Time to Tweak Your Portfolio

Are you starting another New Year the same old way as last year? Are you happy with how your investments are performing? Do you know what your investment returns are, or are they on auto pilot? This may be the perfect time to take a fresh look at your holdings and fine-tune where necessary.

Review Your Goals

Investing is a means to an end. Examine what your “ends,” or goals, are and see whether your investing choices are helping you move closer to these goals.

Revisit Your Time Horizon

Maybe your child is taking a year off and you have extra time to save for college. Or perhaps you’re newly considering an early retirement. To move closer to any financial goal, review the time necessary to achieve it.

Find Your Risk Tolerance

Births, deaths and divorce can alter your plans and change how you view investment risk. Generally, risk is less desirable as goals near and more palatable when you have more time. Work with your financial professional who can factor in your unique requirements.

Keep an Appropriate Investment Mix

Allocate your assets* in a way that meets both your time horizon and risk tolerance.

Learn Something New

For many of us, this means reviewing mutual fund** prospectuses for investments in our 401(k)
plans. Read through a fund’s prospectus to make sure you understand its strategy and investing approach.

Meet Your Match

If your employer offers to match a portion of your 401(k) plan contributions, make an effort to put
in at least what qualifies for the match.

Up the Ante

Depending on your plan’s limits, you may want to contribute more. Consider pay raises, bonuses, money from part-time jobs, inheritances and other windfalls as sources of extra money to contribute.

*Asset allocation won’t guarantee a profit or ensure against a loss, but may help reduce volatility in your portfolio.

**You should consider the fund’s investment objectives, charges, expenses and risks carefully before you invest. The fund’s prospectus, which can be obtained from your financial representative, contains this and other information about the fund. Read the prospectus carefully before you invest or send money. Shares, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.