Risk and return go hand-in-hand
You can't have one without the other. Historically, the lower the risk, the lower the potential return; the higher the risk, the higher the potential return. If you'd rather protect the money you already have, you may have to forego the possibility of meaningful growth.
Potential for High Returns: High-risk investments, such as stocks, startup ventures, or cryptocurrencies, have the potential to generate substantial returns. These investments thrive on market volatility and can deliver significant gains over time. Volatility: High-risk assets are notorious for their price volatility.
Understanding high-risk mutual funds
Because of the higher risk, the returns can be potentially much higher compared to low-risk funds. However, there is also a greater chance of losing money.
If you opt for only low-risk investments, you're likely to lose purchasing power over time. It's also why low-risk plays make for better short-term investments or a stash for your emergency fund. In contrast, higher-risk investments are better suited for long-term goals.
The concept of the "safest investment" can vary depending on individual perspectives and economic contexts. But generally, cash and government bonds—particularly U.S. Treasury securities—are often considered among the safest investment options available. This is because there is minimal risk of loss.
Yes, mutual funds can give negative returns. Negative returns occur when the value of the fund's assets decreases over a specific period. This can happen due to various factors, including economic downturns, market volatility, or poor fund management decisions.
Investors with a longer investment horizon may benefit from high-risk mutual funds as they have more time to ride out market fluctuations and benefit from compounding returns. These funds can be suitable for investors seeking growth and willing to tolerate short-term fluctuations in value.
Most sources cite a low-risk portfolio as being made up of 15-40% equities. Medium risk ranges from 40-60%. High risk is generally from 70% upwards. In all cases, the remainder of the portfolio is made up of lower-risk asset classes such as bonds, money market funds, property funds and cash.
If you invest in stocks with a cash account, you will not owe money if a stock goes down in value. The value of your investment will decrease, but you will not owe money. If you buy stock using borrowed money, however, you will owe money no matter which way the stock price goes because you have to repay the loan.
The U.S. stock market is considered to offer the highest investment returns over time. Higher returns come with higher risk. Stock prices are typically more volatile than bond prices.
Less likely to lose value, low-risk investments can make up part of a balanced portfolio. Please remember, investment value can go up or down and you could get back less than you invest. The value of international investments may be affected by currency fluctuations which might reduce their value in sterling.
High-risk investments may offer the chance of higher returns than other investments might produce, but they put your money at higher risk. This means that if things go well, high-risk investments can produce high returns.
If you're looking for the safest place to keep your money, look no further than a savings account. Your money will be insured by the FDIC, and you'll have access to it at any time via an online transfer or a debit/ATM card, depending on the policies of your bank.
For a mutual fund to lose its value and become zero means that all the holdings in the portfolio must become zero or worthless. The probability of all the assets becoming zero is extremely low. It is quite possible that your investments are giving negative returns.
Key Takeaways
Cashing out mutual funds from an IRA or other tax-advantaged retirement account could trigger income taxes and penalties, depending on whether it's a traditional or Roth account. Withdrawing money from investments to pay off debt also means missing out on future growth in those accounts.
NAV of Mutual Funds Come Down
When NAV comes down following a crash, so does your investment's worth. Let's understand it with an example. Suppose a fund's NAV before a crash is 50, and you have 1000 units of it. So, the value of your investment is Rs 50,000 (50 X 1000).
Instead, look for a high-interest savings account, typically with an online financial institution. Another safe place to park your money is in a certificate of deposit (CD). A CD has a set term, ranging from a month to up to 10 years. You can withdraw your money but you'll forfeit part of the interest earned.
This budgeting rule states that you should allocate 50 percent of your monthly income for essentials (such as housing, groceries and gas), 30 percent for wants and 20 percent for savings.
A good return on investment is generally considered to be around 7% per year, based on the average historic return of the S&P 500 index, adjusted for inflation. The average return of the U.S. stock market is around 10% per year, adjusted for inflation, dating back to the late 1920s.
Most mutual fund distributions are considered taxable investment income. The tax rate depends on factors like the holding duration of the investment within the fund and the nature of the distribution, which could be ordinary income, capital gains, or sometimes tax-free.