Invest Smart for Your Retirement

Recent Updates

For information about recent developments involving financial services institutions, you can review ICMA-RC's news and updates.

Investing in Today's Market

While the market may fluctuate and conditions change, following some straightforward practices may help you benefit in the long run. Use the guides below to learn how to practice the principles of long term investing, and take a moment to consider how your own behavior may affect your investing success with our guide to Investing Dos and Don'ts. If you're just beginning to invest or looking for a refresher on investing concepts to help you reconsider your current investments, start by learning how to design a portfolio that fits your needs and select the mutual funds that go into your portfolio.

Investing Today and for the Long Term

As you hear reports of current ups and downs impacting financial institutions, you may wonder how your retirement investments could be affected. It's important to remember that today's circumstances are reflective of today — and not necessarily of longer-term market performance. A long time horizon can lead to investing success, but only if you avoid reacting to short-term market volatility. Planning and patience are a winning combination when investing for retirement.

Of course, an economic downturn can affect many individuals even beyond their retirement investments. If you are facing increasing expenses, unmanageable debt, or other issues, a variety of organizations exist that can help you find solutions.

Learn about the free financial resources that are available to help you

What are the dos and don’ts of investing?

Several common behaviors have been shown to diminish returns over the long term. Thinking through your goals and remembering basic investing concepts can help you avoid these mistakes.

See Investing dos and don’ts

How do I select my portfolio?

There are many different kinds of investments — stocks, bonds, CDs, etc. In the long run, it depends less on which stock or bond funds you choose and more on how much of each kind you invest in. The first step is to Select a Portfolio — a planned mix of stock and bond funds — that best fits your needs. The portfolio you select will depend on the amount of risk you can tolerate.

How do I choose which funds are right for me?

Now that you have selected your portfolio it is necessary to choose mutual funds. There are many mutual funds available, so understanding how to compare funds will help you choose the funds that best meet your investment goals.