Investing Essentials. Your dreams are too important to leave to chance

Transcription

1 Investing Essentials Your dreams are too important to leave to chance

2 Your investing goals are as unique as you are. Whether you re investing on your own or working with one of our Investment Consultants, on the following pages you ll find three steps to help you create an investment plan, determine an appropriate asset mix for your needs and put it all into action. Regardless of what you re investing for or how much experience you have, American Century Investments is committed to providing you the tools, guidance and solutions to help you reach your goals. Contents Define your goal 3 Create your plan Make it automatic Keep emotions in check Design your blueprint 4 Decode diversification Narrow your focus Put it into action Determine your solution 5-6 Build your plan with one of our asset allocation portfolios: Target-risk portfolios Target-date portfolios We re here to help 7 2

3 Define your goal Create your plan Declare it. Know what you re investing for retirement, college, general goals. Date it. Determine when you ll need your money. Estimate it. Add up how much you may need for your goal. Make it automatic When the markets swing, even the most experienced investors may be tempted to stop investing. However, if you set up an automatic investment, that amount can add up over time, even if you don t have much to start with.* Estimate how much you may need to invest. Search time value calculator at americancentury.com. Keep emotions in check No one knows when market gains will occur and missing just a few of the market s best days can lower your return substantially. Successful investing is more likely to be the result of time in not timing of the markets. Start an automatic plan today or search automatic investing for more information at americancentury.com. Jumping in and out of the market may cost your portfolio 1 Hypothetical Impact of Missing a Few Days of a Market Rally Missed 30 Best Days Missed 20 Best Days Missed 10 Best Days Invested throughout time period $65,475 $32,676 $20,361 $13,451 Growth from a $10,000 Investment Hypothetical Market Fluctuation Dec. 31, 1996 to Dec. 31, Source: Bloomberg S&P 500 Total Returns. This hypothetical investment is for illustrative purposes only and is not intended to represent any particular investment product. Past performance is not a guarantee of future results. The S&P 500 Index is a capitalization-weighted index of 500 widely traded stocks. Created by Standard & Poor s, it is considered to represent the performance of the stock market in general. It is not an investment product available for purchase. * This strategy, known as dollar-cost averaging, does not assure a profit or protect against loss in declining markets. To fully take advantage of dollarcost averaging, you should be prepared to continue investing at regular intervals, even during economic downturns. Visit americancentury.com 3

4 Design your blueprint Diversification Spreading your money across several investment types that react differently when markets change. Asset allocation The percentage mix each discipline holds based on your goals, risk comfort and time frame. Asset allocation portfolios A variety of mutual funds wrapped together so you get diversification and asset allocation in a single fund. An increasingly complex market and volatility have driven demand for investments that include multiple types of disciplines (stocks, bonds, cash) to help balance risk and performance. Decode diversification At the core of this strategy is a time-tested principle diversification. Although it can t protect against loss, we strongly believe building a portfolio based on this approach gives you the best blueprint to reaching your long-term investing goals. Narrow your focus While diversification is an overall strategy, the principle of asset allocation starts to narrow your focus. This is where you include a percentage of stocks, bonds and cash in your portfolio based on your goals, risk comfort and when you ll need the money. Put it into action When you are ready to put your blueprint into action, choose how you d like to work with us. Build your own diversified portfolio Select from our broad lineup of 80+ no-load mutual funds. Let us do the work for you Choose one of our two types of asset allocation portfolios. These portfolios offer broad diversification and professional money management in a single investment. More aggressive investing: Higher highs, lower lows 1 Hypothetical Annual Return % 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% -10% -20% -30% -40% -50% 26% -15% 30% -23% 38% -30% 47% -38% 53% -44% Conservative Moderate Style of Investing Aggressive Returns are for the period Dec. 31, 1926 to Dec. 31, ¹ Returns for each hypothetical investment style and historical averages were calculated by American Century Services, LLC, using information and data presented in Global Financial Data (GFD) Software. All rights reserved. Used with permission. Stock returns are represented by the S&P 500 Total Return Index constructed by GFD, using long-term historical data for stock dividends for the S&P Composite from the Cowles Commission and from S&P itself. Data is used to calculate total returns for the S&P Composite using the S&P Composite Price Index and dividend yields through 1970, official monthly numbers from 1971 to 1987 and official daily data from 1988 on. It is used as a long-term measure of U.S. stock market performance. USA Total Return AAA Corporate Bond Index constructed by GFD, using long-term historical data for corporate bonds. The index uses the yield from Macaulay s High Grade Rails Index from 1857 to 1918 and the yields from Moody s AAA Corporate Bond Index from 1919 on to calculate the total returns for the index. The corporate bonds in the index are long-term with a maturity of over 20 years. USA Total Return T-Bill Index constructed by GFD, using long-term historical data for Government bonds. The bill index uses the minimum rate of the coupon on U.S. Government bonds and commercial bills from 1835 to The coupon for U.S. Governments was set at 5% from 1835 to 1871, 4% from 1872 to 1878 and 3% from 1879 to The yield on Treasury bills is used from 1919 to date. Investment return and principal value of security investments will fluctuate. The value at the time of redemption may be more or less than the original cost. Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

5 Determine your solution Select your comfort with risk: One Choice SM Target Risk Portfolios Make investing for retirement, college, or any other objective, as convenient as identifying your comfort with risk. Determine your risk comfort level One Choice Target Risk Portfolios range from very conservative to very aggressive, and you choose a portfolio based on your tolerance for risk. Each portfolio is a fund of funds (which invests in other funds rather than individual securities), and its performance and risk characteristics are dependent on the underlying funds. Check your risk barometer periodically While the portfolios are actively managed to maintain their targeted risk level, your comfort with risk may change over time. Periodically check your comfort level by completing our online Investment Planner. A portfolio s risk designation is intended to reflect its relative short-term price volatility compared to the other One Choice Target Risk Portfolios. Which solution could be right for you? Here and on the following page, see how one of our One Choice Portfolios, based on your comfort with risk or your target date, may help you reach your goals. When you re ready to invest: 1. Use our online Investment Planner to help you determine your risk tolerance. 2. Choose a One Choice Target Risk Portfolio that matches your comfort level with risk. Your risk level aligns to each portfolio s mix of investments One Choice Target Risk Portfolios % Stocks % Bonds % Cash Alternatives Very Conservative Conservative Moderate Aggressive Very Aggressive The managers regularly review the portfolios and may make changes to the asset class allocations that deviate from the target risk mix. Visit americancentury.com and search target risk for the most recent percentages. Visit americancentury.com 5

6 The performance of the portfolios is dependent on the performance of their underlying American Century Investments funds and will assume the risks associated with these funds. The risks will vary according to each portfolio s asset allocation, and a fund with a later target date is expected to be more volatile than one with an earlier target date. Select your target date: One Choice SM Target Date Portfolios A straightforward investment plan that works to match how much time you have to meet your goal whether for retirement or any other goal. Determine your target date Each portfolio s target date represents the approximate year when you plan to start withdrawing your money. Choose the portfolio closest to your target date, and our investment professionals will actively manage, diversify and adjust the fund s portfolio over time. Aim to balance risk and performance The portfolios are designed to provide the optimal trade-off of risk and reward based on the target date. The funds are adjusted annually to be more conservative. As the target date approaches, the managers reduce the fund s exposure to stocks and increases its exposure to bonds and cash. Even with this measured approach, it s important to note the principal value of your investment is not guaranteed at any time, including at the target date. When you re ready to invest: 1STEP ONE Calculate your target date. 2STEP TWO Select the One Choice Target Date Portfolio closest to your target date. BIRTH YEAR AGE THAT YOU WILL NEED YOUR MONEY TARGET DATE = 2032 Birth Year One Choice Target Date Portfolios % Stocks % Bonds % Cash Alternatives 1988 & after One Choice SM 2055 Portfolio One Choice SM 2050 Portfolio One Choice SM 2045 Portfolio One Choice SM 2040 Portfolio One Choice SM 2035 Portfolio One Choice SM 2030 Portfolio One Choice SM 2025 Portfolio One Choice SM 2020 Portfolio Before 1953 One Choice SM In Retirement Portfolio As of December Based on your birth year and a retirement age of 65. The managers regularly review the portfolios and may make changes to the asset class allocations that deviate from the target date mix. Visit americancentury.com and search target date for the most recent percentages. 6

7 We re here to help A portfolio that matches your investment goals may help you have the best chance for investing success. Not sure if your portfolio aligns with your goals? Try our online Investment Planner to find out. Expert guidance Try our complimentary Investment Planner Our online tool will give you valuable guidance toward the asset allocation mix and funds that are compatible with your answers to a series of questions about your goals, time frame and how you feel about risk. You ll receive: A free online guide to help you invest toward your long-term goals. Results you can reference anytime from your online My Account page. A printable report that details your asset allocation mix, fund options and suggested next steps. If you prefer to talk to an Investment Consultant, please call the appropriate number at the bottom of the page. Start your free guidance session online today. Log in or register your account at americancentury.com Tools for investing Choose from a variety of online educational articles and calculators to help you make informed investment decisions. Go to the Planning tab at americancentury.com. Anywhere, anytime investing americancentury.com Time is something we could all use more of. That s why we ve designed our online services to help you spend more time doing the things you love and less time managing your accounts. Take advantage of the services that are always available at americancentury.com. You should consider the fund s investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before you invest. The fund s prospectus or summary prospectus, which can be obtained by visiting americancentury.com, contains this and other information about the fund, and should be read carefully before investing. Personal accounts: Business, Not-For-Profit and Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans: Visit americancentury.com 7

8 Actively Investing in Your Success SM At American Century Investments, we believe the ultimate measure of our performance is our clients success. We relentlessly focus on delivering superior investment performance and developing long-term relationships with our clients. Our track record, our business model and the legacy of our founder set us apart in the industry. Performance focus for more than 55 years Pure play business model Privately-controlled and independent Profits with a purpose American Century Investment Services, Inc., Distributor 2015 American Century Proprietary Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved. CL-BKT P.O. Box Kansas City, MO Business Retirement Specialists