YOUR FINANCIAL circumstances affect the risk you can take, too. If you are young and can set your money aside for a long time, you can afford to be aggressive. Knowledge, too, can increase your capacity for risk taking.
1. If your age is. . . | Give yourself |
a. under 30 | 5 points |
b. over 30 and under 40 | 4 points |
c. over 40 and under 50 | 3 points |
d. between 50 and 65 | 2 points |
e. over 65 | 1 point |
2. If your major investment goals are | Give yourself |
a. zero to two years away | 1 point |
b. two to five years away | 2 points |
c. five to ten years away | 3 points |
d. more than ten years away | 4 points |
3. If your future earning power | Give yourself |
a. keeps pace with inflation, if you're lucky | 1 point |
b. keeps you a few points ahead of inflation | 2 points |
c. far exceeds inflation (big bucks ahead) | 4 points |
d. includes an expected inheritance or some other big chunk of money | 5 points |
4. Pick the statement that best describes you | Give yourself |
a. I never save or invest. | 1 point |
b. I do my best to tuck away a few dollars here and there. | 2 points |
c. I save regularly. | 3 points |
d. I put aside 5 percent of my income no matter what. | 5 points |
5. Give yourself 1 point for each thing you do: | |
a. skim the financial pages from time to time | |
b. read the daily financial news | |
c. keep abreast of markets | |
d. subscribe or use at least one financial Web site | |
e. watch investment and financial programs on TV | |
f. subscribe to an investment newsletter | |
6. Pick the statement that best describes you | Give yourself |
a. I am a knowledgeable investor, able to explain concepts such as standard deviation. | 5 points |
b. I use only mutual funds, but am well versed in the types available and how they work. | 4 points |
c. I have a grasp of the basics such as how the stock and bond markets work. | 2 points |
d. I hate financial discussions and avoid them at all costs. | 0 points |
If you picked up 18 points or more, you have substantial capacity for risk, including both investment knowledge and financial wherewithal. If you scored 10 to 15, you are in a position to take moderate risk. If you scored 12 or below, be careful: You don't have the time or assets or knowledge yet to tackle more aggressive investments.
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