Asset allocation is a strategy designed to balance risk and reward by distributing money among different types of investments.
How people allocate the money they invest depends on their goals. Oscar hopes to buy a car soon, so he may choose a conservative mix – including certificates and bonds – to lower the risk of losing money in the short term.
Maria is investing for retirement – 30 years from now. She might choose an allocation heavy in stocks to take advantage of their long-term growth potential.
In general, stocks are suggested for periods of five years or longer. Cash and money market accounts are advised for objectives less than a year away. Bonds fall somewhere in between.
Many portfolios include all three investment types as a way to spread out risk while still offering potential for growth.
If you have questions about how your assets are allocated, our Everence team would be glad to meet with you.