Investing long-term is tough and maintaining that resolve in the midst of difficult economic times is much tougher. With pressing current financial needs, it is easy to relegate long-term goals like retirement planning to the bottom of our financial agenda. Regardless of how challenging it is, if we stay alive, retirement is inevitable. Having a long-term perspective is essential when it is comes to investing towards long-term goals like retirement. Planning for your retirement requires long term thinking, the ability to prioritize the future and stay committed to achieving the comfortable retirement you desire. The question is how do we develop a long-term mindset?

Cultivating a long-term mindset requires discipline. One of the main reasons for financial problems is the lack of discipline. The inability to delay gratification in the short-term may cost you your long-term goals such us retiring comfortably. Also reacting adversely and aborting your plans midway due to challenges can also stand in the way of achieving your goals.

In the face of uncertainties, investors need to be resilient. This is the ability to recover from your own mistakes and difficulties beyond your control. One of the basic concepts of investment is risk and return. Risk is the probability that actual returns will differ from what is expected. Every investment carries some level of risk. To cultivate a long-term mindset and achieve retirement goals, an investor must anticipate and prepare adequately for tough times and be ready to take advantage of opportunities that may arise.

To develop a long-term mindset, you need to have a compelling reason for investing i.e. why are you investing towards your retirement? Investing just for investing sake is not enough. Being disciplined and resilient becomes easy when you have purpose for investing. Set financial goals that are important to you instead of following the crowd so that you are inspired and motivated to still pursue them even when times get tough.

Developing a long-term mindset requires patience, the ability to not be worried or distracted by short-term volatility in the value of the investment and stay invested for long-term regardless of difficulty. It is important to stay focused on the bigger picture.

Having a purpose, being disciplined, resilient and patient are essential requirements for investing in uncertain times. Taking a long-term perspective may help you avoid emotional choices, avoid unnecessary losses and grow wealth over time with small sums invested regularly. History has shown that having long-term mindset increases your chances of yielding positive returns.

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Axis Pension Trust partners workers throughout their retirement planning journey to ensure they are on track to achieve a dignified retirement. For more information on our services or general enquiries, send an email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 030 273 8555