and have worked in the area in Financial Institutions for over 2020 years.
Over the medium to long term holding wealth in cash (deposits) is more likely to lead to an erosion of the real value of that wealth than holding it in equities.It is extremely misleading the terminology being used to describe Risk. Nobody reading this forum should think that Equities are a less risky asset class than cash. If you do, then you really need to use the services of a qualified Financial Advisor.
Dublin Bay
I wonder if we are all agreed in reality but that you have some technical definition of risk which means something else?
So let's forget the word "risk" for the moment.
I have €100k to invest for 20 years.
1) I think we are all agreed that if I invest that in equities, it is likely to be higher than if I leave it on deposit. (But this has nothing to do with risk)
2) There is a chance that if I invest in equities that it will lose real value. I presume we are all agreed on this?
3) There is a chance that if I leave it on deposit that it will lose real value. I presume we are all agreed on this?
In my opinion, the chance of an investment in equities losing real value is lower than the chance of a deposit losing real value.
Do you agree or disagree with that?
I have €100k to invest for 20 days
1) I think we are all agreed that if I invest that in equities, it is likely to be higher than if I leave it on deposit. (But this has nothing to do with risk)
2) There is a chance that if I invest in equities that it will lose real value. I presume we are all agreed on this?
3) There is a chance that if I leave it on deposit that it will lose real value. I presume we are all agreed on this?
In my opinion, the chance of an investment in equities losing real value is lower than the chance of a deposit losing real value.
Do you agree or disagree with that?
makes my 40 years look very meagre...
Over the medium to long term holding wealth in cash (deposits) is more likely to lead to an erosion of the real value of that wealth than holding it in equities.
Therefore if you want to minimise the risk of a real loss in the value of your wealth you are better off holding it in equities instead of holding it in cash.
It is extremely misleading to suggest otherwise.
Brendan asked some simple yes/no questions and you're responding with jargon.Brendan,
The fundamental concept that is misaligned is that risk can be viewed without needing to root it in time. Time is an additional variable that can help you decide how risky an investment it, in the same way the specific equity (individual stock vs market indice) is another variable.
I've been clear that I'm talking about the medium to long term and I'm clearly not talking about individual stocks.Your point really only works over medium to long term based on historical data of a market index. You can't say the same points for short time horizons or for individual stocks. I've explained how risk is viewed in the market in my response to Brendan.
Risk is defined in financial terms as the chance that an outcome or investment's actual gains will differ from an expected outcome or return.
Given that investments are made over time it is correct to say that time is always a variable.The fundamental concept that is misaligned is that risk can be viewed without needing to root it in time. Time is an additional variable that can help you decide how risky an investment it, in the same way the specific equity (individual stock vs market indice) is another variable.
Brendan asked some simple yes/no questions and you're responding with jargon.
I wonder if we are all agreed in reality but that you have some technical definition of risk which means something else?
your example above I agree that over 20 years the chance of investment in Equities losing real value is lower than the chance of a deposit losing real value based on todays market conditions.
Given that investments are made over time it is correct to say that time is always a variable.
The industry says "deposits are safe and the stock market is risky" and lots of people have lost a lot of money and missed out on making a real return because of that.
Brendan
Not lately! You might need to rebalance your portfoliowhy Greek Government Debt yields more than US Treasuries etc etc
Not lately! You might need to rebalance your portfolio
I leave my portfolio to the professionals with the meaningless qualifications and who don't understand risk!
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