Your IPS (Investment Policy Statement) and the Financial News

This may be simplifying things a bit, but it is fairly reasonable to conclude that all things in life come down to a trade off between time and money. AND they are NOT making any more time!!!

That suggests that time is more valuable than money. So, this week, we’re going to help you reclaim some of that valuable commodity of time. Ironically, the way we are going to do that is by NOT focusing on finances.

Well, actually we ARE going to focus on finances, BUT we are going to do so in the right way. I have written many, many times about the importance of an Investment Policy Strategy or IPS.

What are the components of an IPS?

Simply put an IPS describes:

• Your goals and objectives
• Your source of funds and the inflow and outflow of funds in your portfolio
• Your investment philosophy
• The asset classes you will use
• The investment vehicles you will use

Additionally, an IPS describes the expected returns AND expected volatility of your portfolio. Once developed, the most important factor for ensuring the success of the IPS is your discipline in following it. That’s how we are going to save you those 208 hours!

I would hypothesize that the average do-it-yourself investor spends about an hour every Monday through Thursday watching the financial news. At 4 hours a week and 52 weeks a year, you get 208 hours annually.

QUESTION: Why are you spending this time if you have a well-documented, systematically implemented IPS?

And here’s the big question: why are you spending this time if you have a well-documented, systematically implemented IPS? If you look at the components of the IPS, you will find NO mention of the topics that are most often discussed during the financial news.

If you look at the components of the IPS,
you will find NO mention of the topics that
are most often discussed during the financial news.

NEWSFLASH – the financial news you see on TV and the internet is designed to evoke emotional responses and keep you glued to the medium so they can increase their viewership and, in turn, their advertising revenue. In my opinion, this financial news is rarely, if ever, helpful in implementing a solid IPS.

Ultimately the decision is yours on whether you do or do not watch the talking heads. Before you make up your mind, though, please remember that there is only a limited amount of time available to each of us.

Would You Like More Support?

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• Do you have a well-defined Investment Policy Strategy that is used to drive your investments in support of a comprehensive financial plan?

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• If not, would you like to partner with someone who is used to helping people get through these struggles and (then, with confidence) implement portfolio strategies in a systematic manner while focusing on your desired outcomes?

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If so, feel free to send us an email or give us a call. We’d love to have the opportunity to help you find a bit more peace of mind when it comes to investing.

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