All investments have some degree of risk involved. Finding where you fit on that scale is critical to your financial success.
Too much financial risk can cause panic or sleepless nights but not enough risk could prevent you from getting where you want to go. It’s a risk vs. reward dilemma.
At the end of the day, whichever way the scale tips depends on you. Your financial risk tolerance is based on many indicators specific to you and your lifestyle. Every person has a different comfort level.
Of course, it’s always best to talk to the experts—it’s our job to help you determine your risk tolerance. However, there are things about yourself that you can reflect on when trying to take an internal temperature about how much risk you can handle.
Personal factors to consider
Age
Age is a large determining factor of risk. For example, a younger investor saving for retirement won’t need the money for a long time. Which means they can afford a rough year every once in a while.
Timeline
Your investments should be catered to the length of time you have until retirement or the financial goal you’re saving for.
Goals
Your short, medium and long-term financial goals should all factor into how much risk you can handle.
Portfolio size
How much you’ve saved, your current income and future projected income will have an effect on the risk you’re willing to take on.
How life stages affect risk tolerance
A big indicator of how much risk you would want to take on depends on your current life stage.
1.Early Career Accumulator
If you’re just starting your career, you may have not much to invest but you have the benefit of time on your side. Retirement is far away. This means you can afford to take on a higher risk over a longer period of time. It should also generate a higher return than a safer investment
2. Mid-Career Accumulator
People in their 40s or 50s may be at the highest peak earning level with more money available to invest. Although risk tolerance may not be as high as an early career accumulator because you’re nearing retirement when you’ll have to withdraw your investments.
3. Pre- Retirees and Retirees
Risk tolerance for this group is much less than the previous two stages. There is a lot more concern about losing what you’ve accumulated so far. This is the time in your life were your beginning to think about pulling investments to supplement your monthly income.
What kind of investor are you?
Be objective when considering which one of these categories describes you best. If you’re having a hard time deciding where you fit, try and think about how your partner or friends might categorize you.
Low-risk tolerance aka conservative investor
This could be if you if you’re the type to lose sleep when your investments are on the decline. If watching the market’s ups and downs every day makes you uneasy then you’ll probably feel best if you choose investments that are on the safe side.
Medium
If you feel like small bumps in the road don’t bother you but you’d have a hard time working through the bigger and longer market slumps, you could have a medium tolerance.
High-risk tolerance aka aggressive investor
If you don’t mind consistent highs and lows or large market fluctuations you might have high-risk tolerance. This is good if you just want the most out of your investments over the long-term.
Let’s chat
Although the points made above might give you a better understanding of your risk tolerance, it’s always best the let the experts help you determine how much risk you can handle. So, give us a shout. Our financial planning team is here to help you achieve what’s important in your life.
