The only certainty for your portfolio is uncertainty. This graphic shows the wide range of outcomes that have occurred over 10 year periods going back to the 1800s...returns for stocks have range from almost 20% to as low as negative 6%. How can you plan for your future with this much variability?
Save, Save, Save
The first part is your responsibility...earn and save. To get an idea how much you need in order to safely retire, run some numbers through this basic calculator. Maybe a little daunting, but you can't even think about step 2 until you've committed to saving.
Invest Intelligently
You work hard...shouldn't your money do the same? As we showed in the top graphic, markets can deliver a wide range of returns even over a 20-30 year period. Take a look at another calculator to see how different your retirement can look if you sit in CDs, or invest with a "buy and hope" approach. If you can't commit the time to develop and maintain a focused plan, then consider finding someone who can.
Learn
Our best advice it to choose someone who takes an active role in educating clients. By asking questions along the way, you can empower yourself to handle the advisory role when life creates time for deeper study. Studying markets is our life's work, so our passion for discussing investing can't help but rub off over the years if you find yourself curious.
