Get the Tata Capital App to apply for Loans & manage your account. Download Now

Blogs SUPPORT

Equipment Finance

Avail Digital Equipment Loans
up to Rs. 1 Crore

  • Attractive ROIs
  • Customizable Loan tenure

Equipment Leasing

Avail Leasing solutions
for all asset classes

  • Up to 100% financing
  • No additional collateral required

New Commercial Vehicle Financing

  • First time user
  • Retail and strategic Clients

Used Commercial Vehicle finance

  • Repurchase
  • Refinance
  • Top up
  • Balance Transfer

Tata Capital > Blog > Wealth Services > Equity-Debt Allocation: How Does Age and Risk Tolerance Affect Portfolio Split

Wealth Services

Equity-Debt Allocation: How Does Age and Risk Tolerance Affect Portfolio Split

Equity-Debt Allocation: How Does Age and Risk Tolerance Affect Portfolio Split

Any investor’s journey aims to build wealth and profit from their investments. Several factors determine their ability to achieve this goal. For starters, investors must choose the right stocks, funds, and other assets to invest in. Distributing their investments across various asset classes can also ensure that another can offset the poor performance of any one investment.

This strategy of diversifying an investment portfolio is known as equity-debt allocation. This article delves into equity-debt allocation, how it ages, and the risk tolerance associated with the portfolio split.

What is Equity-Debt Allocation?

The equity-debt allocation strategy is an investment technique in which the amount of equity and debt in an investment portfolio is balanced. This strategy aims to grow the portfolio while considering safety, financial goals, and risk tolerance.

Successfully allocating assets is a crucial step toward a successful investment strategy. For example, if an individual’s investment portfolio leans towards more significant equity investments, some debt investments must be added to balance it out. This can also be done by investing in hybrid funds that allocate a portion of their corpus into equity and debt.

Stock vs. Debt Allocation

Many experts suggest that the amount of debt in an investor’s portfolio should be proportional to their age. For example, if an individual is 30 years old, 30% of their investment should be in debts (like bonds, which are more stable), while 70% should be in equity. The calculation is as follows:

100 – (Age of the Investor) = (Percentage of investment in debt)

According to this strategy, as a person ages, so does their debt investment. This provides stability to portfolios when the investor is approaching retirement age.

How Does Age Affect the Equity-Debt Split?

As seen above, many experts suggest increasing the proportion of debt investments as investors age. Those in their 20s, 30s, or 40s usually have more time before they need access to funds, which allows them to take on more risk. As a result, younger individuals tend to invest more aggressively in high-risk assets like stocks, equity mutual funds, etc.

As investors age into their 40s and 50s, this risk can be moderated by increasing investments in debts and bonds. For investors nearing retirement age, it is better to shift towards low-risk assets to ensure stability and preserve capital. Investing in more stable assets ensures that investors are protected against market downturns while allowing for growth.

However, it is essential to remember that investing does not have a “one-size-fits-all” strategy. Older investors with a steady income, sufficient emergency funds, and thorough insurance policies can still opt for a greater equity allocation.

How Does Risk Tolerance Affect the Equity-Debt Split?

Another factor influencing an investor’s equity-debt split is their risk tolerance and capacity. Risk tolerance is the level of risk an individual is willing to undertake and their comfort with potential losses. On the other hand, risk capacity refers to an investor’s financial ability to tolerate losses. Stocks, equity mutual funds can potentially deliver high returns in the long run but can be highly volatile in the short term.                While bonds and debt mutual funds      provide stability, their returns are usually lower.

For example, a 60-year-old with a high-risk tolerance and capacity may invest more in stocks and equity mutual funds. On the other hand, a 25-year-old with a low-risk tolerance may choose to invest more in bonds and other      debt instruments.

Wrapping Up

When creating your investment portfolio, age and risk tolerance are crucial factors. However, they are not the only factors deciding your equity-debt split. The investment horizon is also essential- those with short-term goals invest better in stable, low-risk assets. Meanwhile, those with long-term goals can invest in higher-risk assets.

Investing can be challenging. Tata Capital Wealth provides expert guidance every step of the way to ensure you reach your financial goals. To learn more, visit the Tata Capital Wealth website today!