Investment portfolio is a collection of assets including stocks, bonds, and other investments held by an individual or an organization. It serves as a tool for long-term financial planning and can provide a steady stream of income, growth, and diversification.
Asset allocation is the process of spreading investment across different asset classes such as stocks, bonds, real estate and more. It helps minimize risk by not putting all your eggs in one basket.
Diversification helps reduce investment risk by spreading the investment across different industries or types of assets. This ensures that if one asset or sector performs poorly, the others may balance it out with their positive performance.
Portfolio optimization involves balancing the expected returns with the risk involved in each component of the portfolio. It aims to establish a balance between risk and reward that will provide maximum returns at acceptable levels of risk.
There are various ways to measure investment risk such as standard deviation, VAR (Value at Risk), Beta, and Sharpe ratio. These metrics help investors understand how much they stand to lose when the market goes down.
Investment risk can be managed through diversification and asset allocation. Investors should also have a plan in place to mitigate risks such as market volatility, inflation or interest rate changes.
Common types of investments include stocks, bonds, CDs (Certificates of Deposit), mutual funds, ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds), options and futures contracts.
To build a successful investment portfolio, start with your financial goals and personal circumstances. Then consider your time horizon for investing and risk tolerance before selecting investments. Finally, seek the guidance of a trusted financial advisor to give you professional advice and help manage your portfolio.
References
