Risk tolerance is an investor's capacity to handle the uncertainty that accompanies the selection of specific investment products such as stocks and bonds. For example, bonds are subject to interest rate risk (where bond prices fall as interest rates rise and vice versa), and stocks are subject to market risk (where general stock market trends affect the performance of individual securities). Risk tolerance has also been referred to as the "sleep at night factor," as in "how much investment risk can you withstand and still be able to sleep at night?"
What factors determine investment risk tolerance? This question is still the subject of much research so there is no definitive answer. Not all the related factors are financial ones, however, such as income and net worth. An investor's knowledge about investing, previous investment and business experience, and attitudes about risk taking in general can also influence risk tolerance.
A widely used and empirically tested Investment Risk Tolerance Assessment includes 13 questions and provides users with feedback about their capacity to handle investment risk. The higher the total score, the higher someone's investment risk tolerance. Assessment questions are based on both thoughts about risk in hypothetical situations and current investing behavior. Ideally, an investors' risk tolerance level should remain about the same during bull and bear markets, but their investment asset allocation (i.e., the percentage of one's portfolio held in stocks, bonds, and cash) will gradually get more conservative as they get older.
What if your investment risk tolerance is not as high as you previously thought it was? First, realize that you are not alone, as this is a common situation experienced by many people. Below are six suggestions to bring your investment decisions in line with your true risk tolerance level:
- Increase your knowledge of investing to understand the risks involved.
- Place new investment money (e.g., future retirement savings deposits) in less aggressive investments.
- Consider selling stocks or stock funds that have under-performed market indexes for a year or longer.
- Avoid risky investments such as sector funds, aggressive growth funds, and penny stocks.
- Keep a long-term view and avoid reacting to daily investment performance indicators.
- Never invest in anything that you don't fully understand or can't explain simply to another person.