How to determine your investment objectives

About the author:

Author name:

By Terri Bradford

Job title:

Head of Wealth Management

Date posted:

15 January 2019, 11:30 AM

Investing is a personal issue and individual needs vary greatly. Any investment decisions should be based on rational and logical reasoning, and should be made with the intention of delivering what you need and hope to achieve.

Your decision to invest will likely be based on your investment objectives. Before your invest, think about what outcomes you want to achieve. This will be your personal guide to investing, or investment "roadmap".

Ask yourself the following seven questions to help determine your investment objectives:

1. How much money do I have available to invest?
2. What do I want to achieve from my investment?
3. How long am I investing for?
4. What risks am I prepared to take to achieve this?
5. What are my expectations of returns from my investments?
6. Am I looking for tax savings from my investments?
7. What other investments do I have that should be considered as part of my overall strategy?

Remember, your objectives need to be realistic and very clear. The more specific you can make your investment objectives, the more powerful they will become and the more likely you are to achieve them.

It's also important to remember that as your personal circumstances and needs change, your goals may also change. So it is very important to do a 'reality check' on your goals every few years.

Reviewing your investment "roadmap" on a regular basis will help ensure you stay on track.

More information

You can also read our Seven Golden Rules for Smart Investing which can assist you through periods of volatility and uncertainty. If you want to discuss your current investment strategy, contact your Morgans adviser.

Disclaimer: The information contained in this report is provided to you by Morgans Financial Limited as general advice only, and is made without consideration of an individual's relevant personal circumstances. Morgans Financial Limited ABN 49 010 669 726, its related bodies corporate, directors and officers, employees, authorised representatives and agents ("Morgans") do not accept any liability for any loss or damage arising from or in connection with any action taken or not taken on the basis of information contained in this report, or for any errors or omissions contained within. It is recommended that any persons who wish to act upon this report consult with their Morgans investment adviser before doing so.