Should You Diversify?

5 min read

Should You Diversify?

Even though the COVID-19 outbreak happened a few years ago, the economy is still uncertain, consumer habits are changing quickly, and supply chains are moving more slowly. All of these things continue to challenge and change the financial markets every day. If these facts haven't already made you think about how you invest and protect your money in a world that is changing quickly, they should.

What do the most forward-thinking investors and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) do, and what can you do right now, to weather any financial storms that this strange new reality may bring? 

Diversify.

Diversification is a way to reduce risk, and it can include things like allocating your assets and hedging your bets. If one type of investment doesn't do well, another might make up for it.

Diversification, like everything else in the world, has both pros and cons. In this article, we'll look at these so that you can make a more informed decision when you invest.

What is Portfolio Diversification?

Portfolio diversification is the practice of investing in uncorrelated asset classes and investment vehicles within a single portfolio. Diversification is a core part of personal finance because it protects portfolios from extremes. The idea is that the good performance of some assets at some times will balance out, and eventually outweigh, the bad performance of other assets at other times.

It is simply a risk management approach that helps portfolios to withstand the natural fluctuations that impact all asset classes and become more unpredictable daily.

A good example would be chocolate chip cookies; you can't just throw together any old mixture and hope for the best. While baking soda by itself isn't particularly appetizing, it plays a vital role in the right proportions for delicious end results in baked goods like cookies. Therefore, keep that in mind for future diversification.- Isaiah Douglass

Common types of assets used for diversification: 

When it comes to asset allocation, these are the asset classes that investors and financial managers think about the most:

- Stocks: shares of publicly traded companies' stock on the market.

- Bonds: debt instruments for governments and businesses.

- Real Estate: includes land, buildings, natural resources, and more

- Commodities: raw materials that are used to create commodities and services.

- Cash and cash equivalents (CCE): money market instruments, Certificates of Deposit CDs, and other similar instruments.

- Digital Assets: tokens of value that typically exist in the digital realm. Cryptocurrency, DeFi and NFTs, etc

- Bitcoin: an often decentralized digital currency that can be bought, sold, and traded without a middleman like a bank.

What is it about diversification that makes it such an important part of investing? 

There are a few main benefits that every person who wants to invest should be aware of: 

1. Avoid Major Capital Loss

We talked about diversification as a way to lower volatility. How does it do that, though? It basically creates a "buffer" against wild market swings and, therefore, permanent capital loss.

Diversification works because it's very unlikely that all asset classes, like stocks, bonds, real estate, currencies, and some newer ones like digital holdings, will crash at the same time. The more your wealth is spread out across different types of assets, the less likely it is that a short-term drop in the value of any one class will cause you to lose a lot.

You mitigate the risk you undertake.

For instance, assume your portfolio's diversification consisted of 50% stocks, 10% gold, 25% debt funds, and 15% government bonds. If the value of your stocks decreases, you stand to lose no more than 50 percent of your investment (assuming other assets remain constant). Furthermore, financial asset types rarely perform poorly simultaneously. Thus, diversifying your portfolio maximizes your returns and safeguards you from market volatility.

2. Align With Your Financial Objectives 

Diversifying your portfolio enables you to invest in a variety of financial instruments with varying time horizons. Your investment asset allocation will be based upon when you need to redeem your investments for a goal to come to fruition.

For example, a long-term goal like paying for your child's college allows you invest in stocks, where you can take on more risk for higher returns. On the other hand, paying for your child's nursery school fees is an immediate goal. For this, you can invest in fixed income instruments, which have low risk and a guaranteed income at maturity.

3. Growth Opportunities

Investing in many asset classes exposes you to growth prospects in a variety of industries. You can benefit from growth opportunities in stocks belonging to various market capitalization categories, such as mid-caps and small-caps.

4. Generate Higher Returns

When compared to individual holdings or portfolios with a narrow asset allocation, investment portfolios with a thoughtfully diversified mix of asset types will face less risk, earn higher returns, and lose less money over time.

Take advantage of the best-performing asset classes today

Some of the most profitable products and services in a post-pandemic world are home improvement, gaming, at-home fitness, food subscriptions, and delivery of everything. A few years ago, many of us might not have put all of our eggs in these baskets. As for well-known stores, hotels, and businesses related to travel? Investing in these high-performing companies has been and still is a wild ride.

The Downsides of a Diversified Portfolio:

Of course, there are some disadvantages to portfolio diversification that should be taken into account before anyone jumps in headfirst, just like there are with any investment approach. 

“Being diversified always means you say sorry.” 

With diversification, two things are obvious. One, diversified portfolios often include outright losers. Two, there is often a sharp divide between the top dog and the mutt. There are numerous opportunities to feel regret. Alas, diversification usually doesn’t feel very good.

1. More Investment Means More Mistakes Can Be Made: 

Rarely will your diversified portfolio have the best mix of assets. You run the danger of choosing the wrong investments when you make an excessive effort to achieve the right mix of investments, which could reduce your profits.

2. Different Rules For Different Assets: 

Each asset class has a unique structure and functions in a unique way. Over-diversification puts you at danger of making investments without a thorough understanding of the asset and how it operates. This could lead to problems and bad investments.

3. Tax Implications: 

The asset classes are taxed differently, just as they work differently. Without proper tax planning, you run the risk of having to pay more for additional tax compliance.

Click here if you are interested in a tax advisory relationship with our affiliate, Vincere Tax.

4. Growth Cap: 

While diversification lowers risk while increasing returns, there is a potential that you will miss out on opportunities to make higher returns when certain assets perform well.

Conclusion

In conclusion, having a diverse portfolio may be more advantageous than holding a single asset. By diversifying your portfolio, you can reduce the possibility of losing all of your money on one poor investment. Additionally, losses from one investment may be offset by gains from other assets. However, it is equally important to avoid over-diversification when diversifying.

Ensure the asset allocation is linked with your financial objectives, be aware of the cost of investing, and consider the tax implications of the asset allocation while constructing a diverse portfolio. This strategy guarantees a balanced mix of stock, debt, fixed income, and liquid investments.

FAQs

What is an example of a diversified portfolio? 

Diversification of a portfolio means that the portfolio holds multiple types of investment assets. It includes cash, stocks, bonds, fixed-income instruments, mutual funds, real estate, gold, etc.

What is a portfolio that is well-diversified?

A well-diversified portfolio is one that has the least amount of risk and the best returns. This is done by putting money into different types of assets so that the weight of each type of asset in the portfolio is kept to a minimum.

What does it mean to build a portfolio that is diversified?

Diversifying a portfolio means putting money into different types of assets within the same portfolio. It lets investors make more money while lowering the risk of their investments.

Is it a good idea to have a diversified portfolio?

Diversifying a portfolio does help investors lower their risk and make their portfolio performance less volatile. All asset classes are affected by the market and the economy, so it is important to spread investments across different asset classes.

How can you tell if you have a diversified portfolio?

Your portfolio is diversified if it has a mix of stocks, bonds, cash, and other types of investments.

I hope this information was helpful. If you have any questions feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to chat with you. 

Cheers!

Connect with Isaiah

About the Author

As a Wealth Advisor and Partner at Vincere Wealth, Isaiah is on a mission to help #dentists and #veterinarians increase their net worth through education and guidance. Isaiah takes great pride in guiding clients through the complexities of bitcoin, investing, and financial planning for veterinary medicine, and dentistry. Having someone guide you today in making sound financial decisions can have a substantial impact on your future financial well-being.

Work with Us

The benefit of a great fee-only advisor is not their ability to "beat" the market, but rather their ability to keep you on track with your financial goals. At Vincere, we'll want to know what you value, what keeps you up at night, your goals and aspirations, and then we'll work backwards to determine what investments are required for your particular situation.

To overcome the challenges of diversifying your investments, you can work with Vincere to build a portfolio composed of assets that are attractive and suitable for your needs.

If you're interested in an investment advisory or financial planning relationship, please consider Vincere Wealth Management.

Schedule a FREE 1:1 session here to connect with a #VincereWealth Advisor. 

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Should You Diversify?

What do the most forward-thinking investors and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) do, and what can you do right now, to weather any financial storms that this strange new reality may bring? Diversify. Read on to discover why.

Should You Diversify?

What do the most forward-thinking investors and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) do, and what can you do right now, to weather any financial storms that this strange new reality may bring? Diversify. Read on to discover why.

Should You Diversify?

What do the most forward-thinking investors and high-net-worth individuals (HNWIs) do, and what can you do right now, to weather any financial storms that this strange new reality may bring? Diversify. Read on to discover why.

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