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About Investment Portfolios

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By Cindy Holcomb
eHow Contributing Writer
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An investment portfolio is a collection of investments held by an individual, bank or other financial institution. The purpose of an investment portfolio is to manage more than one type of investment. It gives an overall picture of a person's finances.

From Quick Guide: Investment Opportunity Basics

    Identification

  1. An investment portfolio is a list of investments. Many people diversify their investments to make a profit, while protecting the principal amount of money. This means that rather than invest in a single stock, a person or institution invests in different areas, such as stocks, bonds and equities. Each item in the portfolio has a different risk/reward ratio. A person may choose to invest the bulk of her capital in low risk, low yield investments, while risking a small portion on high risk/high yield investments. An investment portfolio is a way to keep track of and manage all of a person's investments. It also includes a list all financial holdings for an individual or institution, including savings/checking accounts, real estate, retirement accounts and the value of jewelry or other valuable assets.
  2. Function

  3. An investment portfolio can provide you with a way to see your overall financial picture. This allows you to analyze and manage your assets with the goal of growing your assets without risking too much of the principal. An investment portfolio can give you an idea of your present financial situation, help you to set goals for retirement and make changes in your investments that will help you meet these goals. By having all of your financial information in one place, you are better able to manage and meet your financial goals.
  4. Features

  5. An investment portfolio is a list of your individual assets and investments. Assets can include savings accounts, checking accounts, insurance policies and any other assets, such as jewelry and valuable collectibles. Investments can include stocks, bonds, mutual funds, equities and real estate.
  6. Considerations

  7. When preparing an investment portfolio, it is important to list both short-term and long-term goals for your financial future. The most popular investment portfolio includes investments that provide diversity--in other words, not putting all of your eggs in one basket. Your portfolio should include both low risk/low return investments and high risk/high return investments. Most portfolios have the bulk of the principal invested in low risk/low return investments as a way to protect the principal, while investing a small portion in high risk/high return investments as a means of creating growth.
  8. Benefits

  9. The benefits of a diverse investment portfolio includes allowing you to manage your assets and investments in order to meet your short-term financial goals, as well as plan for future financial goals such as retirement. The key to success in any financial endeavor is knowledge, planning and management. A financial portfolio helps you to accomplish this goal by providing you with the information necessary to plan ahead and make adjustments that will help you reach your financial goals.
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eHow Article: About Investment Portfolios

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