To Do: Mid-40s to early 50s

By Walter Updegrave, senior editor


TO DO: Mid-40s to early 50s

Main goal: Focus on how you invest your money.
Savings: 3 times annual salary by age 45

  • Rebalance my portfolio. Periodically reset your holdings in stocks and bonds back to your desired mix to smooth out the market's bumpy ride. Keep it simple by rebalancing annually on your birthday or after you get your year-end statements.
  • Go over my investment strategy. You still need to invest for growth, but now's the time to start gradually dialing back your stock exposure to guard against another downturn. So if you started your late thirties with an 80% or higher stake in stocks, trim that to 70% or so by your early fifties.
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