To most people, "risk" evokes negative images -- driving faster than the speed limit, placing bets on "a long shot," or traveling alone to unfamiliar places. Mention risk in terms of investing, and people might think about losing their life's savings. But in reality, investment risk comes in many forms, and each can affect how you pursue your financial goals. The key to dealing with investment risk is learning how to manage it.

Step one: understand the various risks involved

Investment risk is generally defined as the probability that an actual return on an investment will be lower than the investor's expectations. Fear of losing some money is probably one reason why people may choose conservative investments, even for long-term savings. While investment risk does refer to the general risk of loss, it can be broken down into more specific classifications. Familiarizing yourself with the different kinds of risk is the first step in learning how to manage it within your portfolio.

Market risk

Also known as systematic risk, market risk is the likelihood that the value of a security will move in tandem with its overall market. For example, if the stock market is experiencing a decline, the stock mutual funds in your portfolio may decline as well. Or if bond prices are rising, the value of your bonds could likely go up.

Interest-rate risk

Most often associated with fixed-income investments, this is the risk that the price of a bond or the price of a bond fund will fall with rising interest rates.

Inflation risk

The risk that the value of your portfolio will be eroded by a decline in the purchasing power of your savings, as a result of inflation. Inflation risk needs to be considered when evaluating conservative investments, such as bonds, bond funds, and money market funds* as long-term investments. While your investment may post gains over time, it may actually be losing value if it does not at least keep pace with the rate of inflation.

*An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency. Although the fund seeks to preserve the value of your investment at $1.00 per share, it is possible to lose money by investing in the fund.

Credit risk

It comes into play with bonds and bond funds. It refers to a bond issuer's ability to repay its debt as promised when the bond matures. Bonds and bond funds are given credit ratings by such agencies as Moody's and Standard & Poor's. In general, the higher the rating, the lower the credit risk. Junk bonds, which generally have the lowest ratings, are among the riskiest in terms of credit. People who invest in them therefore typically seek higher yields to compensate for their higher credit risk.

In addition, international investments involve such risks as fluctuating currency values (currency risk) as well as the potential for social, political, and economic upheavals that may affect a country's markets.

Step two: manage the risks with diverse investments

The old cliche, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket," is very applicable to the realm of investing. The process of diversification, spreading your money among several different investments and investment classes, is used specifically to help manage market risk in a portfolio. Because they invest in many different securities, mutual funds can be ideal ways to diversify.

Selecting more than one mutual fund for your portfolio can further manage risk. Also consider the potential benefits of selecting investments from more than one asset class: When stocks are particularly hard hit due to changing conditions, bonds may not be affected as dramatically.

 Components of total return, 1985 - 2017

While stocks have historically provided income and capital appreciation, the total return of bonds has been composed primarily of interest income. Past performance is not indicative of future results.

Source: ChartSource^®, DST Systems, Inc. For holding periods ending December 31, 2017. Stocks are represented by the S&P 500 index. It is not possible to invest directly in an index. Index performance does not reflect the effects of investing costs and taxes. Actual results would vary from benchmarks and would likely have been lower. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. ^© 2018, DST Systems, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited, except by permission. All rights reserved. Not responsible for any errors or omissions. (CS000037)

Step three: match your investments to your goals  

Before you can decide what types of investments are appropriate from a risk perspective, you need to evaluate your savings goals. Is your goal preservation of principal, generating income for current expenses, or building the value of your principal over and above inflation? How you answer this will enable you to find an appropriate balance between the return you hope to achieve and the risk you are willing to assume.

Match time horizon with your investment choices

Examine your time horizon for meeting your goals, and consider how comfortable you may be riding out short-term losses in the value of your investments. Remember, the longer your time horizon, the more volatility you can tolerate in your portfolio. At the same time, long-term investors need to be concerned about inflation. If you are investing your retirement funds, you may also be concerned about building capital over the long term.

For example, investors pursuing long-term goals (such as retirement) will be most concerned with long-term growth and managing inflation risk. Their portfolios will likely be more heavily weighted in stock investments, as these have historically provided the highest long-term returns and outpaced inflation by the widest margin, although past performance does not guarantee future returns. These investors may also devote some money to bonds and money market investments to help manage the higher risks associated with stocks. Keep in mind that stocks offer long-term growth potential but will fluctuate and may provide less current income than other investments.

On the other hand, people already in retirement may need to rely heavily on the income from their portfolios. Therefore, they may seek to manage income and manage risk of short-term losses. Their portfolios will likely be weighted in high-quality, lower-risk bond and money market investments, with some stocks in the mix to maintain growth potential.

Inappropriate investments: the unseen risks

When thinking about how to balance risk and return in your portfolio, don't forget that the risk of loss is not the only kind of risk. Give some thought to the risk of investing too conservatively and not reaping a high enough return potential to provide for your financial future. Also be aware of investing in instruments that may be too risky for your shorter-term goals. A financial professional can help you select investment vehicles that are suitable for your goals.

As you consider each particular investment, research its performance history and risk characteristics. For example, if it's a stock fund, how drastically has it responded to drops in the market? How long has it taken to recoup losses? How has it performed over a time frame similar to your own? For a bond fund, consider also the average maturity of bonds held in the particular fund.

Risk has its potential rewards

In life, almost every attempt at success involves a bit of risk and your investment strategy is no different. By devoting time to examining your goals, conducting some research, and working with a financial professional, you can learn how to manage risk in your portfolio by choosing appropriate investments.

These are important concepts and critical determinants of your investment success. When you see your financial professional, don't forget to put these concerns on your agenda, too.

Important Note: Equitable believes that education is a key step toward addressing your financial goals, and this discussion serves simply as an informational and educational resource.  It does not constitute investment advice, nor does it make a direct or indirect recommendation of any particular product or of the appropriateness of any particular investment-related option. Your unique needs, goals and circumstances require the individualized attention of your financial professional. Asset allocation and rebalancing do not guarantee a profit or protection against investment loss.

^© 2018 DST Systems, Inc. Reproduction in whole or in part prohibited, except by permission. All rights reserved. Not responsible for any errors or omissions. 

Amount in equity investments are subject to fluctuation in value and market risk, including loss of principal.

International securities carry additional risk including currency exchange fluctuation and different government regulations, economic conditions or accounting standards.

Stocks of small-size companies may have less liquidity than those of larger companies and may be subject to greater price volatility than the over all stock market. Smaller company stock involve a greater risk than is customarily associated with more established companies.

Bond investments are subject to interest rate risk so that when interest rates rise, the prices of bonds can decrease and the investor can lose principal value.

An investment in a money market fund is not insured or guarantee by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

Please consider the charges, risk, expenses and investment objectives carefully before purchasing a mutual fund. For a prospectus containing this and other information, please contact a financial professional. Read it carefully before you invest or send money.

Information provided has been prepared from Wealth Management Systems, Inc. sources and data we believe to be accurate, but we make no representation as to its accuracy or completeness. Data and information is provided for informational purposes only, and is not intended for solicitation or trading purposes. Wealth Management Systems, Inc. is not an affiliate of Equitable. Please consult your tax and legal advisors regarding your individual situation. Neither Equitable nor any of the data provided by Equitable or its content providers, such as Wealth Management Systems, Inc., shall be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for the actions taken in reliance therein. By accessing the Equitable website, a user agrees to abide by the terms and conditions of the site including not redistributing the information found therein.

Life insurance and annuities are issued by an affiliate, Equitable Financial Life Insurance Company (NY, NY) and by various unaffiliated carriers. Securities products and services are offered through Equitable Advisors (member FINRA / SIPC, 1290 Avenue of the Americas, NY, NY 10104 (212-314-4600). Securities (including mutual funds) are not FDIC insured, not bank guaranteed and subject to investment risk, including possible loss of principal invested. Equitable Advisors and Equitable are affiliated and do not provide tax or legal advice.