How to create an investment plan (2023 Guide)

Samuel Akpan April 11, 2023

0 248 6 minutes read

How to Create an Investment Plan: It takes a bit more than opening a savings account and purchasing a few unrelated shares of stock to create a successful investment plan. It’s critical to comprehend where you are now and what you hope to achieve with your investments in order to develop a strategy that works.

How to Create an Investment Plan

Following that, you’ll decide how to achieve those objectives and pick the finest investing strategies to do so. The good news is that it is never too late to develop and put into action a personal investing plan and start building an emergency fund.

How to Create an Investment Plan: FAQs & Answers

What factors should I consider when creating an investment plan?

When creating an investment plan, you should consider factors such as your financial goals, risk tolerance, time horizon, diversification, investment options, and tax implications. Understanding these factors and aligning them with your individual financial situation can help you develop a well-rounded investment plan.

How do I determine my risk tolerance for investments?

Risk tolerance is subjective and varies from person to person. It depends on factors such as your financial goals, time horizon, and comfort level with potential losses. To determine your risk tolerance, assess your willingness to take risks, your financial stability, and your emotional capacity to handle market fluctuations. Consider working with a financial professional who can help you assess your risk tolerance and create an investment plan that aligns with it.

Should I diversify my investment portfolio?

Yes, diversifying your investment portfolio is important to spread risks and minimize the impact of potential losses. Diversification involves investing in a variety of asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate, as well as diversifying within each asset class. This can help protect your portfolio from the risks associated with putting all your investments in one asset or industry.

How to Create an Investment Plan

1. Analyzing Your Situation

Pick an investing strategy that fits your age

Your investing plan will be significantly influenced by your age.

In general, you may take greater risks while you’re younger. This is so that you have more time to bounce back from a market slump or value loss in a specific investment. Consequently, you may commit a larger portion of your portfolio to riskier assets if you’re in your 20s. (like growth-oriented and small-cap companies, for example).
More of your portfolio should be allocated to less risky assets, such as fixed-income and large-cap value firms if you are close to retiring.

Recognize your financial condition as it stands

Be conscious of the amount of money you have available for investing. Examine your spending plan to see how much is left over for investments after paying your monthly bills and after you’ve saved up an emergency fund equal to three to six months’ worth of living costs.

Create a risk profile

How much danger you’re willing to take depends on your risk tolerance. You might not want to take any chances, even if you’re young. Based on your risk tolerance, you’ll choose your assets.

In general, bank accounts (checking and savings accounts) are not volatile, but equities are more volatile than bonds.
Keep in mind that risk must always be balanced against reward. When you take less risk, you frequently earn less. Investors who take substantial risks are generously rewarded, but they also run the danger of suffering severe losses.

2. Establishing Your Goals

For your investing, set objectives

With the money you earn from your investments, what do you wish to do? Do you wish to retire sooner? Do you wish to purchase a lovely home? Or do you desire a vessel?

No matter what your objective is—buying a home, putting money aside for a child’s college tuition, etc.—you should always aim for a diverse portfolio. In order to have enough money to cover the objective, the aim is to allow the investment to develop over an extended period of time.
Instead of choosing a riskier investment if your aim is very aggressive, you should occasionally add extra funds to the investment. By doing this, you have a greater chance of succeeding in your endeavors and avoiding financial loss.

Make a schedule for achieving your objectives

How quickly do you want to achieve your financial objectives? Your choice of investments will depend on it.

You will choose more risky investments with the possibility of a large return if you want to see a huge return on your investment soon and are willing to accept the risk that you may also experience a great loss rapidly. These include land that may swiftly increase in value as well as inexpensive companies and penny stocks.
You will choose assets that produce a slower return on investment over time if you want to grow wealth gradually.

Decide on the amount of liquidity you require

An asset is considered “liquid” if it can be quickly turned into cash. In this manner, you’ll have easy access to the funds in case of an emergency.

Stocks and mutual funds may be quickly and easily changed into cash due to their high liquidity.
The liquidity of real estate is low. Normally, it takes weeks or months to sell a house for money.

3. Establishing the Plan

Choose the strategy for diversification

Avoid putting all of your eggs in one basket. For instance, you could desire to invest 40% of your investment funds in a savings account, 30% in bonds, and the other 40% in stocks each month. Adapt those percentages and investment selections to meet your financial objectives.

Make sure your strategy fits your risk profile

If you invest 90% of your monthly discretionary income in equities, you’ll lose a lot of money if the stock market declines. You might be willing to accept that danger, but you should be sure you are.

Speak with a financial advisor

If you’re unsure of how to create a strategy that is in accordance with your objectives and risk tolerance, consult with a certified financial consultant and obtain their opinion.

Look at your possibilities

There are a variety of accounts you might utilize for an investing strategy. Discover what works for you after being familiar with some of the fundamentals.

Put three to six months’ worth of living costs into a short-term emergency savings account. This must be set in order to safeguard you in case of an emergency. (job loss, injury or illness, etc.). Quick access to this money should be possible.
Take a look at your possibilities for long-term saving. You might wish to set up an IRA or 401(k) if you’re considering saving money for retirement. In certain 401(k) plans, your employer will match the money you put in.
Consider 529 plans and Education Savings Accounts if you want to create an education fund. (ESAs). As long as they are utilized to cover eligible educational costs, earnings from these accounts are exempt from federal income tax.

Read: Best Investment Companies in Nigeria

4. Monitoring Your Development

Keep an eye on your investments from time to time

Verify their performance in relation to your objectives. If not, review your investments and make any necessary adjustments.

Check to see whether your risk profile needs to be modified

Generally speaking, you’ll want to take less risk as you age. Make careful to change your investments as necessary.

When you become older, it’s a good idea to liquidate any hazardous investments you have and transfer the proceeds to more secure ones.
You could wish to take on even more risk if your finances can handle the portfolio’s volatility successfully in order to achieve your objectives faster.

Check to see if you are making enough contributions to meet your financial objectives

You might not be investing as much as you should be from each paycheck in order to meet your goals. On the plus side, you could discover that you’re well ahead of achieving your objectives and that you’re routinely investing too much money. In each scenario, modify your contributions as necessary.

Conclusion

In conclusion, creating an investment plan requires careful consideration of your financial goals, risk tolerance, and time horizon. It’s essential to research and understand different investment options, diversify your portfolio, and regularly review and update your plan as needed.

Seeking professional financial advice and being disciplined in your investment strategy can help you achieve your long-term financial goals and build wealth over time. Remember to stay informed, be patient, and make informed decisions based on your individual financial situation.