Resources

Developing a Funding Strategy

Your Investment Objective

Starting a college investment program when your child is 16 or older does not give you the benefit of long-term growth. Any college-funding investment program should be started when your child is young and should have a long-term focus. Your investment objective should be for growth in an effort to stay ahead of inflation.

In setting your objective, make sure you take into account your risk profile. That is, how much risk are you willing to take? Think of investment and risk as running across a spectrum, where investments with low risk are at one end and high risk at the other. With lower risk investments, safety of principal and minimal or no fluctuation in the value of your account is critical. As a trade-off, you are willing to accept a lower rate of return. Your tolerance for risk is usually lower when your time horizon is short-term. Typical low-risk savings vehicles include passbook savings accounts, certificates of deposit, and Series EE and Series I Bonds.

With higher risk tolerance, your goal is growth in your portfolio. You are seeking higher returns. You are willing to accept greater volatility over the short-term because your time horizon is long-term. Typical investments are growth stocks, international stocks and real estate.

Share Article:
Add to GooglePlus
Investment and insurance products and services are offered through Osaic Institutions, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Osaic Institutions and the bank are not affiliated. Products and services made available through Osaic Institutions are not insured by the FDIC or any other agency of the United States and are not deposits or obligations of nor guaranteed or insured by any bank or bank affiliate. These products are subject to investment risk, including the possible loss of value.

BrokerCheck