Your money fuels your future and legacy. It’s too important to risk. Truist’s investment philosophy delivers evidence-based strategies that reflect your values, goals, and timeline. A Truist Wealth advisor can help you balance your risk and protection with your goals, using these investing tenets.

1. Consider the impact of taxes. Losing gains to taxation is a major risk, so take advantage of every opportunity you get for tax-deferred savings. Always try to max out your retirement plan contributions. In 2025, the annual contribution limit for employees who participate in 401(k), 403(b), governmental 457 plans, and the federal government’s Thrift Savings Plan is $23,500.^{Disclosure 1}  The law also allows for catch-up contributions. Those age 50 and older are able to contribute an additional $7,500 in 2025, and those age 60 to 63 can contribute an additional $11,250 (in place of the $7,500) if the plan allows. If you can’t max out your contribution, make sure you’re at least deferring enough to take full advantage of any company matching dollars that might be available (it’s free money). Also, try to maximize contributions to an IRA ($7,000 in 2025; $8,000 if you’re age 50 or older^{Disclosure 1} ), even if your income exceeds the limits for receiving a tax deduction. Over the long haul, the power of tax-deferred growth can be your portfolio’s best friend. You can also look into the feasibility of a “backdoor Roth IRA” if your income is too high for standard eligibility. A backdoor Roth is a strategy for converting a traditional IRA into a Roth, where earnings can grow tax-free.^{Disclosure 2} 
2. Be disciplined. We all have the tendency to overreact to short-term market fluctuations, especially when they’re extreme. But it’s important to keep in mind that while corrections are a risk, they’re also a normal part of markets. Morningstar’s 2024 “Mind the Gap” report found that investors missed out on about 15% of the returns their fund investments generated between 2013 and 2023 because of frequent trading and efforts to chase returns in hot sectors, among other factors.^{Disclosure 3}  Truist’s philosophy emphasizes that a disciplined, stable foundation helps investors avoid emotional reactions to events, and your advisor can help you think through your options before making any big moves. Remember, trying to time the markets is risky. Instead, consider using a dollar-cost averaging approach to help smooth out the effects of market volatility.
   
   (Regular investing does not assure a profit or protect against a loss in declining markets. Dollar Cost Averaging involves continuous investments in securities regardless of fluctuating price levels. Investors should consider their financial ability to continue purchases through periods of low price levels.)
3. Be balanced. Most investors realize the inherent risks of holding too much of a single stock in their portfolio, being overweighted in a single sector, or simply not diversifying. But few realize that being too conservative can be nearly as damaging. An investment portfolio that’s too concentrated in cash, CDs, Treasury bills, and other low-yield securities runs a very real risk of losing ground to inflation, especially when it is at elevated levels. Work with your advisor to ensure you have a well-diversified portfolio with a risk profile that appropriately corresponds to your goals.
   (Diversification does not ensure against loss and does not assure a profit.)
4. Be prepared. No matter how large your total portfolio is, make sure to keep enough cash on hand for emergency expenses. As a general rule, try to maintain a minimum of 6 to 12 months of living expenses in cash to protect against an unexpected crisis like a job loss or to fund a major expenditure. Why is cash on hand so important when there are plenty of other assets in your portfolio? It reduces the risk of having to sell portfolio holdings at a bad time, which could adversely impact your asset allocation and potentially trigger undesired capital gains taxes. Your Truist Wealth advisor can help you identify the best account in which to hold your emergency fund while still earning interest, such as the Wealth Money Market Account.
5. Be vigilant. A typical “buy-and-hold” investment strategy often results in equities gradually becoming a larger percentage of your overall portfolio allocation over time because of their historically higher returns. What began as a 60/40 stock-to-bond target allocation can soon become 80/20 or 90/10, leaving you with far more portfolio risk than you intended. That’s why it’s important to periodically rebalance to help minimize unintended risk and keep your portfolio properly aligned with your goals.

When you invest, it’s impossible to avoid risk entirely. But a well-allocated and diversified investment portfolio that’s aligned with your unique goals is a great start. Remember to be smart, disciplined, balanced, prepared, and vigilant. And most importantly, don’t forget Warren Buffett’s advice: “Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.”

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