Hypo Venture Capital Asset Allocation A Sound Investment Strategy Part 2

Here at Hypo Venture Capital we are committed to offering our clients access to the latest and broadest range of financial services and products on the market. We know that choosing the right strategy, the right investment and the right product is no easy task in this day and age! Whether its advice, investments or financial planning we are here to answer all your questions and facilitate all your financial needs.

In today’s complex financial markets, you have an impressive array of investment vehicles from which to select. Each investment also carries some risks, making it important to choose wisely if you are selecting just one.

The good news is that there’s no rule that says you must stick with only one type of investment. In fact, you can potentially lower your investment risk and increase your chances of meeting your investment goals by practicing “asset allocation.”

Asset Allocation Can Work

For instance, at age 25 you may decide to invest with the goal of retiring in comfort within 40 years. Most likely, your investment goal is to achieve as much growth as possible growth that will outpace inflation substantially. In aiming to reach this goal, you may allocate 70% of your assets into aggressive growth stocks, 20% into bonds, and 10% into money market instruments. You have years to ride out the wide fluctuations that come with stocks, but at the same time, you potentially lower your risk with your bond and money market holdings.

Because your goals and circumstances are unique, you may want to talk with an investment advisor who can help you tailor an allocation strategy for your needs. Generally, your asset allocation will change as you reach different stages in your life, as your investment goals also change along with these shifts in lifestyle.

If you have been investing aggressively for retirement for more than 20 years and are now less than 10 years from retiring, protecting what your investment may have earned from market ups and downs may become more important. In this case you may want to gradually shift some of your stock allocation into your bond and money market holdings. Keep in mind, however, that many financial experts recommend that stocks be considered for every portfolio to maintain growth potential.

A Simple Process, Some Dramatic Potential Results

Asset allocation is a simple concept, yet vital to long-term investment success. In fact, a landmark study cited in Financial Analysts Journal shows that about 90% of the variability of average total returns earned by balanced mutual funds and pension plans over time was the result of asset allocation policy.3 For many individual investors, the asset allocation decision amounts to choosing what types of mutual funds to invest in and the amount to invest in each type of fund. Others may want to add individual securities to this mix after exploring their investment options.

Regardless of the asset allocation strategy you choose and the investments you select, keep in mind that a well-crafted plan of action over the long term can help you weather all sorts of changing market conditions as you aim to meet your investment goal(s).

Points to Remember

1.Asset allocation is the way in which you spread your investment portfolio among different asset classes, such as stocks and stock mutual funds, bonds, and bond mutual funds.

2.When prices of different types of assets do not move in tandem, combining these investments in a portfolio can help reduce the variability of returns, commonly referred to as “market risk.”

3.Mutual funds are pools of securities, usually offering diversification within a single asset class. Some mutual funds may include several asset classes.

4.The asset allocation that is right for you depends on your investment time frame, goals, and tolerance for risk.

5.As your investment time frame and goals change, so might your asset allocation. Many financial experts suggest reevaluating your asset allocation periodically or whenever you experience a milestone event in your life such as marriage, the birth of a child, or retirement.

Want to know more?

Hypo Venture Capital is an independent investment advisory firm which focuses on global equities and options markets. Our analytical tools, screening techniques, rigorous research methods and committed staff provide solid information to help our clients make the best possible investment decisions. All views, comments, statements and opinions are of the authors. For more information go to www.hypovc.com

Retirement Investing Expert Tips Consider Many Retirement Investment Options and Diversify Portfolio

Here at Hypo Venture Capital we are committed to offering our clients access to the latest and broadest range of financial services and products on the market. We know that choosing the right strategy, the right investment and the right product is no easy task in this day and age! Whether its advice, investments or financial planning we are here to answer all your questions and facilitate all your financial needs.

There are so many options for retirement investment planning that even the most ambitious person can feel daunted. But learning about retirement investment strategies as a young or middle-aged adult can save all kinds of financial worries later. The soundest approach to investing for retirement is to save slowly but persistently, and invest widely with as much information as possible.
The Best Approach to Retirement Investing

Every expert has a different recommendation for the best retirement investment decisions, but some advice is universal:
1.Figure out how much retirement income will be needed. Retirement investment calculators are available online that can predict how much a given investment will be worth or how much retirement income will be needed to maintain quality of life by retirement.
2.Start now by opening an investment retirement savings account. Even a small amount, deposited every week or every paycheck, eventually adds up to substantial savings that can be used to fund a comfortable retirement.
3.Knowledge is power. Take every opportunity to learn about retirement investments, as well as the best investment planning in general, and invest money from the aforementioned retirement account wisely as opportunities appear.
4.Create a diverse portfolio. Some stocks will go up while others go down. The real estate market might be booming while sales in other areas fall. The best retirement investment planning takes this into account and invests in several different options at once to ensure a solid investment portfolio that will do well, no matter what.
Retirement Investment Options
There are many retirement investment strategies available. While the best investment plan is always to diversify, with several investments, the following options are a key part of most investment strategies aimed at yielding retirement income:
Annuities An annuity works like the opposite of a mortgage. Money is invested in advance, and in retirement years the annuity pays out principle and interest on the investment.
GICs GICs guarantee a fixed rate of interest if money is left in an investment for a pre-arranged period. Once the term of the GIC is up, retirement funds can be reinvested again until needed.
Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds While there are differences, each of these investment vehicles is a way to speculate by investing money where it may grow or may, possibly, shrink. The riskier the investment, the greater the potential earning. It’s wise to invest a portion of retirement savings in riskier investments like stocks and mutual funds, if thorough research suggests that they have a good chance of succeeding in delivering a healthy return on investment.
Home Equity Real estate is always a smart investment, and paying off the family home before retirement is one of the smartest investments. House values will only rise over time, and home equity can also be used in a reverse mortgage or withdrawn in a lump sum home equity loan if money is needed to supplement retirement income.
The best move, for anyone thinking about investing for retirement, is to learn as much as possible about retirement investment strategies and consider all the options in selecting investments. Speaking with a qualified financial advisor is a first step on the way to a solid investment strategy, and the first step to a profitable retirement portfolio.
About the Author:
Stephen Holmes is a Senior Vice President at World Assets Advisory, with experience in the Financial Services industry spanning over 25ys and 3 Continents. Stephen currently directs the Portfolio Risk Management Group after moving from the Equity Derivatives Research Group 3yrs ago. He has a PhD in Experimental Particle Physics and has been working in the alternative investment industry since 1992. His interests include classical music, reading and he often is a guest speaker at corporate functions with a focus on Technology in Society.

Want to know more?
Hypo Venture Capital is an independent investment advisory firm which focuses on global equities and options markets. Our analytical tools, screening techniques, rigorous research methods and committed staff provide solid information to help our clients make the best possible investment decisions. All views, comments, statements and opinions are of the authors. For more information go to www.hypovc.com