A recent article posted today by GoldSeek offers similar advice to investors with a five question test which it says every investment, from stocks and bonds to mutual funds and exchange-traded funds, needs to pass.

The first question that an investor should ask of their investment, says the article, is whether or not the company or vehicle being invested in is safe and solid. As the article points out, many investors have little opportunity in their budget for an investment do over if an investment proves unsafe. Because of this, it is vitally important that investors invest in safe and stable options, even when investing in speculative areas, advises the article.

Andrew Fisher, Saddle River investment advisor, agrees. "Every portfolio, even the riskiest, even those of investors who can afford potential failure, needs a stabilizing presence," says Fisher. "One of the first rules of investing is to make sure that not all of your eggs are in dangerous baskets."

The second question that the article wants investors to ask is if the investment in question provides a good income. Even low yield investments can prove useful, says the article, if the return can be expected to justify the investment later on in the future.

Investors should also make sure that their investments offer good opportunities for appreciation, the article advises next. Sometimes, it says, a company that pays regular high dividends might be less preferable to a company with smaller dividends but greater chance for growth. This is because a growing company means an investor's profits are more likely to keep up with inflation.

Speaking of inflation, the article next recommends that investors find assets that can protect against inflation hikes. Investments that can hedge possible spikes in inflation are another type of insurance for a portfolio, says the article, and deserve not to be overlooked.

Finally, the article advises investors to make sure that their investment options are easily reversible if need be. In a changing economy, says the article, investors want to be able to reverse any potential mistakes that they make without suffering heavy penalties for doing so.

Andrew Fisher, Saddle River financial advisor, invites investors to consider each of these valid points for their portfolio options, and to seek the services of a professional investment manager if they still have lingering questions or concerns about the health of their investments.

ABOUT:

Andrew Fisher, Saddle River, NJ resident, is the manager and owner of Managed Futures Group, a brokerage company that offers full service commodities to its clients. These commodities make a very attractive investment option for many investors because of the high degree of regulation and transparency that the industry involves. They also offer a welcome alternative to other retail investment commodities that are more suited for quick turnaround deals. Instead, the commodities offered by Managed Futures Group make for longer term investment plans. When not working as a financial and investment manager, Fisher is a dedicated family man who supports his wife in her local political work and takes his two children on outdoor activities such as hiking and fishing trips.