The Process Solid Planning is Key Your financial professional can combine seasoned investment expertise with an understanding of your goals and risk level to blend a custom portfolio designed to meet your long-term needs. And, they will accompany you throughout your journey down life's financial highway — every step of the way. Mapping Your Trip It's hard to reach your destination if you don't know exactly where you want to go. Together with your financial professional, you can plan your strategy before you set out. If you're already investing but not following any specific plan, a financial professional can help you develop a strategy to align your efforts with your current needs and the financial future you desire. Or perhaps you've spent a lot of time mapping out your financial future. If you're a knowledgeable investor and enjoy watching the financial markets, seeking the advice of a trusted professional is one of the most efficient ways to enhance your knowledge and help ensure your actions align with your goals. Monitoring Your Progress To keep on track, you need to periodically check your map. Working with a financial professional can help you stay focused and heading in the right direction. Many individual investors, particularly if they start later in life, want to try and speed down the highway toward investment success to make up for lost time. These people tend to more readily succumb to the temptation to take additional risk, jumping in and out of the stock market when it fluctuates dramatically or when a friend or relative gives them a "hot tip." In an effort to meet your long-term investment goals, a financial professional can help you understand the many risks associated with seeking the highest returns, buying last year's top fund, or following today's so-called hot tip. Assessing Your Situation Despite the most meticulous plans, circumstances can intervene and plans must be modified. When your investment mix changes with economic fluctuations, for example, your financial professional can make necessary adjustments. With access to in-depth research and sophisticated investment tools, a financial professional can help diversify your portfolio in a manner consistent with your financial goals. Your financial professional can monitor the impact of market activity on your portfolio and periodically suggest that you sell the heavier weighted asset class and buy more of the lower. This action is known as rebalancing, and it is consistent with the "buy low/sell high" mantra of the financial markets. Adjusting Your Course About the only thing constant in life is change. Even when the road looks clear, you could encounter trouble. When you do, your financial professional will be there to review your path and suggest changes to your strategy. The ideal financial professional can become a trusted lifetime financial partner. Together the two of you will adjust your investment strategy as your life's journey progresses. Getting married, raising children, and retiring are just a few of life's mile markers that can require investment adjustments. Your financial professional can help you make prudent investment decisions at each turn in the road. To learn more, request a referal to a financial professional in your area. Fund objectives, risks, charges, and expenses should be carefully considered before investing. A prospectus containing this and other important information can be obtained by calling (866) 676-7680 or by visiting this page on russell.com. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Copyright © Russell Investments 2005. All rights reserved. This material is proprietary and may not be reproduced, transferred, or distributed in any form without prior written permission from Russell Investments. It is delivered on an as is basis without warranty. Russell Investment Group is a Washington, USA corporation, which operates through subsidiaries worldwide, including Russell Investments, and is a subsidiary of The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company. Nothing contained in this material is intended to constitute legal, tax, securities, or investment advice, nor an opinion regarding the appropriateness of any investment, nor a solicitation of any type. The general information contained in this publication should not be acted upon without obtaining specific legal, tax, and investment advice from a licensed professional. As with any type of portfolio structuring, attempting to reduce risk and increase return could, at certain times, unintentionally reduce returns. Rebalancing your portfolio may create tax consequences on the taxable portion. Dollar Cost Averaging does not assure a profit or prevent a loss in declining markets, and you should consider your ability to continue investing during low price levels. Securities products and services offered through Russell Financial Services, Inc. (formerly Russell Fund Distributors, Inc.), member FINRA, part of Russell Investments. For information on the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, go to www.finra.org. RFD 05-5608. First used: November 2005.			Related ARTICLE The Guiding Influence of a Professional Printer friendly version of this page Send feedback or comments Site Search

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