Important Note

You are now leaving the Strong Valley Wealth & Pension, LLC ("Strong Valley") website. By clicking on the "Schwab Alliance Access" link below you will be entering the Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. (“Schwab”) Website. Schwab is a registered broker-dealer, and is not affiliated with Strong Valley or any advisor(s) whose name(s) appears on this Website. Strong Valley is/are independently owned and operated. Schwab neither endorses nor recommends Strong Valley. Regardless of any referral or recommendation, Schwab does not endorse or recommend the investment strategy of any advisor. Schwab has agreements with Strong Valley under which Schwab provides Strong Valley with services related to your account. Schwab does not review the Strong Valley website(s), and makes no representation regarding the content of the Website(s). The information contained in the Strong Valley website should not be considered to be either a recommendation by Schwab or a solicitation of any offer to purchase or sell any securities.

Article

Tired of Tossing and Turning?

Know your Risk Tolerance number.

Know your Risk Tolerance number. It's a quantitative way to pinpoint how much risk you want, how much risk you currently have in your portfolio, and how much risk you need to take to reach your goals. Understanding your risk tolerance can help guide your investment decisions and help you sleep more soundly at night.

August 4, 2023
Know your Risk Tolerance number.
Important Disclosure: Content on our website and in our newsletters is for informational purposes only. The information provided may (or may not) directly apply to your situation. We recommend that readers work directly with a professional advisor when making decisions in the context of their specific situation.

Risk tolerance is a highly individual matter. A portfolio that keeps one investor awake at night may let another sleep soundly. However, investors must be willing to accept a certain risk level to receive investment returns in the form of interest or capital gains.

All investments carry a tradeoff between risk and return—generally, the higher the risk, the higher the potential return—or loss. Conversely, the lower the risk, the lower the potential return or loss. The goal is to find the right level of risk that provides the returns you need, while letting you get a good night’s rest.

Temperament, age, stage in life, investment experience, financial goals, and time horizons are all factors that affect one’s risk tolerance. Following is a brief discussion of some of these points to help you assess your own personal risk tolerance:

Know Your Risk Tolerance

  • Temperament. Not everyone is comfortable taking financial risks. Just because someone is a weekend extreme rock climber doesn’t necessarily mean that this risk-taking behavior extends to his or her finances. When selecting investments, it is important to bear in mind that different types carry different degrees of risk, and also that returns for specific investment types may vary over time. For instance, stock market returns that have historically risen over the long term have experienced wide short-run fluctuations. Looking back at the historic 1973–1975 recession, the stock market dropped by 46%. Ask yourself: “How well would I have weathered that loss?”
  • Age and Stage in Life. Single investors may be able to carry more risk than married couples with children. Individuals just embarking on their careers and building wealth can usually take on more risk than those nearing, or already in, retirement.
  • Investment Experience. Sophisticated investors, who understand capital markets and are knowledgeable about specific investments, can typically assume more risk than novices.
  • Financial Goals and Time Horizons. Another consideration is the amount of time you have to meet your financial goals—that is, your time horizon. For example, if you begin saving for retirement early, you can generally afford to assume a higher degree of risk. While it is not wise to take on more risk than you are comfortable with, remember that the amount of risk you are willing to carry may potentially affect the level of return you can expect.

Reassess Periodically

It is prudent to assess your risk tolerance before beginning an investment program. Then, reassess it periodically as you progress through life’s major stages, such as when starting a family, changing jobs, or approaching retirement. Understanding your risk tolerance can help guide your investment decisions, and help you sleep more soundly at night.

Follow up with a Strong Valley financial advisor to better understand the context of your unique goals and situation.

Other content you may like

  • Signs You Need a Financial Planner

    Signs You Need a Financial Planner

    January 4, 2022
    Sometimes it’s hard to tell if you need a financial planner’s help with a problem or if you can handle it yourself. As happens often in life, not reaching out to a professional can delay you reaching your goals and cause you to incur more out-of-pocket expenses and lots of headaches.
    Read this Article
  • The ABC’s of Estate Planning

    The ABC's of Estate Planning

    December 8, 2022
    There is a common misconception that estate planning is something only the affluent need to do before they die. However, estate planning is important for everyone so that a court doesn’t end up making decisions about your assets and your heirs for you. By taking these steps now, you can help insure that your intentions will be followed and that provisions will be made for your loved ones when you are gone.
    Read this Article
  • April Student of the Market

    Stock Market History for Your Future

    April 27, 2022
    Do you feel your satisfaction level with the market is tracking with the norm? Maybe this brief history of long term stock performance might help change your mind. This month’s Student of the Market shows the numbers on how $1,000 invested in 1926 grew to over $14 million and how best days for stocks tend to closely follow the worst days.
    Read this Article

  • Tax Strategy: Timing is Everything

    February 7, 2023
    Waiting until just before April 15 to start thinking about your taxes may prove to be a costly mistake. Lowering your tax bill involves careful planning. A good tax strategy takes into consideration two time frames – “now” the 12 months of the current tax year, and “later” covers long-range tax strategies that benefit your future.
    Read this Article
    • The link you have selected is located on another server. The linked site contains information that has been created, published, maintained, or otherwise posted by institutions or organizations independent of this organization. We do not endorse, approve, certify, or control any linked websites, their sponsors, or any of their policies, activities, products, or services. We do not assume responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or timeliness of the information contained therein. Visitors to any linked websites should not use or rely on the information contained therein until they have consulted with an independent financial professional. Please click “Continue to Link” to leave this website and proceed to the selected site.
    No, stay on StrongValley.comContinue to link
    phone-handset