Aggressive Risk Reduction

Article Excerpt

Aggressive investments should make up no more than, say, 30% of your portfolio. You can cut your risk all the more by taking a conservative approach to your aggressive holdings. For instance, you should hold your aggressive investments within a portfolio that reflects our three-pronged Successful Investor wealth-building philosophy. That is, invest mainly in well established companies; spread your money out across most if not all of the five main economic sectors (Manufacturing, Resources, Consumer, Finance, Utilities); downplay stocks that are in the broker/media limelight. As an aggressive investor, you may stretch these rules a little, while still sticking to the general idea. You may invest in more companies that are less well-established, compared to a conservative investor. But avoid loading up on penny stocks, recent new issues or any stocks that expose you to a serious risk of total loss. You may invest more heavily in Manufacturing and Resources, the two riskiest sectors. If so, take care to spread your money out across…