403(b) Enrollment – Teacheretire.com – Set Your Future Free

Risk Tolerance Questionnaire

This questionnaire will help to determine your overall tolerance for risk in your portfolio. These answers are not set in stone. They can and often do change over time and should be revisited periodically.

In which of the following age groups do you belong? *

30 or younger

31-49

50-65

66 or older

Investments are a compromise between short term risks and long-term growth. The greater focus we place on short term risks, the less long-term growth we should expect in our portfolio, and vice versa. Given these choices place yourself on the following scale. *

Low Risk: My goal is only to protect my investments. I expect minimal growth in my portfolio.

Moderately Low Risk: My main goal is to protect my investments. I have the goal of matching inflation with my investment growth.

Moderate Risk: I place equal concern on protection and growth of my investments.

Moderately High Risk: I am not highly concerned with risk and volatility in my portfolio. My main goal is growth but I’m not quite high risk.

High Risk: My Only goal is growth. I am unconcerned with protecting my investments at this time.

Over the next several years I expect my income to: *

When do you expect to start making withdrawals from your retirement plan, keeping in mind that you must be 55 or older and retired, or 59 ½ or older if you are working to take penalty free withdrawals? *

Immediately

1-5 Years From Now

6-10 Years From Now

11 or More Years From Now

Consider both of these statements. Which one sounds most like you? *

I wish to minimize risk in my portfolio. I understand that this means I may target and achieve a lower overall return, but I am happy with a strategy more focused on protection.

I wish to maximize rate of return in my portfolio. I am not currently concerned with risk as much as I am with growing my assets.

We will invest in a variety of types of stock mutual funds. Understanding that you are not excluding any of these, which one is your favorite? *

A fund that invests in companies with very high potential for return but also very high levels of risk. I’ve probably never heard of most of these companies. There could be large payoffs if they do well and large losses if they do not.

A fund that invests in companies that are somewhat established and well known but are not the largest companies. I probably have heard of most of these companies. These companies could have less risk than a startup company but will still experience volatility higher than the largest companies.

Very large and established companies. Almost everyone knows who these companies are. The size and scope of these companies may give them lower volatility and could also give them less long term growth potential.

We will invest in a variety of types of bond mutual funds which loan money to governments and/or corporations with the hope to be paid back with interest. Understanding that you are not excluding any of these, which one is your favorite? *

Loaning funds to a high-risk company or government with a sub-par credit rating. These organizations must pay more interest but there is a greater chance that they will not pay me back.

Loaning funds to the US government. This is considered a very low risk investment because it is backed by the government. However, because of this, the interest earned is minimal.

Loaning funds to a corporation with a strong credit rating. This investment has more chance of default than a government bond but less than a high-risk organization and typically has a rate of return in between these other options.

Which answer below sounds most like you? *

I prefer to protect my investments but would like to earn more than can be expected from my bank account. I would like a portfolio with minimum risk and expect a low rate of return.

I prefer to focus on growth. I am not concerned about risk at this time and short term periods of volatility will not alter my investment philosophy. I am targeting a high rate of return.

I place equal importance on growth and protection of my investments. I can accept some volatility in exchange for growing my investments, but would like to take measures to protect against extreme volatility.

Below is Your Recommended Portfolio Risk Tolerance

Your Recommended Portfolio Risk Tolerance has been been calculated based upon the input of your answers to the previous questionnaire. This Recommended Portfolio Risk Tolerance is not a requirement but a recommendation.

Conservative: (Target Mix: 20% Stocks/80% Bonds)
For investors looking to preserve assets. These investors are typically making withdrawals from their account. The portfolio is characterized by a significant allocation to bonds with very little stock investments.This portfolio will typically experience low volatility.

Moderately Conservative: (Target Mix: 40% Stock/60% Bonds)
For investors looking to preserve assets with a slightly higher tolerance for volatility and potential for growth than the conservative portfolio. The portfolio is characterized by an allocation mostly to bonds but will also utilize a small percentage of stocks. These investors are typically making withdrawals from their account.

Moderate: (Target Mix: 60% Stocks/40% Bonds
For investors who are middle of the road in terms of risk and return. The portfolio is characterized by a mix of stock and bond investments in order to target rate of return while also managing risk. These investors typically need to start taking withdrawals from their investments in ten years or less.

Moderately Aggressive: (Target Mix 70% Stock/30% Bond)
For investors looking to grow their assets who will typically not begin taking distributions from their account for ten years or more. Portfolio is characterized by a majority allocation to stocks and will experience periods of high volatility.

Aggressive: (Target Mix 90% Stock/10% Bonds)
For investors looking to grow their assets significantly who will typically not begin taking distributions from their account for ten years or more. Portfolio is characterized by a focus on stocks and very little bonds.This portfolio will experience periods of extreme volatility.

My preferred portfolio risk tolerance *

Although your answers in this questionnaire recommend a portfolio risk tolerance, you may select a different option based on your understanding of risk tolerance categories. Use the dropdown above to select your preferred portfolio risk tolerance.

If you are human, leave this field blank.