Risk and volatility are not the same thing [video]

Financial planners will use words like risk and volatility, and assume that everybody knows what they mean...

In this video you'll learn:

what the difference is between risk and volatility;
why it's important to know the distinction; and
how risk and volatility affect your investments.

Transcript

Robin Powell: Many people, including financial professionals, use the terms risk and volatility as if they were interchangeable. In fact, two very different things. Here’s the financial writer and podcaster Carl Richards.

Carl Richards: Often, we use words like risk and volatility and we assume, the industry, even really good financial advisers and financial planners will use words like risk and volatility and assume that everybody knows what it means. I know I wouldn’t if I was not in this industry, there is no way. If I took a statistics class in college, I wanted to forget it as soon as possible. Most of us don’t know what that means.

Robin Powell: Risk specifically refers to a permanent loss of capital. Market volatility, on the other hand, is by its nature short term, and a relatively common occurrence. As long as you stay disciplined during periods of volatility, they shouldn’t pose a long-term risk at all.

Carl Richards: You view volatility as really scary and risky in the short term but not risky in the long term. And so, volatility is really underneath, just a measurement of standard deviation. What that means is: ‘How much does something wiggle?’ That’s all it means. Stocks wiggle more than bonds, bonds wiggle more than cash. You’ve just got to decide if you can handle that. Now, there’s a whole bunch of tricks and techniques you can do to ignore it. Right, if you’re not paying attention to it, you don’t have to deal with it. So, that may be a hint.

Robin Powell: The distinction between risk and volatility is a very important concept for investors to understand. If you’re in any doubt about it, you should see a financial adviser.

Carl Richards: As a client of an adviser, the one thing I think you should feel absolutely sure that you can do, is to say: ‘Hold on, could you back up and explain that?’ Just ask clarifying questions. Any good adviser will appreciate it, and if they don’t appreciate it - find a different one.

Robin Powell: So, don’t confuse risk with volatility. And never be afraid of asking your adviser to clarify anything you don’t understand.

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Risk and volatility are not the same thing [video]

Financial planners will use words like risk and volatility, and assume that everybody knows what they mean...

Transcript

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