Do You Know What You Own?
In today’s fast-moving financial world, it’s easy for investors to lose track of what’s actually inside their portfolios. Between old accounts, workplace retirement plans, investment apps, and market changes, many people end up holding far more than they realize—sometimes without understanding how each investment works or how risky it may be.
His most enduring reminder is simple:
“Know what you own.”
It sounds obvious, but many investors unknowingly drift away from it.
Why Knowing What You Own Matters
Unless you examine the markets every day, it’s easy to forget—or never fully learn—what each investment in your portfolio represents. Many investors don’t know:
- Whether they hold aggressive or conservative funds
- How much risk each investment carries
- Whether their accounts overlap
- How to compare performance to the right benchmark
- If old or unused accounts are still invested appropriately
And when investments are scattered across multiple institutions or apps, that complexity grows quickly.
Not knowing what you own creates blind spots—and blind spots can impact progress toward long-term goals.
Consolidation Isn’t Always Possible, but Awareness Always Is
Your financial advisor may have a clear understanding of the portfolio they manage for you. But many investors also have:
- Old 401(k)s
- IRAs at previous firms
- Taxable accounts opened years ago
- App-based investments (crypto, individual stocks, etc.)
- CDs, annuities, or structured products purchased elsewhere
When these accounts aren’t reviewed together, it becomes harder to ensure everything is aligned with your goals.
It’s similar to planning a long road trip without knowing which vehicle you’ll be driving or what condition it’s in. You wouldn’t start a journey with question marks—your financial plan shouldn’t, either.
Two Reasons This Matters for Your Long-Term Success
Taking time to understand what you own provides:
1. Greater confidence in where you’re headed
When you know what’s in your portfolio—and why—it becomes easier to stay disciplined, avoid emotional decisions, and remain confident during market volatility.
2. A complete picture for your advisor
When your advisor can see your entire financial landscape, they can help ensure everything is working together. That means spotting:
- Underperforming holdings
- Duplicate exposure
- Excessive risk
- Investments that no longer fit your goals
It also allows us to identify and fix anything that seems off, ensuring small issues don’t become bigger ones.
How to Get Started
One of the simplest steps you can take is gathering a list of all accounts you hold—whether managed, self-directed, or held at other firms. Even high-level information helps strengthen your overall plan.
Questions worth asking yourself:
- Do I have accounts or investments I’ve forgotten about?
- When was the last time I reviewed my 401(k) or IRA options?
- Do I understand my level of risk and diversification?
- Are all of my investments working toward the same goals?
The more you know, the clearer the road ahead becomes.
Moving Forward with Confidence
Peter Lynch’s advice remains as relevant as ever:
Know exactly what you own—so you can make informed decisions about what you need next.
If you’d like help reviewing external accounts or simply want a clearer explanation of how your portfolio works, we’re here to walk through it with you and help ensure every piece of your financial strategy is moving in the right direction.
Disclosures:
Advisory services are offered through Assurance Wealth Management, a Registered Investment Advisor in the State of Texas. Assurance Wealth Management is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration, Internal Revenue Service, or any other government agency.
Whenever you invest, you are at risk of loss of principal as the market fluctuates. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Purchases are subject to suitability. This requires a review of an investor’s objective, risk tolerance, and time horizons. Investing always involves risk and possible loss of capital.
All written content is for information purposes only. The information contained herein has been derived from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed as to accuracy or completeness and does not purport to be a complete analysis of the materials discussed. All information and ideas should be discussed in detail with your individual adviser prior to implementation.
