--- title: How a Solid Investment Methodology Helps Achieve Goals and Gains description: A solid investment methodology helps investors achieve their goals and drive positive gains within their portfolio. 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[Financial News](https://www.4tfg.com/resources) ,[Investment Strategy](https://www.4tfg.com/resources/topic/investment-strategy) # How a Solid Investment Methodology Helps Achieve Goals and Gains A solid investment methodology helps investors achieve their goals and drive positive gains within their portfolio. Learn why it makes the difference. \[fa icon="calendar"\] Mar 2, 2017, 3:15:50 PM by [4Thought Financial](https://www.4tfg.com/resources/author/4thought-financial) ![How a Solid Investment Methodology Helps Achieve Goals and Gains](http://www.4tfg.com/hubfs/Blog/How-a-Solid-Investment-Methodology-Helps-Achieve-Goals-and-Gains-1.jpg) Achieving solid investment gains helps investors achieve their investment goals.  The correlation between the two is obvious.  A solid investment methodology not only provides a plan of action, but also helps investors plan for the random variables involved with investing for the future.  Having a solid [investment methodology](http://www.bcci.bg/projects/latvia/pdf/8_IAPM_final.pdf) can be extremely helpful in reducing the portfolio volatility inherent in investing in the financial markets.  Whether the underlying risks stem from individual securities, currencies, or other factors, a solid investment methodology will not only increase the probability of positive gains, but also of achieving investment goals. For investors of every type, having a solid plan in place for your investment strategy is sort of like building a house in that the investment methodology is the blueprint by which a solid foundation and structure are constructed.   As opposed to flying blind, putting the pieces in place in advance will improve the odds in the investor’s favor.  ### ***“You are not going to know where you are going until you know where you have been.”*** There is an old saying: “You are not going to know where you are going until you know where you have been.”.  Investors burned in the past will tend to be more gun-shy and timid.  They will also tend to be more focused on their mistakes as opposed to finding a solution that prevents another such occurrence.  Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, or the next big thing in the [stock market](https://www.google.com/finance) touted by financial commentators, investors should look to an investment methodology that takes your financial well-being into account. Abiding by an investment methodology will not only improve positive results, but can also reduce volatility and mitigate risk throughout the portfolio.  Investment portfolios over the past several years have seen wild swings in value as a result of the events that have roiled financial markets in that time.  Between the financial crisis, “Too Big to Fail” and the more recent Brexit, the perception is that investors seem deluged with nothing but bad news.  But having a strong plan and investment philosophy in place can help assuage investor fears and mitigate any potential adverse effects from negative news. ### ***Every Investor Has a Goal, Every Investor Needs Gains*** Whether its retirement accumulation, immediate income, college education, saving for a home or even saving for a rainy day, every investor has a goal.  In order to achieve their investment goals, investors need gains from their investments.  But developing and implementing a plan to achieve all this is more often easier said than done. In the realm of “[goal-based investing](https://www.4tfg.com/resources/utilize-smas-with-unique-investment-strategies-to-mitigate-your-clients-risk-financial-advisors)”, investors are often without solid options to achieve their goals.  Although numerous products and services exist in the world of financial services, a proper action plan seldom does.  Investors often do not give thought to the notion of staying invested through every stock market condition, and often sell their investments at a loss when bad financial news comes out.  In most cases, they should remain invested, but possibly consider adapting their strategy accordingly. ### ***A Plan for Many Market Conditions*** Whether it is a bull market, a bear market, or even a wolf market where prices are volatile, investors need a plan.  But the plan needs to be prepared for a variety of market conditions.   Whether your time horizon is five years or fifty, or whether your benchmark is the S&P 500 or the school bills, you need a plan in place to help you achieve your investment goals. 4Thought Financial Group believes that the [fiduciary](http://www.thefiduciaryinstitute.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/lornaschnaseFiduciary-Duty-Paper.pdf) responsibility of today’s Registered Investment Advisor must be taken one step further.  Through our unique investment methodology, our redefinition of the market cycle, and through the power of technology, we help investors not only achieve their goals but help them along in their journey in a transparent, cost-efficient manner. Besides advising and educating other financial professionals, such as CPAs and financial advisors, we also educate and advise private clients.  Whether it is through exposure to traditional stock/bond investments, alternative investments, or access to institutional-class strategies that non high-net-worth investors would otherwise not have, we want our clients to have every option and opportunity at their disposal.  But for a complete portfolio management solution that helps you achieve gains and goals, it helps to have a roadmap to make it happen.  ## Was this article helpful to you? ### Subscribe to our newsletter for free tips and articles to help you lead a smarter financial life. ### Related posts [![Bear, Bull, Wolf & Eagle: The Markets Reimagined & Redefined](https://www.4tfg.com/hubfs/Bear_Bull_Wolf_Eagle-The_Markets_Redefined.jpg)](https://www.4tfg.com/resources/bear-bull-wolf-eagle-markets-reimagined-redefined) [![Understanding Risk in Investing - Part 3 - Investment Methods and Risk Premiums](https://www.4tfg.com/hubfs/Understanding%20Risk%20in%20Investing%20-%20Part%203%20-%20Investment%20Methods%20and%20Risk%20Premiums%2010-13-20%20-%20Thumbnail.jpg)](https://www.4tfg.com/resources/understanding-risk-in-investing-part3-0-1-0) [![Understanding Risk in Investing - Part 2 - Modern Portfolio Theory Quantitative Tools and Statistics](https://www.4tfg.com/hubfs/BaseCamp_Archive/attachments/332823384-all-with-graphic.png)](https://www.4tfg.com/resources/understanding-risk-in-investing-part2-0-1) ## Leave a Comment ### Search 4tfg.com This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. ### **What Type of Investor Are You?** You have unique investment goals. 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Information throughout this site, including, but not limited to, stock quotes, charts, articles or any other statement or statements regarding market or other financial information, is obtained from sources which we, and our suppliers believe reliable, but we do not warrant or guarantee the timeliness or accuracy of this information. Nothing on this website should be interpreted to state or imply that past results are an indication of future performance. Neither we nor our information providers shall be liable for any errors or inaccuracies, regardless of cause, or the lack of timeliness of, or for any delay or interruption in the transmission thereof to the user. THERE ARE NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, AS TO ACCURACY, COMPLETENESS, OR RESULTS OBTAINED FROM ANY INFORMATION POSTED ON THIS OR ANY LINKED WEBSITE. Any opinions presented here are subject to change at any time without notice. Any comments or postings are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute an offer or a recommendation to buy or sell securities or other financial instruments. Readers should conduct their own review and exercise judgment prior to investing. Investments are not guaranteed, involve risk and may result in a loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Investments are not suitable for all types of investors. \*4Thought Financial Group claims compliance with the Global Investment Performance Standards (GIPS®). GIPS® is a registered trademark of CFA Institute. CFA Institute does not endorse or promote this organization, nor does it warrant the accuracy or quality of the content contained herein. 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