Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Knowing Your Risk Profile

Choosing from a wide array of investment products can be somewhat confusing especially if you are not aware of what options are available to you. There are different investment options for both the conservative and aggressive investor and everyone in between. There is a connection between a product’s risk and return. Higher earning investments carry with it higher risks and knowing your investor profile will give you an idea if you’re suited for high-risk investments like stocks and money market investments or more conservative products such as certain bonds and fixed deposits. Stock brokers and money managers can help you sort through the different investment products and help you make a decision. Before discussing the various options, financial advisers often ask clients to answer a questionnaire which would help them determine if you’re a conservative, moderate or aggressive investor. Once you’ve gotten to know your investor profile, it’s easier to decide where to place your money.

Risk Profile Analysis

Risk profile analysis questionnaires collect information about your financial needs, status, and goals as well as your personality as an investor. The questions usually ask you how long you are willing to invest your money, how much money you are planning to invest and if you would need the money anytime soon. The results tell you whether you can take the ups and downs of the stock market or if you should just stick with a fixed-income investment. The four main factors for choosing investment products are duration, liquidity, risks and returns. Aggressive investors would often invest for the long term, with minimum liquidity and higher risks and returns, while conservative investors prefer short term investments which can be easily liquidated and have the least amount of risk, sacrificing the amount of returns. Moderate investors on the other hand are a combination of both. They are willing to stick it out for the long haul, but they need the security of being able to liquidate easily and are comfortable with investments with moderate risks and returns. Once you’ve determined what kind of investor you are, you would be able to compare the different options and make sound financial decisions with regards to your investment portfolios.

Investing your money seems like a very complicated process, but this is all because you need to think things through before making any decision that may affect your financial situation. Choosing the right investment products to place your money in is very important to make sure that you are comfortable with your investment choice.

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