Investment management includes more than just buying and selling financial assets and other investments. Creating a short- or long-term strategy for the acquisition and sale of portfolio holdings is a component of management. It may also cover banking, budgeting, and tax-related services and obligations. When it comes to investing, there are four main goals that cover the majority of financial objectives. While certain products and techniques may be effective for one goal, they may not be as effective for other goals.
Capital Preservation
Managing your investments primarily aims to protect your capital from market volatility. There are various ways to do this. One way is to invest in bonds or money market accounts. Both of these options are suitable for capital preservation. You should note, however, that stocks and bonds are not the best options for capital preservation because their values fluctuate. Therefore, it would help if you looked for assets with a low volatility rate. A competent advisor, like Larry Creel of Edgewood Management, can be beneficial in creating a solid understanding of investing and making you at ease with the risks and rewards of particular investment types.
Another way of preserving your capital is to invest in stocks. Stocks earn an average annual return of seven percent. However, this strategy relies on lower interest rates. As a result, it may not keep up with modest inflation rates of 1 to 2 percent. In addition, inflation can depreciate the real value of your investments over time.
Speculation
The speculator might not actually be an investor but rather a trader who takes pleasure in trading stocks for capital gain. These individuals seek quick profits and may employ advanced trading techniques such as stock shorting, margin trading, options, and other specialized methods.
Many attempts to make money by speculating in the stock market, and the vast majority fail. If you want to give it a shot, make sure you’re using the money you can afford to lose without jeopardizing your job or retirement savings. After initial success, it’s easy to become overconfident, so thoroughly understand the risks of losing your investment.
Current Earnings
Purchasing shares of companies that consistently pay out large dividends, as well as some high-quality real estate investment trusts (REITs) and highly-rated bonds, provide current income. These products generate consistent, current income. If you are looking for immediate income, consider investing in blue-chip stocks, shares of large, well-known corporations with a long growth history and consistent dividend payouts. Many people who concentrate on their current income are retired and rely on it to cover their living expenses. Others, on the other hand, prefer to use a lump sum of capital to generate an income stream that never touches the principal but can still meet certain immediate needs, such as college tuition.
Capital Appreciation
Long-term growth is the goal of capital appreciation. It is most common in retirement plans where investments work for a long time inside a qualified plan, such as a 401(k) or IRA.
However, capital appreciation investing is not limited to retirement accounts. This goal entails holding stocks long and allowing them to grow in your portfolio. At the same time, you could reinvest dividends to buy more stock.
Compound returns are the most powerful motivator for those seeking capital appreciation. Assume you invest $1,000 upfront and then add $100 per month for the next 20 years. Your total contribution would be $25,000.00. However, if your investments produced an 8% annual return, compound returns would bring your total savings to $59,575.31.
You are not concerned with day-to-day fluctuations if you use the capital appreciation strategy. However, keep a close eye on the company’s fundamentals for changes that could impact long-term growth. Making regular purchases could be part of your strategy.