Once a financial plan has been put in place, it is tempting to believe the paperwork can simply be tucked away in a drawer and forgotten. However, like a well-kept garden, a financial plan needs regular tending to ensure it is still on track. ‘Weeds’ can spring up or you may just like to grow something new. What should a financial health-check comprise?
A financial plan should be regularly reviewed to check it is still fit for purpose. The original financial plan will have been matched to an investor’s goals – to retire at 60, say, to fund education for children or whatever. A review will first look at whether these goals have changed, perhaps with the birth of another child, or a change of job or a surprise inheritance. It should consider whether investors need to save more or switch to different types of investments to achieve their goals.
A review will also look at an investor’s progress towards their goals. It may be a portfolio has performed particularly well and it is no longer necessary to take as much risk – or the opposite might be true and an investor needs to take on more risk.
A financial health check will also examine whether the underlying investments are performing in line with expectations. Fund managers will have good and bad periods. A run of bad performance may mean their style is out of favour – for example, they may target larger, dividend-paying stocks while the market currently prefers small companies – but your financial adviser will be able to judge whether this is expected or whether it is a sign of a deeper problem. It may be a manager is losing their touch, has left their employer or there are problems within the investment house. In this case, it may be worth switching to another manager.
A portfolio will also need to be tweaked according to the wider economic environment. The 2008 financial crisis changed the investment landscape – for example, the low interest rates that have followed mean income-seekers have had to work harder to generate the same level of yield. While an event of this magnitude will hopefully not repeat itself in the short term, it highlights the importance of regular reviews and ensuring your financial plan continues to be appropriate. Financial health checks can ensure your garden grows abundantly in all weathers. A little tending can go a long way.
DECEMBER 2012
Important Note: Material within this article has been complied with the help of the Marketing Hub which is part of Marketing In Practice Ltd on behalf of your professional financial adviser. The contents of this document do not constitute advice and should not be taken as a recommendation to purchase or invest in any financial product. The value of a market investment can go down as well as up and you may not get back the full amount, particularly in the short term. Before taking any decisions, we suggest you seek advice from a chartered financial planner.