“2012 was a year to remember. It wasn’t just because of the Mayan predictions of the world’s end. For me, it was the year that I was dealt a life-altering diagnosis.
I was sick, and nothing I did was helping. Every doctor I consulted and medication I tried wasn’t having much impact. I had no choice but to accept the situation as such and go forward. This was a tough pill to swallow, but I eventually found the silver lining in all of this.
What I discovered during my battle with sickness was the importance of asset allocation. Despite all the uncertainty with my health, properly allocating my investments, not just for retirement, but for my current needs, offered some peace of mind.
The first thing I did was educate myself on the different investment types, such as stocks, bonds and ETFs. This helped me to paint a clearer picture of which investments could help me reach my goals. I also quickly learned that diversification is key and that I didn’t want to put all my eggs in one basket.
Instead of blindly investing in the same old, steady sectors, I looked into emerging markets and thematic ETFs. This opened up a world of opportunities that I hadn’t been exposed to before. I was able to add more risk while diversifying my portfolio with some alternative investments I had previously overlooked.
Needless to say, it was a challenge. I had so much to learn now that I had a new perspective on retirement planning. But as I sorted out my asset allocation, I found that the process was as much of a learning experience, as it was necessary for my financial future.
My experience in 2012 has had many positive consequences. Now I understand asset allocation, diversification, and investments like never before. As the health of my portfolio continues to improve, the health of my life is improved through understanding the power of sustaining a quality retirement plan.”