The new year is the season of planning for goals and for many of us, it is crucial to have money be there to meet those goals. Investing is the fuel that can get those funds to the right level, and you do not want to run out of gas. The biggest issue I see with investing is in many cases, the money is not tied to a goal.
On the coaching line, we often get calls from individuals who have cash that they want to invest for the long run but are struggling to find the right investment choice. Conversely, we have received questions from people who have 100% of their investments in the stock market but have reached a point where they need those funds and are now facing a loss if they sell that particular day. Here are some things to do at the beginning of the year to make sure you are in the proper investment position:
As you can imagine, one of the most common questions I receive as a financial planner is, “Where should I invest?” Rather than give them what they are asking for, I typically answer that question with the question “What goal are you investing for?” While this sometimes frustrates the person I’m talking to, answering that question will likely get them closer to their answer rather than me tossing out some stock or ETF.
