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Investing Approaches
There are three common types of investing approaches:
1. DIY approach
2. Roboadvisor
3. Human Financial Advisor
DIY
The DIY or doing it yourself approach is where you are actively managing a portfolio of assets to achieve your specific financial objectives rather than relying on a paid human or automated financial advisor. It involves researching and selecting your own investments, monitoring your portfolio’s performance, and making investment decisions.
DIY investing can involve various types of investments, such as individual stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETF, REITs and other financial instruments. To pursue this approach, you will use online brokerage platforms or investment apps to buy, sell, trade and monitor your investments.
The biggest advantage of DIY investing is that it allows you to have more control over your investment decisions and potentially save on fees associated with hiring a financial advisor. Also, DIY investors can be more flexible in their investment strategies and can quickly adjust their portfolio when the market changes.
However, DIY investing can be risky, particularly for investors who may not have experience or knowledge about investing. Know your risks and manage them cautiously, if you are prepared to invest the time and effort to monitor your portfolio.
DIY approach may be best if:
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you'd like to learn more about investment options and don’t mind putting in the time;
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you want to know exactly where your money is invested in and have full control; and
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you don't want to pay any investment management fees.
Roboadvisor
A roboadvisor is an automated investment platform that uses algorithms to create and manage investment portfolios. It's a digital alternative to traditional human financial advisors.
When you sign up for a roboadvisor, you'll answer questions about your financial goals, risk tolerance, and investment timeline. Then, the platform will suggest a portfolio of investments, based on your responses.
Roboadvisors are able to offer much lower fees than traditional financial advisors, since they don't require human interaction.
Roboadvisors are a good option for investors who want to start building a diversified investment portfolio without paying high fees. However, roboadvisors may not be suitable for complex investment strategies or unique financial situations.
Roboadvisor may be best if:
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you know you want to start investing, but you don’t know where to start;
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you don't have the time to learn about investing on your own;
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your finances are straight forward; and
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you like the idea of leveraging a professionally maintained platform, while paying minimal fees.
Human Financial Advisor
A financial advisor is a professional who provides guidance and advice to you on financial matters. They can help clients make decisions about how to manage their money, invest in assets, plan retirement, and minimize financial risks.
Financial advisors come in many forms and can specialize in areas such as investment management, retirement planning, estate planning, tax planning, insurance and risk management. They may work with financial institutions or operate as independent consultants.
The role of a financial advisor is to assess your financial situation, goals and risk tolerance in order to develop a customized financial plan that addresses your needs. They will monitor and adjust the plan as necessary, providing you ongoing advice as your financial situation changes.
A human financial advisor will provide you more personal touch. A financial advisor is good if you have a complex financial situation and you want to work with someone with a particular expertise.
Human financial advisor may be best if:
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your financial situation is complex; and
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you're willing to pay a premium investment management fee for more personalization, engaging human interaction, and advice.
There is not one size fits all when it comes to investing. You may choose one of these approaches or use a hybrid of each approach until you find the right balance for you. As you move along your timeline for investing, you will gain more confidence and knowledge. Happy Investing!