b"Financial FocusDont Let Investments Go On VacationN ow that weve gained at least some space from theyoure investing for one specific, long-term goal: COVID-19 pandemic, summer travel is heatinga comfortable retirement. While you can tap into up. But while you might be eager to hit the road,these accounts for other purposesthough doing you wont want your investments to take a vacation so might incur immediate taxes and penaltiesyou need them to work hard for you consistently. Butthey are designed to provide you with income dur-how can you make this happen? ing your retirement years. Similarly, you may have other investments for other purposes, such as a 529 Here are some ideas:education savings plan. Heres the key point: Goals- KNOW YOUR DESTINATION.based investing, by its nature, can help ensure your CHECK YOUR PROGRESS.If you don't know where you want to go, then itportfolio is always working on your behalf, in theHow else can you ensure your investments arent doesn't matter which path you take. This bit ofway you intended.just taking it easy? By checking up on them. If wisdom, paraphrased from the classic childrensyou follow a buy-and-hold strategy, your portfolio book, Alices Adventures in Wonderland, may be ap-INVEST FOR GROWTH.shouldnt require many changes if it already re-propriate for, say, hikers exploring a new landscape.Ideally, hard work produces results, and one offlects your goals, risk tolerance and time horizon. But as an investor, it matters a great deal whichthe main results you want from your investmentsToo much buying and selling could jeopardize path you take. If you only dabble in investing, occa- is growththat is, you want your investments toyour ability to follow a consistent, long-term strat-sionally putting some money into one investmentappreciate in value so they can eventually help youegy. However, buy and hold doesnt mean buy or another, it will be difficult to build a portfoliomeet your goals. But if you are overconcentrated inand forget. By reviewing your portfolio at least thats consistently working in your best interest. Itsvehicles such as certificates of deposit (CDs) andonce a year, you can determine if your investments important to create a long-term investment strategygovernment securities, you may end up loweringare performing as they should. If theyre not work-based on where you want to go in lifethat is,your growth potential. Thats not to say that CDsing for you as youd like, you may need to make how long you plan to work, what sort of retirementand Treasury bills are in some sense lazy. They cansome changes. lifestyle you envision, and so on. provide you with income and help you reduce the impact of market volatility on your portfolio. But toIf youre traveling this summer, relax and enjoy yourselfMATCH GOALS WITH INVESTMENTS.achieve most of your goals, youll need a reasonable but keep those investments working hard. Some investments are designed to achieve certainnumber of growth-oriented investments working goals. To illustrate: When you contribute to an IRAfor you, with the exact percentage based on yourThis article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones and a 401(k) or similar employer-sponsored plan,needs and life stages. Financial Advisor. Edward Jones, Member SIPC.32 July 2021"