Investment Goals and Risks: What You Need to Know Before Investing

Investing can be a great way to build wealth over time, but it's important to understand the risks involved before you get started. In this blog post, we'll discuss the importance of understanding your investment goals, as well as the risks involved in investing.

Understanding Your Investment Objectives

Investing always carries the potential for varying returns, ranging from substantial gains to potential losses. Typically, investments with higher inherent risks also offer the prospect of greater returns over an extended period.

When making investment decisions, it's vital to introspect on your reasons for investing, your risk tolerance, primary investment goals, and the time you can commit to managing your investments. Your motivations significantly shape your investment strategy, risk tolerance, and other crucial aspects. For instance, if your objective is long-term retirement savings, your choices might lean towards more conservative options compared to someone pursuing aggressive profits.

Assessing your risk tolerance is akin to understanding your investing personality. Are you comfortable with the potential volatility of shares, willing to endure market fluctuations for better long-term gains? Or does the idea of significant portfolio value swings make you uneasy? Individual risk profiles are influenced by factors such as investment knowledge, financial market understanding, investment horizon, and the willingness to take risks for potentially higher returns. Your investment priorities also guide your choice of shares; for wealth growth, you might focus differently than if you rely on your portfolio for regular income, where high-dividend investments become more relevant.

To mitigate risk, diversification is crucial. The age-old adage, "don't put all your eggs in one basket," emphasizes investing in various asset classes, including shares, ETFs, A-REITs, managed funds, or alternative investments. Diversifying your portfolio helps spread risk, aiming for more stable returns over the long term.

Understanding the Risks of Share Investing

Let's delve into the three fundamental risks associated with share investing:

Capital Loss Risk: If you decide to sell your shares at a price lower than your initial purchase cost, factoring in brokerage fees, you will incur a capital loss.

Liquidity Risk: While many listed companies have a considerable number of investors looking to buy or sell shares, there's no guarantee that you will always find a buyer or seller at your desired price and timing.

Market and Economic Risk: Similar to property and various other investments, companies and the share market are influenced by external factors. Some shares may exhibit higher volatility or greater sensitivity to specific factors, contributing to market and economic risks.

It's crucial to acknowledge that every investment type comes with its inherent risks. Shares, in particular, are regarded as high-risk investments due to their daily price fluctuations, so it's imperative to keep the following in mind:

• The pursuit of greater returns corresponds to an increase in risk.
• With an extended investment horizon, a higher risk threshold becomes more manageable.
• Evaluate risk levels across your entire portfolio rather than focusing solely on individual investments.
• Avoid investing more than your financial comfort allows.
• Exercise patience and refrain from making hasty investment decisions.

Take your time and refrain from hasty decisions. Engage in thorough research, keeping in mind the broader context, as your investment strategy is shaped by your goals. Assess your objectives by examining your lifestyle comprehensively, going beyond a sole focus on financial gains.

For a more objective view, you can always rely on the experienced team at Finexia to assist and guide you. Talking to mentors or professionals can also provide you with a different perspective, but it is important to remember that they shouldn't define your goals. Instead, hearing other opinions can be useful in making informed decisions.

Steve Roy

Equities Dealer