If you’re asking whether to sell because there have been price fluctuations, then you have no strategy, or you weren’t aware of what you were investing in – or both. Either way, it means you need to step back and design an investment strategy to help guide your decisions.

The implications of not having an investing strategy sorted might not make a huge difference if you’re only investing $5 a month, but if you had a couple of hundred dollars per week you wanted to invest you’d really need to get your strategy right.

With some simple planning, you can make your investing future-proof, easy and, most importantly, right for you.

I believe the five key factors that need to be considered when it comes to your strategy are (in order):

1. Goals and your “why”.
2. Risk profiles and time horizons.
3. Ownership structures for taxation and estate planning.
4. Selecting the right product (i.e. brokerage account or platform).
5. The underlying investment.

If you nail these five things, you will be worlds ahead of many other investors.

Loading

Technically, there is a sixth key factor to consider, which is: Do you have the money to achieve your goal and is the goal realistic? If not, you may need to reset your goal and expectations, save/earn more money or make other life/lifestyle compromises to achieve your goal.

You need to know that while you may have the best strategy in place and the most awesome trust structure, you also need enough money (the actual amount will vary from person to person).

If your financial arrangements are set up in a way that is too complex and expensive for your needs, you’ll never achieve your goal.

What structure is most appropriate for you?

You’ve no doubt picked up that you will see many complexities enter a chat when you pull the thread of ownership structures. This need not be the case when you put strategy first. Strategy will always come back to your “why”. Why are you investing this pot of money in particular?

If you are clear that you want to invest for your niece or nephew, or if you want to potentially save for kids’ education expenses with an investment account, you can rule out superannuation right away.

When it comes to your investing and ownership structures, sometimes you need to make an on-balance call and take action. While you can’t fully know or control the future, you can make an informed decision by looking at the advantages and disadvantages of an ownership structure before you invest.

It’s worth noting that the legislation for asset ownership rarely changes. You can also book a chat with your accountant or financial adviser to discuss your situation personally and make the right decision for your circumstances.

This is an edited extract from The Quick Start Guide to Investing: Learn How to Invest – Simpler, Smarter & Sooner by Glen James and Nick Bradley (Wiley $32.95), available at all leading retailers.

• Advice given in this article is general in nature and is not intended to influence readers’ decisions about investing or financial products. They should always seek their own professional advice that takes into account their own personal circumstances before making any financial decisions.

Expert tips on how to save, invest and make the most of your money delivered to your inbox every Sunday. Sign up for our Real Money newsletter.