In the world of investing, like in life, there is very little we can really control.
Markets rise and fall, with implications for retirement accounts like 401(k) plans and IRAs that many people rely on to fund their post-working years.
- The amount of money you save is as important as how it is invested. This can include taking advantage of employer matching of your retirement plan contributions. Funneling a regular amount into a retirement plan through automatic payroll deduction means you don’t have a choice about investing every pay period. Putting saving on auto-pilot removes the temptation to do something else with the money.
- When you begin saving and investing is critical, and the best time to start is now. If you start investing in your 30s, your money has more time to compound than if you start in your 50s. But even if you’re in your 50s, the best time to save is still now. Your older, retired self will thank you.
- How you position your investment portfolio matters. You can’t control investment return, but you and your advisor can set up a portfolio tuned to your disposition and objectives so you can weather the ups and downs that come your way. Actively shifting your portfolio to reflect your changing expectations about the future is a recipe for failure.
You can keep tabs on economic trends and listen for pointers on how to think about the markets – quickly and easily – by watching Horning’s market commentaries. They’re updated regularly on our website.