GlensFalls.com logo
GlensFalls.com logo
  • Back to GlensFalls.com
  • Lodging
  • Restaurants
  • Things To Do
  • Events
Glens Falls Business Journal
  • Home
  • New Businesses
  • Business News
  • Business Reports
  • Business Briefs
  • Business Registrations
  • Personnel Briefs
  • Contact Us
Home  »  Business Reports  »  Business Report: Put Investment Performance In Perspective
Business ReportsCorporate Tax / Business Planning

Business Report: Put Investment Performance In Perspective

Posted onJanuary 16, 2019January 17, 2019
Meghan Murray is a financial advisor with Edward Jones Financial in Queensbury.

By Meghan Murray

How can you assess your investment portfolio’s performance in 2018? The year was full of wild swings in the financial markets, so your own results may well have bounced around quite a bit, too.

But you can still get a clear picture of how you did if you keep your investments’ returns in the proper perspective by making sure your expectations are relevant, realistic and reviewed.

Let’s look at how these terms can apply to a meaningful evaluation of your investment progress:

Relevant. Many investors compare their portfolio returns to a popular market index, such as the S&P 500. But this comparison is not really valid for a variety of reasons. For one thing, indexes are typically not diversified across different types of investments—the S&P 500, for instance, only tracks large U.S. companies.

But your portfolio should consist of a broad range of investments: domestic and international stocks, bonds, mutual funds, government securities and so on, appropriate for your goals and risk tolerance.

Also, your portfolio’s performance will be affected by your contributions and withdrawals, while market index returns are not. So, instead of measuring your results against an index—and possibly worrying about under performance—you’re better off establishing relevant expectations of your investment returns, based on your specific goals.

So, for example, if you want to retire at age 62, you’ll need to know the rate of return you need to achieve this goal, and then compare that desired return with your actual results.

Realistic.  Ideally, of course, you’d like really high returns with really low risk, but that’s really not feasible. To get high returns, you’ll need to invest aggressively, which means you’ll need your portfolio to be heavily weighted in stocks. However, stocks are also riskier than more conservative investments, such as bonds or government securities.

So, you’ll need to be realistic in what you can anticipate from your portfolio. You can shoot for high returns and accept the higher level of risk, or you can lower your expectations in exchange for greater stability.

Reviewed. The performance of the financial markets—and also your own portfolio—will fluctuate from year to year. Consequently, it’s important to review your portfolio’s results and the progress you’re making toward your goals on a regular basis, possibly with the help of a financial professional. In these reviews, you may conclude that you’re doing fine, or you might discover that you need to rebalance your portfolio by realigning your investments with your goals and risk tolerance, or perhaps make other adjustments—such as changing the amount you invest—to get you back on track.

In addition, you may even need to re-evaluate these goals in response to changes in your life.

As you look back on 2018, and look forward to 2019 and beyond, take a holistic approach to how you evaluate your investments’ performance. By looking for relevance, being realistic about what you can expect, and reviewing your portfolio in the context of your goals, risk tolerance and changing circumstances, you can gain a thorough understanding of where you are, where you want to go and how you can help yourself get there.

Previous Article Business Briefs: January 2019
Next Article Business Report: To Be (A ‘C’) Or Not To Be
Subscribe to Our Newsletter View the Latest Virtual Edition
 SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWS FEED

Categories

  • 50-Plus
  • Banking
  • Banking / Asset Managment
  • Building Trades
  • Business Briefs
  • Business News
  • Business Registrations
  • Business Reports
  • Commercial / Residential Real Estate
  • Construction
  • Construction Planning
  • Corporate Tax / Business Planning
  • Cyber/Tech
  • Dining Guide
  • Economic Outlook 2017
  • Economic Outlook 2018
  • Economic Outlook 2019
  • Economic Outlook 2020
  • Economic Outlook 2022
  • Economic Outlook 2023
  • Economic Outlook 2024
  • Economic Outlook 2025
  • Economical Development
  • Education / Training
  • Entrepreneurial Women
  • Entrepreneurs
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Environment / Development
  • Exclusives
  • Financial Planning / Investments
  • Fitness / Nutrition
  • Health / Community Services
  • Health & Fitness
  • Health & Wellness
  • Healthcare
  • Holiday Shopping Guide
  • Home / Energy
  • Home & Real Estate
  • Insurance / Employee Benefits
  • Insurance / Medical Services
  • Leadership Development
  • Legal / Accounting
  • Meet The Chef
  • My Turn
  • New Businesses
  • Non-Profits
  • Office / Computers / New Media
  • Office / HR / Employment
  • Office / New Media
  • Office / Tech / eCommerce
  • Office / Technology
  • Office / Work Place / Legal
  • Outlook 2016
  • Outlook 2021
  • Personnel Briefs
  • Retirement Planning
  • Senior Living / Retirement
  • Summer Construction
  • Uncategorized
  • Wellness
  • Women In Business
  • Workplace / Legal / Security
  • Year-End Tax Planning

Archives

  • May 2025
  • April 2025
  • March 2025
  • February 2025
  • January 2025
  • December 2024
  • November 2024
  • October 2024
  • September 2024
  • August 2024
  • July 2024
  • June 2024
  • May 2024
  • April 2024
  • March 2024
  • February 2024
  • January 2024
  • December 2023
  • November 2023
  • October 2023
  • September 2023
  • August 2023
  • July 2023
  • June 2023
  • May 2023
  • April 2023
  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012
  • November 2010
Mannix Marketing Logo
GlensFalls.com logo
  • Home
  • Lodging
  • Restaurants
  • Things To Do
  • Nightlife
  • Events
  • Health & Beauty
  • Real Estate
  • Businesses
  • About
  • Home & Garden
  • Guides
  • Blogs
  • Sweepstakes
  • Advertising
Official Guide to the Greater Glens Falls Region
Full-Service Internet Marketing: Search Engine Optimization, Website Design and Development by Mannix Marketing, Inc.
Mannix Marketing, Inc. is headquartered in Glens Falls, New York
GlensFalls.com All Rights Reserved © 2025
Disclaimer & Privacy Policy / Terms of Use / Copyright Policies
[uc-privacysettings]

We strive to insure accuracy on GlensFalls.com however accuracy cannot be guaranteed. Information is subject to change.
Please alert us if there is any inaccurate information here.

Having trouble using this site? Accessibility is our goal, please contact us with site improvements.