations, such as those with a stay-at-home spouse or a blended family, could impact when and how to claim Social Security benefits to help maximize your retirement income.
Retirement accounts and divorce
Why do you need a financial advisor?
In today’s video, Rebecca asks an important question about retirement planning: With four different investment accounts- her 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, and individual account- she’s wondering which one she should withdraw from first when she retires next year and needs income.
Financial mistakes can happen at any age, but they can have a particularly significant impact in your 60s. In today’s episode, Frank discusses 5 common financial blunders to avoid during this pivotal decade.
Advisory services offered through CreativeOne Wealth, LLC a Registered Investment Adviser. CreativeOne Wealth, LLC and Oliver Asset Management are unaffiliated entities.
Licensed Insurance Professional. Respond and learn how financial products, including life insurance and annuities can be used in various planning strategies for retirement. The information contained herein is based on our understanding of current tax law. The tax and legislative information may be subject to change and different interpretations. We recommend that you seek professional tax advice for applicability to your personal situation.
*Testimonials are based on unique experiences from current clients and are not representative of all client experiences. Testimonials are unsolicited and clients received no compensation (cash or non-cash). Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Testimonials are encouraged and welcomed from all prospects and clients. Investment advisory services offered through CreativeOne Wealth, LLC, a registered investment advisor. CreativeOne Wealth is not affiliated with Oliver Asset Management. Additional information about CreativeOne Wealth, LLC is available in its current disclosure documents, Form ADV, Form ADV Part 2A Brochure, and Client Relationship Summary report which are accessible online via the SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) database at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov, using CRD #281213.
Oliver Asset Management © 2023