As sure as the sun will rise and set, the stock market will rise and fall, interest rates will fluctuate and inflation will prevail. We hear of people making a lot of money when the market is good and we hear of them losing a lot of money when it goes bad.
What are the best ways to protect your assets and investments during fluctuating times, especially during times we categorize as a “recession?”
While there are some super savvy people who understand how and when to buy, sell and trade stocks, bonds and investments, most of us are baffled by the stock market and investments in general. There are a lot of choices with varying rates of return and varying risk. This is what we are really talking about. What level of risk are you willing to take and what period of time are you able and willing to keep your money invested or tied-up as we say?
Any investment has the potential to increase in value, decrease in value or flop to a complete loss. Acknowledging and accepting the risk is the first step to investing.
One time when I was purchasing a house, I asked the realtor if the market was going to go up or down and if I would gain or lose money in the next few years. He said “the value of a house can go up $100,000 or it can go down $100,000.” The housing market, like everything else, fluctuates and any investment is a risk. He said “buy a house you feel good about, will be comfortable in and don’t worry about the value.”
All investments should be researched and evaluated. Ultimately, you have to make the decision based on your research, experience and gut feelings. And ultimately, you have to accept the risk and rise or fall of your money.
Having stated that, yes, there are some things you can do to reduce risk and protect your assets and investments.
- Research and invest within your areas of knowledge and your comfort zone: I don’t understand the stock market, international trade agreements and the demand for oil well enough to invest in these things. I have placed money in mutual funds, only to pick ones that perform worse than the Dow Jones Industrial Average. While some people do very well in the stock market and with mutual funds, I do not. I enjoy and have had some success in buying a few small houses and using CDs and savings accounts to stash my cash. While some investment gurus might not agree with this strategy, it is where I am comfortable and I believe we should stay close to our comfort zones.
- Understand the value of time: I still have some money in a mutual fund and a utility company and the values of both have dwindled. To withdraw money when the value is down is not wise. To give it time to recover is a better decision. Yes, there is risk of continuing decline, but there is also opportunity for rebound and increased value. Most investments should be long-term ventures.
- Take care of your assets and investments: Check the value of your investments regularly. Continue to research and analyze your investments and assets. Take care of your assets to retain their value and last as long as possible. Maintain your vehicles, keep your furniture and clothing in good shape and keep up on home repairs and improvements. If you have more cars than you need, consider selling one. If you need cash for an emergency, withdraw from a place with the least fees and/or losses. If your stomach is queasy from the projections of an upcoming recession and you are losing sleep, by all means, move your money to a more secure place like a savings account, at least until you are comfortable again.
- Diversify, Diversify, Diversify – “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket:” if the basket drops, all the eggs can be lost. The best strategy to minimize risk and potential losses is to diversify your money and investments across several platforms. For example, instead of putting all of your extra money into the stock market put some money towards purchasing a home, some in the stock market, some in savings and some in a retirement account.
- Invest in yourself – It’s not only about money. How you take care of yourself, improve your health, expand your education, enhance your experiences and continue to improve your life will ultimately have an impact on your financial outcome. Keep yourself in the picture.
Photo by Sven Schreiber on Unsplash