Instructions

• 1). Compile a list of all your investments. This should include what you have invested in employer retirement plans, IRAs, savings, real estate and equities.
  
  
• 2). Break your investment list down into types and aggregate values. Place savings and fixed-income investments in the conservative category, large-capital company investments (stocks and mutual funds) into the moderate category, and private placements, small-cap and international investments into the aggressive category. Subtotal the values and determine the percentage of your portfolio each area represents.
  
  
• 3). Write down your investment goals. Include how many years you have until retirement and the total amount of money you wish to accumulate for retirement. Evaluate what your expenses are now and estimate what your expenses will be when you retire.
  
  
• 4). Determine what investment strategy will get you to your goals. Assume the following rates of return: Conservative plans yielding 3-4% annually; moderate plans yielding 6-10% annually; aggressive plans yielding more than 10% annually.
  
  
• 5). Calculate portfolio percentages that meet your new investment strategy. Conservative investors should keep up to 60% of their funds in conservative investments, 20-35% in moderate investments and 5% in aggressive investments. Moderate investors should keep 20-40% in conservative investments, up to 10% in aggressive investments and the rest in moderate vehicles. Aggressive investors should have 5-15% in conservative investments, up to 40% in aggressive vehicles, and the remainder in moderate investment vehicles.
  
  
• 6). Modify your portfolio. Call your investment adviser or the customer service number for your investment accounts; alternatively, you can make the changes online.