Why diversification matters

When your whole reason for investing is to secure a better financial future, you want to be sure that you are ready for anything that could get in the way.

Give yourself peace of mind and reduce your exposure to risk and volatility by diversifying your investments – this is a fancy way of saying ‘don't put all your eggs in one basket’.

Diversification matters because no one can predict how financial markets, sectors or even asset classes are likely to perform at different points in the investment cycle.

You can never be certain that you are 100% protected against events such as the Global Financial Crisis. But by diversifying your investment portfolio, you can be certain you’ve greatly improved your chances of survival.

Diversify across asset classes

If you have a high percentage of your investments in one asset class, then you risk losing money when that asset class performs poorly.

If you spread your investments across many different asset classes, and multiple sub sectors within those asset classes, you may reduce the likelihood that one investment will drag down your entire portfolio.

For example, adding bonds and cash to a portfolio made up mainly of shares may lower your overall risk. And adding shares to a bond or cash-heavy portfolio may increase your overall risk, but also provide an opportunity to improve your total-return outcomes.

Match your risk to your return

There’s a lot to consider when structuring your investments. Be sure your investment allocation reflects your investment goals, your appetite for risk and your investment timeframe.

Long-term investments - If your goals are more than 10 years away, or if you have a higher tolerance for risk, you might consider allocating a larger portion of your portfolio to shares, which historically have offered the highest potential for growth over time. Always keep in mind though that past performance is not an indicator of future performance.

Short-term investments - If you need the money sooner – or if you like to more cautious with your money – you might consider allocating a larger portion to less volatile assets like bonds and short-term deposits. This trades the potential of higher returns for the potential of lower volatility.

How much risk is enough?

It's important to be aware of how much risk you are willing to tolerate, how much risk you can afford to take, and whether your portfolio is diversified appropriately for that level of risk.

Diversification won't provide complete protection from short-term dips and market volatility, but it may provide financial peace of mind in good times and bad.