Thrivent Financial for Lutherans Logo
Contact Us
| Site Help | Corporate News | Become a Member 
Free Offers | Chapter Web Sites | Locate Your Financial Representative

 
HomeYour AccountsAnnuitiesInsuranceInvestmentsBankRetirementPlanning: Tools & ServicesAbout UsFraternal ProgramsMembers/ChaptersCareer Center
 Thrivent Builds | The Store | Lutherans Online | Lutheran Heritage | Church Loan Program | Thrivent Magazine | Foundations

  Thrivent Magazine
  Caring
  Faith
  Money
  Planning
  Lifestyle
  Heritage
  Etc.
  Extra!
  Links
  Archive
  Contact the Magazine

 

 
Thrivent Articles
Adjust Font Size:
A A A A
Printer Friendly
E-mail this Article
     
    
     
 

Investing in Style

By Mark Druskoff

As you near retirement
For investors approaching retirement, evaluating mutual fund styles becomes especially critical as you gradually shift your portfolio away from more growth-oriented funds to minimize risk. But David Francis, head of equities at Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, cautions against becoming overly risk-averse. “There’s a tendency for investors in their 50s and 60s to get too conservative too early in the game,” he says.
It’s true that as retirement nears, it’s more difficult to overcome market downturns. But Scott Shaefer, a Thrivent Financial representative in Edmond, Oklahoma, notes that longer life expectancies mean that you should plan for your savings to last 15 to 20 years beyond retirement. “Your biggest risk is outliving your investments,” he says.

If your portfolio isn’t allocated aggressively enough, it runs the risk of depleting its own assets. At the same time, inflation is eroding the spending power of each dollar. For that reason, equity funds should still play a role in your portfolio—even in your golden years. Historically, equities have outpaced other investments, such as bonds, as well as the rate of inflation.

Creating a plan ahead of time insulates investors from making decisions based on emotions.

Mark Druskoff is a freelance writer from Minneapolis, Minnesota.

Investing In Style   |   As You Near Retirement   |   In Retirement   |   How to Read a Style Guide

 

  Top Of Page | Magazine Home Page  

 

   HOME | Site Map | Site Tour | Privacy Policy | Business Continuity Information | What's New On The Web Site | Contact Us | RSS Feeds | Top of Page

Appleton Office:
4321 N. Ballard Road
Appleton, WI 54919-0001 USA
800-THRIVENT
(800-847-4836)
E-mail: mail@thrivent.com

Minneapolis Office:
625 Fourth Avenue S.
Minneapolis, MN 55415-1624 USA
800-THRIVENT
(800-847-4836)

Dalbar Seal of Excellence

Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Appleton, WI 54919-0001, is authorized to conduct business in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. NAIC # 2938-56014. Products issued by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans are available to applicants who meet membership, insurability, U.S. citizenship and residency requirements. Not all products described are available in all states. Thrivent Financial representatives are licensed insurance agents. Insurance and retirement products, where available, are individual contracts, (not group coverage), and issued by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Investment products are offered through Thrivent Investment Management Inc., 625 Fourth Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55415-1665, a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Member FINRA. Member SIPC. Thrivent Financial representatives are registered representatives of Thrivent Investment Management Inc.

Bank products and trust services are offered through Thrivent Financial Bank, 2000 E. Milestone Dr., Appleton, WI 54919-0006 (Member FDIC, Equal Housing Lender), a wholly owned subsidiary of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans. Insurance, investment products, securities, trust, and investment management services and accounts are not deposits, are not FDIC insured, are not insured by any federal government agency, and are not guaranteed by Thrivent Financial Bank. Variable insurance contracts, investment products, trust, and investment management accounts may go down in value.

©1995-2008 Thrivent Financial for Lutherans

This document was last updated on Friday, October 20, 2006 at 9:42 AM