For most Americans, building their retirement nest egg is one of their most important priorities -- and most difficult challenges.
A big factor to achieving that goal is constructing a well-designed portfolio. We can't predict the future, so no one knows what the ideal investment plan will turn out to be. However, we can construct a sensible one that is broadly diversified, low-cost, tax-efficient and consistent with your goals and investing temperament.
Such a portfolio will significantly improve your chances of reaching your retirement goals. Here are the key steps to developing an intelligent retirement investment plan:
* Clearly identify the goals for your portfolio. What do you want it to accomplish in the period leading up to retirement, during retirement and after you're gone? In addition to a secure retirement, are you planning to leave assets to family members or a charity? If so, how much do you plan to leave?
* Understand your risk tolerance. This is your willingness to accept short-term losses in exchange for expected, but uncertain, longer-term gains. If you can't sleep at night fearing that a severe drop in the market could cost you a significant portion of your assets, a portfolio that holds a high percentage of risky investments such as stocks may not be right for you. Your risk tolerance affects your portfolio design, so take the time to get this right.
* Determine your time horizon. For many investors, this will consist of
* Establish your asset allocation. The most important investment decision you will make is the portfolio's asset allocation, which is determining the portion of your investable assets you want in the three major asset classes -- stocks, bonds and cash. This decision will determine the majority of your portfolio's performance and risk. Different asset classes have different risk and return characteristics and can respond differently to economic and market forces. Therefore, you can balance a portfolio's risk and return by spreading your investments among different types of assets. This doesn't guarantee a profit or ensure against a loss, but it can help you manage the level and type of risks you face. A sensible asset allocation depends upon your investment objectives, time horizon, risk tolerance and other personal and financial circumstances.
* Diversify through sub-asset allocation and security selection. To further diversify your portfolio, you'll need to select the sub-asset classes and specific funds that offer you the exposure within the specific stock and bond categories you want.
* Determine your asset location. Different types of accounts, assets and gains are taxed differently. Therefore, choosing which assets to hold in which accounts can help improve after-tax returns. Generally, investors should hold tax-efficient investments such as broad-market index funds in taxable accounts, and tax-inefficient investments such as taxable bond funds in tax-advantaged accounts. However, factors such as short-term cash needs and estate-planning decisions can dictate exceptions to this strategy.
* Rebalance periodically. Asset classes perform differently during the year. In order to maintain your target asset allocation and manage your portfolio's risk, you should rebalance the portfolio periodically.
06-03-2012 13:06 Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use.
PRETORIA, South Africa (AP)Flyhalf Gareth Anscombe scored all the points as Auckland Blues overcame their early season struggles with a gutsy 29-23 win at the Bulls in Super 15 rugby on Saturday.
Anscombe inspired the New Zealand team to a first victory in three games with two tries, two conversions and five penalties at Loftus Versfeld.
The 20-year-old newcomer broke away in the second minute after intercepting a loose ball and finished a flowing Blues counterattack in the 38th as the visitors stunned their fellow three-time Super rugby champions at the Bulls home ground.
The Bulls launched a late charge with wing Bjorn Basson crossing for two second-half tries and an off-form Morne Steyn landed a touchline conversion after the hooter for a losing bonus point for the South African team, which slipped to its first defeat this season.
Anscombe began his outstanding personal performance by snatching possession in the opening moments after Bulls center Francois Venter juggled a pass in midfield and going 60 meters unchallenged for the first score.
His angled run after a length-of-the-field break from the Blues took him through a hole to score as the visitors opened a 20-8 gap at halftime.
The Blues held off the Bulls late fightback and Anscombe outkicked Springboks flyhalf Steyn, landing seven from nine shots at goal at the intimidating Pretoria venue. Steyn could only manage three from seven in a rare off-day.
Its a pretty daunting debut at this stadium, Anscombe said. The forwards fronted up and luckily I banged over a few goals and took some opportunities.
The Blues also rode a wave of pressure from the Bulls late in the first half as well as the closing stages, and recovered from an early yellow card to lock Ali Williams for a first victory of 2012 after opening with losses to Canterbury and Waikato.
The Bulls put us under a lot of pressure. When you come up here its all about the arm wrestle and staying in there, captain Keven Mealamu said. Every minute of this competition youre going to have to work for every point and it came off for us today.
18-02-2012 20:22 Why is it that some people can generate so much success in their lives and still find reasons not to be happy, while those less fortunate can discover a tremendous amount of fulfillment despite their hardship and pain? What makes the difference in the quality of people's lives? What truly creates an extraordinary life, the kind with the power to turn your dreams into reality? Now, with Anthony Robbins' commemorative 30th Anniversary Edition of Personal Power II, you can take advantage of the same strategies that have inspired millions to create lasting change—whether it's achieving extraordinary health and vitality, turning your business around, creating outstanding relationships, transforming how you use your time, designing your ideal career, or achieving financial success. Personal Power II is still the foundation of everything Tony does today. It will help you determine what you want in your life, give you some of the most powerful and proven tools to accomplish this, and provide you with the daily fundamentals to follow through. The goal of this program is to show you some simple, systematic strategies to get greater results on a daily basis. Personal Power is the ability to act, the ability to take action and the ability to produce results. By making simple, small changes daily, you will absolutely transform the quality of your life more quickly than you ever thought possible. Not only will you learn to take control of your own life through personal development, but ...
18-02-2012 21:19 Why is it that some people can generate so much success in their lives and still find reasons not to be happy, while those less fortunate can discover a tremendous amount of fulfillment despite their hardship and pain? What makes the difference in the quality of people's lives? What truly creates an extraordinary life, the kind with the power to turn your dreams into reality? Now, with Anthony Robbins' commemorative 30th Anniversary Edition of Personal Power II, you can take advantage of the same strategies that have inspired millions to create lasting change—whether it's achieving extraordinary health and vitality, turning your business around, creating outstanding relationships, transforming how you use your time, designing your ideal career, or achieving financial success. Personal Power II is still the foundation of everything Tony does today. It will help you determine what you want in your life, give you some of the most powerful and proven tools to accomplish this, and provide you with the daily fundamentals to follow through. The goal of this program is to show you some simple, systematic strategies to get greater results on a daily basis. Personal Power is the ability to act, the ability to take action and the ability to produce results. By making simple, small changes daily, you will absolutely transform the quality of your life more quickly than you ever thought possible. Not only will you learn to take control of your own life through personal development, but ...
21-02-2012 18:09 Why is it that some people can generate so much success in their lives and still find reasons not to be happy, while those less fortunate can discover a tremendous amount of fulfillment despite their hardship and pain? What makes the difference in the quality of people's lives? What truly creates an extraordinary life, the kind with the power to turn your dreams into reality? Now, with Anthony Robbins' commemorative 30th Anniversary Edition of Personal Power II, you can take advantage of the same strategies that have inspired millions to create lasting change—whether it's achieving extraordinary health and vitality, turning your business around, creating outstanding relationships, transforming how you use your time, designing your ideal career, or achieving financial success. Personal Power II is still the foundation of everything Tony does today. It will help you determine what you want in your life, give you some of the most powerful and proven tools to accomplish this, and provide you with the daily fundamentals to follow through. The goal of this program is to show you some simple, systematic strategies to get greater results on a daily basis. Personal Power is the ability to act, the ability to take action and the ability to produce results. By making simple, small changes daily, you will absolutely transform the quality of your life more quickly than you ever thought possible. Not only will you learn to take control of your own life through personal development, but ...
22-02-2012 12:53 Why is it that some people can generate so much success in their lives and still find reasons not to be happy, while those less fortunate can discover a tremendous amount of fulfillment despite their hardship and pain? What makes the difference in the quality of people's lives? What truly creates an extraordinary life, the kind with the power to turn your dreams into reality? Now, with Anthony Robbins' commemorative 30th Anniversary Edition of Personal Power II, you can take advantage of the same strategies that have inspired millions to create lasting change—whether it's achieving extraordinary health and vitality, turning your business around, creating outstanding relationships, transforming how you use your time, designing your ideal career, or achieving financial success. Personal Power II is still the foundation of everything Tony does today. It will help you determine what you want in your life, give you some of the most powerful and proven tools to accomplish this, and provide you with the daily fundamentals to follow through. The goal of this program is to show you some simple, systematic strategies to get greater results on a daily basis. Personal Power is the ability to act, the ability to take action and the ability to produce results. By making simple, small changes daily, you will absolutely transform the quality of your life more quickly than you ever thought possible. Not only will you learn to take control of your own life through personal development, but ...
22-02-2012 13:10 Why is it that some people can generate so much success in their lives and still find reasons not to be happy, while those less fortunate can discover a tremendous amount of fulfillment despite their hardship and pain? What makes the difference in the quality of people's lives? What truly creates an extraordinary life, the kind with the power to turn your dreams into reality? Now, with Anthony Robbins' commemorative 30th Anniversary Edition of Personal Power II, you can take advantage of the same strategies that have inspired millions to create lasting change—whether it's achieving extraordinary health and vitality, turning your business around, creating outstanding relationships, transforming how you use your time, designing your ideal career, or achieving financial success. Personal Power II is still the foundation of everything Tony does today. It will help you determine what you want in your life, give you some of the most powerful and proven tools to accomplish this, and provide you with the daily fundamentals to follow through. The goal of this program is to show you some simple, systematic strategies to get greater results on a daily basis. Personal Power is the ability to act, the ability to take action and the ability to produce results. By making simple, small changes daily, you will absolutely transform the quality of your life more quickly than you ever thought possible. Not only will you learn to take control of your own life through personal development, but ...
22-02-2012 13:52 Hello! I'm Brian Martin, and I've experienced great success in my life... as CEO of a multinational organisation, as a business coach, and as a person. In the last 20 years, I've trained top-level executives to meet their full potential, and improve their quality of life. I want to share these same success secrets with you. In fact, I want to share them with as many people as possible! That's why I've written three books, developed an online training programme, and I blog regularly. I invite you to join us on this 10 video series to create your own successful business. Come join me at http://www.askbrianmartin.com
23-02-2012 14:59 Why is it that some people can generate so much success in their lives and still find reasons not to be happy, while those less fortunate can discover a tremendous amount of fulfillment despite their hardship and pain? What makes the difference in the quality of people's lives? What truly creates an extraordinary life, the kind with the power to turn your dreams into reality? Now, with Anthony Robbins' commemorative 30th Anniversary Edition of Personal Power II, you can take advantage of the same strategies that have inspired millions to create lasting change—whether it's achieving extraordinary health and vitality, turning your business around, creating outstanding relationships, transforming how you use your time, designing your ideal career, or achieving financial success. Personal Power II is still the foundation of everything Tony does today. It will help you determine what you want in your life, give you some of the most powerful and proven tools to accomplish this, and provide you with the daily fundamentals to follow through. The goal of this program is to show you some simple, systematic strategies to get greater results on a daily basis. Personal Power is the ability to act, the ability to take action and the ability to produce results. By making simple, small changes daily, you will absolutely transform the quality of your life more quickly than you ever thought possible. Not only will you learn to take control of your own life through personal development, but ...