Many times when I meet with investors I am asked ‘where is the best place to put my money?’  The financial institutions have taught investors that there is someone who can tell them what to do in every circumstance. These institutions lead you to believe they know what you need. In fact these institutions sell you ‘product’ to feed your fear in every environment.

Remember the equity markets are random and unpredictable.

Or these same institutions will show you the hot product or asset class. They will convince you that the way to riches is to highly concentrate your investment money is the ‘hot’ product or asset class. Don’t be sucked in by these tactics.

A true advisor will often tell you things you do not want to hear. Remember if your advisor only provides the product you ask for they are not an advisor but rather a salesperson or broker/agent.

To succeed in investing being diversified means looking different.

Most investors are narrowly diversified into top performing funds or asset classes of the last five to ten years.  They often feel diversified but aren’t.  To be diversified means including asset classes or types of funds in your portfolio that did poorly over the last five to ten years.  If you do this, your portfolio will look and perform very differently from your neighbors’ or friends’.

To succeed in investing you must own equities….globally diversify…rebalance.

The true value of an investor coach/fiduciary adviser is to keep you disciplined and control your emotions.