Investor Self-Defense
As a member of the Sandwich Generation, you may feel pressured to make quick investment decisions in order to make up for insufficient assets as you near retirement. As a result of this pressure, you may miscalculate the level of risk you need in order to achieve your financial goals. In addition, you may neglect to thoroughly investigate an opportunity before you decide to invest.
Understanding the risks of investing can be difficult. Although an investment may be legitimate, it may not be right for you. Whereas younger adults have a longer period of time in which to recoup investment losses, members of SandGEN, especially those nearing retirement, have less time to recover from the financial loss they may incur as a result of an inappropriate investment decision.
Likewise, your elderly family member, who is living off of their retirement funds, is better suited for an investment that maintains their principal rather than one that seeks aggressive growth, for example. They simply cannot afford a significant loss of the funds that they currently need.
It is imperative that you, and your family members, take the time to investigate an opportunity before investing.
Tips to Keep Track of Investments
Create and maintain an orderly system for storage and retrieval of all investment-related documentation. Maintain the safety and security of these documents while ensuring accessibility.
Understand how your investment allocation aligns with your current investment objectives and resources as well as risk tolerance.
Understand features of investment products. Sales commissions and fee structures for different products vary, including penalties for early withdrawal.
Review brokerage statements with your professional and ensure you understand the statements in your own words. Keep a record of your meeting.
Review investment allocations at least annually and after significant changes in personal or financial matters such as a child moving away or moving back home, change in employment status, sale/purchase of a home or death of a family member.
Checklist
- Organize your financial records including brokerage statements, bank records and insurance documents.
- Start retirement planning early. Review your investments in relation to your financial goals and risk tolerance.
- Inquire whether your broker or financial adviser is registered to sell investments or provide advice.
- Create a realistic budget and control your debt.
