Survey Reveals Misconceptions About Investment Performance and Risk

A focus on short-term financial performance and misunderstandings about the nature of investment risk may have an impact on American investors’ financial well-being. According to a new TIAA-CREF survey, 36% of respondents look to one-year performance as the most important indicator of an investment’s return, with an additional 16% looking to quarterly performance as most important. Nearly half (47%) have purchased a fund based on its performance during the previous year rather than looking at its performance over a longer-term investment horizon such as five or 10 years.

“It’s important to look at the big picture when evaluating investment performance. One year or one quarter is a short period of time when you consider that many individuals are investing for 30 years or more,” said Roger W. Ferguson, president and chief executive officer of TIAA-CREF. “Fortunately, investors can avail themselves of a range of resources, including professional financial advice, which can help them make well-informed investment decisions and build portfolios designed to meet their specific financial goals—whatever they may be.”

While investors continue to grapple with the challenges of market volatility, it’s even more critical for them to understand key investment concepts around diversification, asset allocation, risk and returns. However, among those surveyed, 71% of American investors believe they can eliminate investment risk by having a diversified portfolio; in fact, while a diversified portfolio can help to manage investment risk, there is no way to eliminate it altogether. Similarly, although investors should maintain an appropriate level of risk in their portfolios, many are unclear about how that works: 53%think that higher risk guarantees higher returns.

All investors would benefit from better access to financial education on these topics. But for Gen Y, the challenges posed by unpredictable markets and their impact on investing decisions are even more pronounced. While 29% of all respondents misunderstand the nature of various asset classes, indicating that they believe that all investments offer the same level of risk, 40% of Gen Y report the same, and 64% of Gen Y think that higher risk guarantees higher returns.

Investing for Better Outcomes

Despite some misconceptions about investment performance, American investors have a clear picture of what they want from their portfolio. Two-thirds of investors believe it’s more important that their portfolio allows them to achieve their life goals, such as funding a comfortable retirement or paying for a college education, versus one-third who place more importance on a portfolio that consistently meets specific investment criteria, such as a certain percentage return.

In order to achieve their objectives for their investments, however, investors need to ensure they are not taking actions that can undermine long-term performance. For instance, 36% of respondents say that market volatility is the most likely reason they would rebalance their portfolio – in contrast to most advisors’ recommendation to ride out market fluctuations as part of a long-term investing strategy. Fewer say they are most likely to rebalance when most advisors would recommend – at a regular time of year like a birthday (21%) or after a life change such as marriage, the birth of a child or grandchild, or the death of a spouse (20%).

“Having a well-defined vision of one’s financial goals is a good first step for investors,” said Ferguson. “Once you have set your priorities, a financial advisor can help you find the approach that is right for you. By looking at your risk tolerance and your short-term and long-term goals, a financial advisor can help you pick the investment options that may work best with your financial plan.”

No matter what’s going on in the market, TIAA-CREF has focused on delivering long-term results for our clients at competitive costs for nearly 100 years. Morningstar has awarded 65 percent of TIAA-CREF mutual funds and variable annuities overall ratings of 4 and 5 stars, and the organization has won the Lipper Award for Overall Best Large Fund Company, based on delivering risk-adjusted returns, for three years in a row.