How often should I review my investments?
- Nic Round: Chartered Wealth Manager
- Feb 13
- 3 min read
Updated: 1 day ago
How often should I review my investments?
In the UK, there is no fixed rule. Some people check portfolios frequently. Others rarely look at them at all. The appropriate review frequency depends on your goals, time horizon and the role the investments play in your wider financial plan.
Behind this question are often quieter concerns:
Am I neglecting something important?
Should I be more proactive?
Is frequent reviewing better?
Could I be overreacting to short-term movements?
Understanding the purpose of a review helps determine how often one is needed.
The purpose of an investment review
An investment review is not simply checking performance.
It usually involves asking:
Are my investments still aligned with my goals?
Has my risk tolerance changed?
Has my time horizon shortened?
Have tax allowances been used efficiently?
Performance matters, but alignment matters more.
General guidance on frequency
For most long-term investors:
A structured annual review is usually sufficient.
Significant life changes may warrant earlier review.
Major market movements may require reassessment of risk tolerance.
Frequent checking, especially in volatile markets, rarely improves long-term outcomes.
Investments designed for long-term growth are not intended to be judged month by month.
A simple example
Imagine:
You are 15 years from retirement.
Your portfolio falls 8% during a market downturn.
If your long-term plan already accounted for market volatility, reacting immediately may not improve the outcome.
However, if:
You are retiring within 12 months,
And income withdrawals are about to begin,
A review becomes more important.
The timing of your life stage matters more than market noise.
When reviews should happen sooner
An earlier review may be appropriate if:
You are approaching retirement
You plan to draw income soon
You have received an inheritance
You have changed employment
Your financial goals have shifted
Investment strategy should reflect life circumstances, not headlines.
The behavioural layer
Many people review investments too often out of anxiety.
Others avoid reviewing altogether out of discomfort.
Both extremes can create problems.
Constant monitoring can encourage emotional decisions.Total neglect can allow misalignment to persist unnoticed.
The goal is structured review, not reactive checking.
A more useful question
Instead of asking only:
How often should I review my investments?
A more helpful question might be:
When did I last check that my investments still support my long-term plan?
That shifts the focus from frequency to alignment.
And alignment is what ultimately matters.
Some of the most common practical questions people ask about reviewing investments are below.
Should I check my investments every month?
For long-term investors, monthly checking is usually unnecessary and may encourage short-term reactions.
Is an annual investment review enough?
For many people, an annual structured review is sufficient unless circumstances change.
Should I change investments after a market fall?
Not automatically. Market volatility is expected in long-term investing. Decisions should be based on suitability rather than short-term performance.
Do I need professional advice to review investments?
Not necessarily, but structured analysis can help where decisions involve significant sums or retirement planning.
A calm place to think first
If you are unsure whether your investments need review, there is rarely a need for urgency.
Often the most helpful first step is clarifying:
What your investments are intended to achieve
When you will need access to the money
Whether your risk tolerance has changed
Evoa exists to provide that quiet thinking space, before advice, before action.
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