One of the most crucial investment decisions anyone makes is how he or she goes about setting up their asset allocation. This is the process by which you break down your investment portfolio based on stocks, bonds and cash. Your age and risk tolerance will largely influence this decision. In this article, we’ll explore common ways you can rebalance your your asset allocation based on age. But any time you’re making serious investment and retirement-planning decisions, it’s important to find a financial advisor who can help you develop a personalized strategy.
The 100 Rule
One common asset allocation rule of thumb has been dubbed The 100 Rule. It simply states that you should take the number 100 and subtract your age. The result should be the percentage of your portfolio that you devote to equities like stocks.
If you’re 25, this rule suggests you should invest 75% of your money in stocks. And if you’re 75, you should invest 25% in stocks. The rationale behind this method is that young folks have longer time horizons to weather storms in the stock market. In theory, they would be safe to invest heavily in growth-oriented securities like stocks. Historically, equities have outperformed other types of assets in the long run.
But if you’re nearing or in retirement, you’d need your money sooner. So, it may make more sense to invest more heavily in securities such as fixed-income investments that are generally considered “safe.” We say that lightly as any investment carries some risk. But examples include the following.
However, many investors believe certain factors mean The 100 Rule needs a bit of tweaking. For example, people are living longer — especially women. In fact, the Social Security Administration recently reported that the average 65-year-old woman can expect to live up to age 86.6.
So a longer life expectancy means more money you’d need to fund a comfortable retirement. Theoretically, however, it also means you have more time to stomach risks in the stock market. As a result, some investors have changed The 100 Rule to The 110 Rule. Those with stronger risk appetites opt for The 120 Rule. Both modifications essentially mean you should devote a bigger percentage of your investments toward stocks throughout your lifetime.
In fact, some of the major fund firms are adopting this notion as they build their target-date funds (TDFs). Also known as life-cycle funds, these employ another strategy to design your asset allocation by age.
Target-Date Funds (TDFs)
asset allocation by age
If you have a 401(k) account, you may already be invested in a TDF. These stand as among the most common default options in 401(k) investment menus. But you can invest in one through most major fund companies.
Here’s how they work. TDFs basically do the guess work for you. They automatically change their asset allocations to invest more heavily in less risky securities as you approach retirement age. They are usually named after the year of your expected retirement. You can think of them as the 100 or 120 Rules on auto pilot.
However, no two TDFs are created equal. Two TDFs named after the same expected retirement year and managed by different firms can have drastically different asset allocations and glide paths. So it’s important to invest in one that most closely reflects your risk tolerance.
With that said, it’s important to remember these “rules” are general guidelines. They should serve as starting points to how you may want to break down your asset allocation. You should consider several other factors as well.
What Can Affect My Asset Allocation?
Your risk tolerance stands as a crucial factor when determining the right asset allocation. If yours is very low, then you may want to invest conservatively until you’ve developed an appetite. If you’re not sure where you stand, you can use our asset allocation calculator. It gives you a glimpse into a potential asset allocation based on your risk tolerance.
Furthermore, you should also take a serious look at your health. Health costs are rising across the board. But if you’re not maintaining a healthy lifestyle now, you can expect some hefty medical bills when you’re near or in retirement. One way to start saving for future medical costs now is to invest in a health savings account (HSA). You’d need to pair it with an eligible high-deductible health plan (HDHP). But these offer some serious tax and savings benefits. They provide the following perks.
Pre-tax contributions that reduce your taxable income
Tax-free growth on your investment
Tax-free withdrawals for qualified health expenses
Plus, you can open one at most major banks. Some investment firms also offer HSAs that invest in mutual funds and other securities. In fact, some investors see HSAs as effective components of an overall retirement-planning strategy.
The Takeaway
asset allocation by age
Setting an asset allocation based on your age is a smart way to start planning for your retirement or building wealth. But there is no one-size-fits-all strategy. Generally speaking, most investors believe you should invest more of your money in growth-oriented equities like stocks when you’re younger. But as you reach your golden years, you should gradually cut down on your exposure to equities and switch gears toward fixed-income investments. Again, these are just pointers. Your personal asset allocation depends on factors as they apply to you only. These include your risk tolerance, current income, lifestyle, health and more.
Tips on Retirement Planning
No matter what your age, it’s never too late to start saving. If you’re fortunate enough to have one, you should invest as much as you can in an employer-sponsored 401(k). But if you don’t, you can always open a traditional individual retirement account (IRA) or a Roth IRA.
One of the best decisions you can make when planning for retirement or determining your asset allocation is to work with a financial advisor. If you’re interested, you can use our SmartAsset financial advisor matching tool. It connects you with up to three financial advisors in your area. You can evaluate their expertise and even set up interview through our platform before you decide which one to work with one.
