Expert Tips for Retirement Investing
Consider Many Retirement Investment Options and Diversify Portfolio
Aug 20, 2009
There are so many options for retirement investment planning that even the most ambitious person can feel daunted. But learning about retirement investment strategies as a young or middle-aged adult can save all kinds of financial worries later. The soundest approach to investing for retirement is to save slowly but persistently, and invest widely with as much information as possible.
The Best Approach to Retirement Investing
Every expert has a different recommendation for the best retirement investment decisions, but some advice is universal:
- Figure out how much retirement income will be needed. Retirement investment calculators are available online that can predict how much a given investment will be worth or how much retirement income will be needed to maintain quality of life by retirement.
- Start now by opening an investment retirement savings account. Even a small amount, deposited every week or every paycheck, eventually adds up to substantial savings that can be used to fund a comfortable retirement.
- Knowledge is power. Take every opportunity to learn about retirement investments, as well as the best investment planning in general, and invest money from the aforementioned retirement account wisely as opportunities appear.
- Create a diverse portfolio. Some stocks will go up while others go down. The real estate market might be booming while sales in other areas fall. The best retirement investment planning takes this into account and invests in several different options at once to ensure a solid investment portfolio that will do well, no matter what.
Retirement Investment Options
There are many retirement investment strategies available. While the best investment plan is always to diversify, with several investments, the following options are a key part of most investment strategies aimed at yielding retirement income:
- Annuities – An annuity works like the opposite of a mortgage. Money is invested in advance, and in retirement years the annuity pays out principle and interest on the investment.
- GICs – GICs guarantee a fixed rate of interest if money is left in an investment for a pre-arranged period. Once the term of the GIC is up, retirement funds can be reinvested again until needed.
- Stocks, Bonds, and Mutual Funds – While there are differences, each of these investment vehicles is a way to speculate by investing money where it may grow – or may, possibly, shrink. The riskier the investment, the greater the potential earning. It's wise to invest a portion of retirement savings in riskier investments like stocks and mutual funds, if thorough research suggests that they have a good chance of succeeding in delivering a healthy return on investment.
- Home Equity – Real estate is always a smart investment, and paying off the family home before retirement is one of the smartest investments. House values will only rise over time, and home equity can also be used in a reverse mortgage or withdrawn in a lump sum home equity loan if money is needed to supplement retirement income.
The best move, for anyone thinking about investing for retirement, is to learn as much as possible about retirement investment strategies and consider all the options in selecting investments. Speaking with a qualified financial advisor is a first step on the way to a solid investment strategy.
Reference
- Anspach, Dana, "4 Things You Need to Know About Retirement Investments," About.com, 2009.
- Newman, David, "Lifetime income solutions for you and yours," FiscalAgents.com, January 2004.
- Royal Bank of Canada, "Welcome to Retirement Planning," RBCFinancialPlanning.com, 2009.
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