Handling Investment Risk

In the realm of investing, risk is an accepted fact. There are no investments that give you the potential to earn high returns without the risk of losing some of your money. As in life, to get a reward, you have to take some risk. That said, there are a number of strategies you can use to manage investment risk.

Investing in mutual funds may help to manage your risk

If you invest in the stock of one company or one bond issue, you are assuming that this one security will consistently do well. This is quite risky. Mutual funds, on the other hand, invest in many — sometimes hundreds — of securities. This diversification increases the chance that your investment will perform more evenly. That’s because typically — over any given time period — some securities will perform well and others will not. When you own many securities, the advances realized by some may work to offset the losses incurred by others.

Diversification does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market. It is a method used to help manage investment risk.

Invest with a goal and time frame in mind

Mutual funds have different goals, so match your goal with the fund’s goal. For example, the goal of a money market fund is generally to preserve the value of your investment. Therefore, if you are looking for an investment that will grow over 10 years, a money market fund may not be the right choice.

Practice asset allocation

Investments can be grouped into three general asset classes: money market securities, bonds and stocks. Each asset class has its own traits and may respond differently to the same economic or world events. Within the bonds and stocks classes, there are sub-asset class levels, each of which has its own distinct traits. By spreading your money across different types of assets, you dilute the impact any single position would have on your portfolio’s overall performance.

Asset allocation does not guarantee a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market. It is a method used to help manage investment risk.

Your Time FrameInvestment Types and Their TraitsHomestead Funds
Short-term:
Less than one year
Money markets: Generally carry lower risk, but typically also give you a lower reward• Daily Income Fund
Medium-term:
Less than five years
Bonds: Generally carry more risk than money market investments but, in turn, may deliver a higher reward and are typically characterized by less volatility than stocks• Short-Term Government Securities Fund
• Short-Term Bond Fund
• Intermediate Bond Fund
Long-term:
Five or more years
Stocks: Generally carry higher risk, but over long periods have delivered a higher reward• Rural America Growth & Income Fund
• Stock Index Fund
• Value Fund
• Growth Fund
• International Equity Fund
• Small-Company Stock Fund
As a money market fund, the Daily Income Fund has limited potential for income production. You could lose money by investing in the fund. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it cannot guarantee it will do so. An investment in the fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. The fund’s sponsor has no legal obligation to provide financial support to the fund, and you should not expect that the sponsor will provide financial support to the fund at any time.

Review your allocation regularly

It’s good to review your account when you receive statements or yearly to see if any changes need to be made. However, for your own peace of mind, you probably don’t want to monitor it daily.

Let’s say you chose an allocation in line with your goals and invested your account as follows: 80% in the ABC Stock Fund and 20% in the XYZ Bond Fund. After a year in which stocks were performing well, your allocation in the Stock Fund has grown to represent 85% percent of your account, and the Bond Fund has dropped to 15%. To restore your account to the original 80/20 percent investment mix, ask your fund company to help you rebalance your account. Homestead Funds offers an automatic rebalancing feature and does not charge any transaction fees to rebalance, but investors should consider the possible tax consequences.

In addition, if your needs change, you will want to review your investment allocation to determine if changes are needed.

For large amounts, consider making your move in steps

If you have a large sum you want to invest, it may make sense to do it gradually. Likewise, if you are considering closing your account, you may want to sell shares gradually. You don’t want to be the victim of buying all of your shares at a high price or liquidating your account at what turns out to be a low price. A disciplined buy or sell strategy can help you avoid such a scenario. This can also spread out any taxes that may be due if share redemptions take place over multiple years.

Homestead Funds offers automatic investing and redemption programs that allow you to set up periodic purchases or withdrawals. The programs may be especially appropriate for a lump-sum inheritance or if you’re ready to start tapping a retirement account to meet your monthly cash flow needs. Automatic investing does not ensure a gain or protect against a loss in a declining market, it is a method used to help manage investment risk.

Are you ready to diversify your account at Homestead Funds?

Whether you want to change your asset allocation, open a new account, set up automatic rebalancing, or set up an automatic investing program, we’re here to help!

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