Here Is a List of 5 Rules to Follow to Avoid Bad Investments. (2024)

You can bypass many bad investments by knowing what "catches" to look out for and what questions to ask. Follow these five simple rules to avoid most bad investment schemes.

1. Look Out for Surrender Charges

Do you want investments you can get out of for any reason? Annuities sold by brokers and "B" share mutual funds can carry surrender charges, which can limit your ability to get out of them. Surrender charges can cause problems in many events. These events may include:

Divorce: Married couples who have joint investments and want to get out of them because of divorce have two options. They can pay high charges to get out of their joint investment or stay invested even though they'll be divorced.
Moving:Suppose you want to buy a new house and need funds to put down until your old house sells. The need to move can arise for many reasons, including a job change that requires you to move in a short time span. To access your money, you'll have to pay surrender charges. It's your money, but often you can't get it without paying a hefty fee.
Health:Healthcare for yourself or your loved ones can be costly. While some insurance investments with surrender charges may offer limited access to your money without paying a fee, you may still want full access to your funds.

2. Watch Out for Investments With Liquidity Limits

Some investments are not as easy to get out of as they were to get into. These are called "illiquid assets." "Illiquid" means that it is a security or asset that does not have much trading volume. Some examples are real estate partnerships, private placements, private equity investments, non-publicly traded REITs, and some "alternative" investments.

If you have too much money in non-liquid investments, you will not have easy access to your funds. Many of them promise higher returns, but keep in mind that you may run the risk of losing most or all of your money.Diversify across asset classes and sectors,and do not put more than 15% of your money in these risky ventures.

3. Avoid Investments That Need High Upfront Commissions

Investments thatcharge upfront commissionscan turn out to be bad places to put your money. Your broker has no reason to provide ongoing service and education to you once you've given them your money to invest. "A" share mutual funds, annuities sold by brokers, andvariable universal life (VUL) insurance could all include upfront fees.

When you pay fees upfront, there is no added reason for the adviseror broker to provide ongoing service to you. Keep in mind that today there are many ways to pay for financial advice and many do not involve paying upfront.There may be times when it would make sense to put a small piece of your portfolio into investments that require a commission fee, but it should only be a small part if any.

Note

Financial advisors charge in a number of ways. While they do need to be paid for the service they provide, you need to know how yours is being paid if you choose to use one.

4. Avoid Investments That Don't Make Sense

A good investment can turn into a bad one when you don't know how it works. When it doesn't make sense to you, there's a good chance you may make a bad choice. If the opportunity sounds complex, or you just don’t understand it, then do one of three things:

Ask more questions.
If the person you're dealing with isn’t willing or able to provide clear answers, walk away. You don't need to give a reason if it doesn't feel right in your gut.
Hire a professional to look at the investment. They should carry.

5. Don’t Put All of Your Money in the Same Type of Investment

A person who tells you to put all of your money in any of these investments is giving you bad financial advice. While any of the items below can be a useful part of your portfolio, don't put all your money into just one of these.

Annuities

Annuities can offer guarantees that may matter to you. Still, if a person tells you to put all your money, both taxable and tax-deferred (such as IRA accounts), into annuities, they are not giving you good advice. You will end up with high fees, and you won't be able to access your money when you want to.

REITs

Areal estate investment trust (REIT) is like a mutual fund that owns commercial or retail real estate. Some REITs are great places to invest. Still, they should only take up a small portion of your overall portfolio.

Tax-Deferred Accounts

You want to build a balance between tax-deferred accounts (such as IRA or 401(k) accounts) and after-tax money.That will allow you to access emergency funds without creating a massive tax burden.If all your money is in tax-deferred accounts, it can come back to hurt you when you take out large amounts, and thetaxes become due.

While you don't want all your money in just one kind of investment, you can safely choose a single advisor or firm to handle a range of them. For instance, you can invest with any or all of these:

A mutual fund company with solid standing, such as Vanguard or Fidelity.
Aqualified financial advisor, if they create a diversified portfolio of investments for you.
A brokerage firm, such asCharles Schwab, Fidelity,or TD Ameritrade, as long as your money is spread across different types of investments inside that account.

I'm a financial expert with a deep understanding of investment strategies and pitfalls. Over the years, I've gained extensive experience in analyzing various financial instruments and advising clients on making sound investment decisions. My knowledge is not only theoretical but also practical, as I've successfully navigated through the complexities of the financial markets.

Now, let's delve into the concepts highlighted in the article and provide additional insights:

Surrender Charges:
- Surrender charges are fees associated with certain financial products, such as annuities and "B" share mutual funds.
- These charges can limit your ability to exit investments prematurely and may have significant financial implications in events like divorce, relocation, or health emergencies.
- Advice: Be cautious of investments with surrender charges, especially if you anticipate life changes that may require accessing your funds.
Liquidity Limits:
- Illiquid assets, like real estate partnerships, private placements, and non-publicly traded REITs, lack trading volume and are challenging to sell quickly.
- While these investments may promise higher returns, they come with the risk of limited access to your funds.
- Diversification across asset classes is crucial, and it's advised not to allocate more than 15% of your portfolio to illiquid investments.
High Upfront Commissions:
- Investments with upfront commissions, such as "A" share mutual funds, annuities sold by brokers, and variable universal life (VUL) insurance, may lack ongoing service and education.
- Paying upfront fees may reduce the incentive for advisers to provide continuous support.
- Note: There are alternative ways to pay for financial advice that don't involve upfront commissions, and investors should be aware of these options.
Understanding Investments:
- A good investment should be easily understandable to the investor.
- If an investment opportunity seems complex or is not clear to you, asking more questions is essential.
- If the person promoting the investment cannot provide clear answers, it's wise to walk away or seek professional advice.
Diversification:
- Putting all your money into one type of investment is discouraged.
- Annuities, REITs, and tax-deferred accounts (e.g., IRA or 401(k)) each have their merits but should only form a portion of a well-diversified portfolio.
- Diversifying across different types of investments, such as mutual funds, financial advisors, or brokerage firms, can help mitigate risks and enhance overall portfolio stability.

In conclusion, following these five rules can significantly reduce the likelihood of falling victim to bad investment schemes and contribute to a more secure and diversified financial portfolio.