Portfolio diversification refers to the practice of investing in a variety of assets within a portfolio to spread out risk and reduce the impact of any one investment on the overall performance of the portfolio.
Diversification can be achieved by investing in different types of assets, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate, or by investing in different companies within the same asset class. The idea is that if one investment or asset class performs poorly, the other investments may still perform well, which can help reduce the overall risk of the portfolio.
Diversification is important because it can reduce the impact of market volatility on an investment portfolio. For example, if an investor has all of their money invested in one company and that company experiences a decline in value, the investor’s portfolio will be significantly impacted. However, if the investor has a diversified portfolio with investments in multiple companies and asset classes, the impact of any one investment on the portfolio will be reduced.
It’s important to note that while diversification can help reduce the risk of a portfolio, it does not eliminate risk altogether. It is still possible to lose money on investments, even if they are diversified. However, by diversifying a portfolio, investors can potentially improve their chances of achieving their financial goals while managing risk.