Financial Investing 10 – Understand Your Investment Risk

December 21st, 2009

All investments involve some risk, and a clear understanding is required for the client to manage these risks properly.There are several types of risk.

I. Systematic risk

All businesses experience some economic reversals. Therefore, market risk is a systemic risk that the value of the investment may suffer from some economic, political or social change.

II. Unsystemic risk

Financial and default risk of an individual company are considered to be unsystemic risk.Quality of management, ability to offer better goods and services for a profit including control costs and meet competition all will help in reducing the risk.

III. Financial risk

Some company may not perform as well as expected, or may fail and go bankrupt. That is financial risk if you invest in those companies.

IV. Default risk

This is a risk if the issuer of a bond or debenture can not be able to repay the loan. In the event of bankruptcy, secured creditors come first, shareholders second. If the security pledged has declined in value, it may no longer be sufficient to satisfy the claims.

V. Interest rate risk

The interest rate risk is associated with fluctuations in the interest rate and how it affects the investment. There are a few ways the interest rate can affect the investment

a) If the interest rate rises, bond prices will drop if sold before maturity.

b) If a fixed interest rate security is held, it protects the investment against falling interest rates and it also locks in the investments for the lower rate when the interest rate rises. Bonds are highly subject to interest rate risk.

VI. Marketing risk

A “marketability risk” occurs when a buyer cannot be found at the time the investor wants to sell.

1. No market

Company has gone out of business.

2.Thin market

Poor exposure or reversal.

3. Active market

Everybody wants a piece of the security.

VII. Exchange rate risk

Foreign investments are subject to an exchange rate risk. If an investment is denomination in foreign currencies and the domestic currency falls, the foreign investment value increase.VIII. Inflation riskInflation erodes the purchasing power of an investment so that over time it declines in real rate of return.

I hope this information will help. If you need more information, you can read the complete series of the above subject at my home page:

http://lifeanddisabitityinsuranceunderwriter.blogspot.com/

http://financialinvesting09.blogspot.com/

http://financialinvesting10.blogspot.com/

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Kyle J. Norton
http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/financial-investing-10-understand-your-investment-risk-610213.html

2 Responses

  1. Burt Whitley Says:

    We will be taking a financial management course and I am wondering what your specific questions would be. Why?
    Here are the six key topics but what would be your top 3-5 specific questions? Why?

    Cash Management
    Making the most of your income
    Reducing your debt
    Taking control of your credit
    Assessing your current situation
    Traditional savings vehicles
    The impact of inflation
    How much cash?

    Risk Management
    Reducing financial risk
    Protecting your property and assets
    Are you properly insured?
    Types of medical coverage
    Homeowners and auto insurance
    Disability income and long-term-care insurance
    How much life insurance do you need?
    Avoid being under- or over-insured.

    Tax Planning
    What’s your marginal income tax bracket?
    Impacts of the latest tax laws
    Avoid paying more taxes than you owe
    Using tax strategies to your advantage
    Taxable equivalent yield

    Investment Management
    Basic types of investments
    Understanding your risk level
    How to measure investment risk
    Making better investment decisions
    Proper asset allocation
    Dollar cost averaging
    Benefiting from tax-deferred investing
    College funding strategies

    Retirement Planning
    The penalty of procrastination
    Sources of retirement income
    Employer retirement plans
    IRAs/Roth IRAs
    Calculating the cost of your retirement
    Determining your distribution from retirement plans
    Rollover options

    Wise Estate Conservation
    Having your estate distributed according to your wishes
    Avoiding probate and excessive estate taxes
    Learning about the benefits of trusts and charitable giving

  2. Aloha Samo Says:

    you forgot to tell us WHY you are taking a financial management course.
    Having known THAT, I’d have worked out WHAT you need to study to achieve WHAT you want to achieve.

    I mean, if you have no estate, why would you want to know how to

    "get one distributed according to your wishes" know what I mean??
    References :
    http://credit—card.org/

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