Whats My Investment Style?

For any sport, a T.E.A.M. approach is key to winning games. Training, Education, Action, and Monitoring are important ingredients for success no matter what game you’re playing.

The same can be true when it comes to investing in today’s stock markets; it takes a T.E.A.M. approach to keep moving ahead financially. Winning the game isn’t just about one guy scoring every point. A good strategy should include all of the players in all different positions. Although seeing a player hit one out of the park is always exciting, it’s the entire team that wins the game.
Knowing and using the different approaches of investing can also help an investor avoid too many strike-outs.

Every investor uses a slightly different approach to investing. What’s your investment style?

Check out three of the most common styles below:

Asset Allocation

Asset allocation is one of the most common investment approaches used today. The principals are sound and can be a great starting point (just like the fundamentals of a sport). Asset allocation involves diversifying investments among large, medium, small, and international stock, bonds, and cash.

An asset allocation mix can be used to try and meet an investor’s risk level and long-term goals. Historically, the markets have shown that over time, stocks and bonds typically go up in value. This strategy can work well for long-term investors and those buying on an ongoing basis.

Cash Flow Investing

This type of investing happens when an investor is looking for a targeted rate of income from their investment accounts. The overall goal would be to purchase a more defined basis of investments that generate specific income goals (now and in the future) and is generally designed to be held for the long-term.

Usually, with this style of investing, there is less of a concern on the current price as long as the investment is meeting income goals.

Josh Peters, editor of Morningstar’s Dividend Investor newsletter says “Dividends can rise and fall with economic conditions, but in general, if the market drops 200 points tomorrow, chances are that a portfolio of dividend-paying stocks is going to have the same income if the market were to go up 200 points.”

To reach individual income goals, certain potentially higher income-generating investments such as dividend paying stocks, REITs, bonds, and annuities can be purchased to meet current and future income needs.

Technical Analysis

This is an investment style that involves active money management based upon a study of the trends of the economy. Investments are usually made based on the trends of past market data. When risk is lower, investments are purchased. When the risk level rises, investments are put into cash or out of a particular asset class.

One way to look at Technical Analysis is like is like having “circuit breakers” on your investments.

If conditions or the risk gets too high, the power gets turned down or off until it appears safe to turn the switch back on. The positive of technical analysis is that it’s designed to limit losses and protect your financial “house.”

Having an exit plan in place and not staying fully invested all of the time can make sense if you’re looking to limit losses with growth as a secondary goal. The negative of technical analysis is that, statistically, it’s impossible to use the past to truly predict the future. An investor can miss out on opportunities by not staying fully invested.

Did you figure out which investment style you’re using?

Your investment style may not even be listed above. We think that every investor should be educated about their investments and the pros and cons to every investment approach.

At America’s Retirement Headquarters, we use the T.E.A.M. approach. Just like any good team, you need a coach to make the team succeed. Our T.E.A.M. approach involves taxes, estate planning, asset protection, and money management. This approach combines a variety of different investment styles to meet investors’ individual goals. It’s like using all the players on your team, offense and defense, for a game-winning strategy.

To schedule a time to discuss your financial future and the possible role of investments and insurance in your financial strategy, contact us at nolan@retirementguysnetwork.comor call us at 419-842-0550 today!