To help keep your investments on track, write up what’s known as an investment policy statement, says McClanahan. Spell out your goals, such as preservation of capital; what types of securities you’ll hold, like mutual funds; and how much of your portfolio, at different ages, is to be allocated to safe assets, such as cash, and to riskier assets like real estate. This document can help you resist sales pitches and the temptation to stray from a sound investment strategy.