Annual portfolio reviews are key to ensuring that your wealth is still aligned with your goals. Whether you’re managing a complex portfolio or balancing business and personal assets, sitting down with your investment management advisor once a year helps you stay sharp and proactive.
A yearly review helps you step back, ask the right questions, and make sure your portfolio still fits your strategy, especially if your life, the markets, or the broader economy have changed.
Here’s what to expect and why it matters.
A Straightforward Performance Review
Your advisor should start by reviewing how your portfolio performed over the past year, not just in absolute terms, but relative to your objectives and risk level.
This isn’t about beating benchmarks for its sake. It’s about asking:
- Did your returns align with your stated goals?
- Was the performance consistent with the level of risk you were willing to take?
- Did any portfolio parts underperform or take on more volatility than expected?
The point is to connect results with intent. Maybe your equity sleeve outpaced expectations but now carries more risk than you’re comfortable with. Or maybe your fixed income allocation is lagging due to interest rate moves. Either way, this is where you dig into what’s working and what needs attention.
If you’ve ever caught yourself searching for “investments near me“, it’s probably because you’re looking for someone who can make this kind of review personal, not generic.
Rebalancing: Realigning to Your Current Strategy
Market gains and losses may quietly shift your asset allocation away from your original targets. A portfolio that started out at 60/40 may now be more like 70/30 if equities have outperformed. That tilt increases risk, and it may no longer match your goals.
This is where rebalancing comes in. But it shouldn’t be mechanical. Your investment management advisor should first reassess your broader situation. Has your appetite for risk changed? Are you planning a large purchase or liquidity event? Is a retirement date now closer than it was a year ago?
Rebalancing is about realigning the portfolio to your current strategy, not just last year’s plan. It’s one of the most disciplined ways to manage risk and focus on your long-term goals.
A Smarter Look at Tax Efficiency
Taxes don’t have to eat away at your returns if you plan ahead. During your review, expect your advisor to walk through how your assets are positioned from a tax standpoint.
Which accounts are realizing gains or generating income? Are there opportunities to offset gains with losses? How are dividends, interest, or capital gains affecting your tax bracket?
This also includes planning for upcoming events. If you’re planning to sell a business, donate appreciated stock, or make large gifts, this is the time to talk strategy, not after the fact.
Some investors search for “investments near me” because they want tax-aware strategies that factor in local state laws, business interests, or unique estate considerations. Your advisor should be thinking ahead, not just reacting at tax time.
Aligning Investments with Life Beyond the Markets
A portfolio exists to support your life, not the other way around. So, your review should include questions like:
- What’s changing in your life?
- Are your priorities shifting?
- Has your estate plan been updated?
This is where a good advisor moves beyond numbers. Maybe you’re expanding your real estate holdings, caring for aging parents, setting up a trust, or stepping back from your business. These transitions influence how much liquidity you need, how you structure risk, and what kind of flexibility your portfolio should offer.
Your investment management advisor should take the time to understand those changes and help translate them into a financial strategy.
What You Should Leave With
A successful portfolio review gives you more than a recap. You should walk away with a clear sense of:
- Where your investments stand
- What’s working and what’s not
- Any changes that need to be made to stay on track
- A renewed connection between your portfolio and your life
This process doesn’t need to be overwhelming or overly technical. It should be efficient, collaborative, and grounded in your personal goals.
N/B: Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal and fluctuation of value. This article is not intended to be relied upon as forecast, research or investment advice. It is not a recommendation, offer or solicitation to buy or sell any securities or to adopt any investment strategy.
