Diversifying Your Investment Portfolio
Diversification is Not Just Choosing a Bunch of Different Stocks
We’ve all heard the same advice again and again – an investor’s portfolio should be diversified and mixed so that if something goes down in one area of the market, you don't lose your shirt with every egg in one basket. The problem, however, is that the idea of diversification is not always well-explained or understood. So instead of really diversifying, some investors just create a portfolio of stocks. They believe they are diversified with stocks in a food company, a tech business, an oil company and a pharmaceutical, but in reality all of their investment is still in one location: a public stock market.
What is 'Diversification?'
Divesrsification means always having to say you are sorry - because it means not owning too much of those high flyers in your stock portfolio. It means owning assets that are not doing so well right now, but are "on sale" and will do better in a different market cycle. It means taking the good with the bad, and a more muted rate of return in exchange for less volatility and downside risk. True diversification is a risk management technique that mixes a wide variety of investment types within a portfolio. You combine different investment types together so they are truly offsetting each other with the primary goal of both protecting value and growing worth. That may mean utilizing all possible areas of investment that are viable for the investor. These may include, but are not limited to, commodities, real estate, bonds, government savings, cash and banking instruments, and more. When these areas are combined with investment in stocks, then an investor is really starting to exercise diversified protection.
Most non-institutional investors have a limited budget for investing and may find it difficult to create an adequately diversified portfolio. This fact alone is one of the major reasons mutual funds seen such a sharp increase in popularity. Buying shares in a mutual fund can provide investors with an inexpensive source of diversification.
A Lesson in the Importance of Diversification
During the mid 2000s, the big boom was stocks and real estate. But as the bubble burst at the end of the decade, investors who had most of their money locked up in one or the other lost two-thirds of their principal value when the market tanked. Even the most diversified investor still took a hit, but those who had truly worked to diversify their portfolio took a much less harsh hit. Hard cash was king, and those who had CDs and liquid money could literally demand any price they wanted for assets being sold on a fire sale. Those closest to retirement age who hadn't diversified their portfolio were hit the hardest, as they didn't have the luxury of waiting years for the market to bounce back.
Again, diversifying a portfolio is not about getting a bunch of different shades of the same investment type. It is really about mixing different investment types that are entirely unrelated to each other in how value is generated. A good offense is your best defense and in general, a well-diversified portfolio combined with a three to five year investment horizon can weather most storms. Of course, your diversification strategy should also change with time as you get closer and closer to retirement. Working with a financial advisor who understands your goals, risk tolerance, and retirement plans can be crucial to helping you create a portfolio that is truly diversified.
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as investment, tax, or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security.