See Part 1 on harnessing the value of your human capital here.
Managing your human capital like a business
You probably would not be in business for long if you constantly sold your products and services for less than they were worth. Yet, sometimes the decisions we make can short-change our ability to harness the full potential of our human capital. Thinking like a business owner can change the way we approach financial situations and make choices that will add value. Are you up for the challenge?
Protect yourself from disaster
Throughout life’s stages, there are several risks that can impact the value of your human capital. However, during each of these stages, different risks may be more prevalent. Effective risk management plans can reduce premature death, disability, and malpractice/liability risks.
Start by identifying the risk you are trying to protect against. Is the risk a temporary one or permanent? Next, determine the best risk management strategy: risk avoidance, risk reduction, risk retention, or risk transfer. Avoiding or reducing an activity could help eliminate some risk. Though, in most cases you will be required to decide how much risk to retain (self-insurance) and how much to transfer to another party (by purchasing insurance).
Review your coverage regularly and adjust your risk management strategies as needed. Life events such as: marriage, purchasing a home, starting a family, and starting a new job, can serve as helpful reminders to reassess the risks before they can derail your financial foundation.
Leverage your resources and plan for tomorrow
They say Rome was not built in a day; building your wealth is no different. Business owners understand the difference between cost and value. There is only so much time in a day, and one cannot be an expert in everything. Leverage your time by hiring professionals. A certified financial planner possesses training and experience to guide you through life’s financial events effectively.
Follow common-sense investment principles
Most financial institutions will ask you to complete a risk tolerance questionnaire, designed to determine your comfort with different situations and outcomes. Use this to foster a discussion about risk and return, rather than confining yourself to a single investment solution. In theory, the more risk an investor takes, the more potential for return.
Understanding the full extent of investment risk is often more complex. We rely on guiding principles to gain comfort with accepting the risk of uncertainty. You can use principles like diversification, dollar-cost averaging, and discipline (goal-focused) to your advantage. Additionally, compounding reinvests returns for more gains.
Make your money work for you
Today, with yields on bonds and other low-risk investments at historic lows, investors may ask, “How should I invest?” Consider including the value of your human capital in your overall portfolio of wealth. It can dramatically change how we think of our asset allocation once we have added your human capital to the picture.
Studies have shown that for most occupations, human capital tends to be more bond-like (assuming it exhibits slow, stable growth and is not as volatile as the stock market). Let’s apply this to our example from Part I, where the 35-year-old physician, whose human capital is valued at $5,000,000 and has $300,000 available for investment in a balanced portfolio (60% equities and 40% fixed income), illustrates this.
| Balanced Portfolio | $ Value | % | Balanced Portfolio, including Human Capital | $ | % |
| Equities | $180,000 | 60% | Equities | $180,000 | 3.4% |
| Fixed Income | $120,000 | 40% | Fixed Income + Human Capital | $5,120,000 | 96.6% |
| Total | $300,000 | 100% | Total | $5,300,000 | 100% |
This may seem like an extreme example; it helps illustrate a point. Sometimes we only focus on tangibles we can see, like a fluctuating investment statement balance. In my opinion, excluding intangibles like human capital when designing your investment portfolio can significantly impact your investment decisions. It affects what you can accumulate through your working career. No one wants to lose money investing, but what about lost opportunities to grow your wealth?
The decisions you make now are cumulative and can influence your finances throughout your working career and into retirement. Everyone has a different ability and willingness to accept risk, lifestyle expectations, and savings capacity. Speak to a financial planner and build a personalized financial plan that works for you and your human capital.
Notice to Readers: Unless otherwise noted herein, the sources of all performance data is Bloomberg and Cardinal research. This article has been prepared for general informational purposes only, without reference to the investment objectives, financial profile, or risk tolerance of any specific person or entity who may receive it. Investors should seek professional financial advice regarding the appropriateness of investing in any investment strategy or security and no financial decisions should be made on the basis of the information provided in this newsletter.
