A Seasoned Investor Takes
The Long-Term View

2. [54% of total investments] "Growth Equity Investments" (stocks), which is somewhat diversified and is invested in a broad range of companies like telecommunications (Lucent, Tellabs, Pairgain), technology (Dell, Parametric Technology), and basic industry (3M). He anticipates this particular portfolio will provide a 15-25% net annual return.

3. [1% of total investments] "High Risk /Speculation" (short term investments he intends to hold less than one year). Dave says, "This is my 'play' portfolio where I am willing to lose it all but expect to get a much higher [annual] return rate, typically 30 to 50%."

Even though Dave will be married for the first time in September of this year, he doesn't expect his investment strategy will change much. He does say, however, that he has gotten more serious about providing for his children's education and has made changes to his retirement plan. (Although us married folks will tell him that little in his life can be expected to stay the same, it sounds as though his investment strategy can at least remain unchanged.) Dave says, "I'm a pretty conservative investor so not a whole lot has changed. Now, however, I really think about some investments a little more carefully [and] I have a lot less in the third (high-risk) portfolio."