At the inaugural annual meeting of the Investing Club, Jim Cramer and Jeff Marks joined a panel of alumni who offered advice on key investing skills. Hosted by Investing at Cornell - an interdisciplinary theme within Cornell SC Johnson College of Business - this event provided invaluable insight for investors.

Scott Stewart and Lakshmi Bhojraj, co-directors of Investing at Cornell, wanted to facilitate connections among students interested in investing across campus. To this end, they created the Investment Ideas Forum with this goal in mind.

Economy

Markets can be unpredictable and unsettling, but investors need to stay abreast of economic conditions. Doing this helps you stay ahead of the curve and prevent making costly errors that negatively affect your clients' financial outcomes.

A risk-based portfolio strategy that incorporates stocks, bonds, alternatives and cash helps mitigate the impact of stock market declines. This strategy also tends to reduce overall volatility during periods of slow economic growth.

Although markets are currently experiencing a correction, we believe the economy is on track for recovery next year. We anticipate global growth to improve and the Fed to eventually ease monetary policy from its current tightening phase towards an easing bias.

This scenario calls for sustained lower inflation, which requires a soft landing and continued strength in the labor market. While wage pressures have eased, unemployment remains near 50-year lows; this suggests inflation may not be able to drop below the Fed's 2% long-term average until wage growth slows further and unemployment starts rising again.

In this scenario, the Fed could take a temporary pause in 2023 and resume tightening later that year as economic activity increases. The benefits of such an outcome include a more sustainable economy and stronger equity markets as the Fed takes a gradual path towards easing policy.

A portfolio consisting of 60% equities and 40% fixed income has traditionally performed well during a recession. Unfortunately, this year both sectors have been under stress, diminishing the advantages of such an established balanced strategy.

We suggest investing in quality and dividend-paying companies to reduce downside risk. These can include defensive sectors like utilities and consumer staples, financials, health care, and technology which have demonstrated stability or growth of profits while maintaining a robust dividend.

We suggest considering strategies with greater adaptability in their response to declines and the capacity to seize opportunities quickly when they present themselves. These are especially advantageous in high-volatility markets where short-term market swings can have devastating effects.

Markets

This year the economy and markets have been a source of much excitement and concern alike. From the Russia/Ukraine conflict to high inflation, there have been numerous challenges that investors have had to contend with this year - leading many to speculate about whether or not there could be another recession on the horizon. Consequently, some have begun to worry about potential shortages in key areas like housing.

Volatility in the market has created opportunities for certain investment strategies that may be able to capitalize on short-term shifts in asset prices. These are commonly referred to as alternative investments or risk-based portfolios.

Some of these strategies are able to act more rapidly and dynamically than traditional funds by altering their holdings in response to changing market conditions. Examples include systematic trend funds (e.g., price momentum), equity market neutral funds, multistrategy funds and nontraditional bond funds.

Though these strategies haven't always performed well during market downturns, they have shown resilience this year in a volatile environment. We believe they should be considered by any investor's portfolio as a way to help mitigate losses and take advantage of brief opportunities.

Due to a slowing economy and higher interest rates, some investors have been hesitant to invest in fixed income. However, this could present an opportunity for those willing to accept some credit risk. Two-year Treasury bills and investment-grade corporate bonds are offering attractive yields of 4%-6%, which could potentially boost overall returns.

These strategies are ideal for investors who wish to diversify their portfolio and reduce exposure to one asset class. Typically, such portfolios would contain 60% stock and 40% bonds.

As with any investing strategy, it's essential to discuss its performance with your financial advisor. Doing this will enable you to make an informed decision about how much risk you want to take and what kind of returns you expect.

In addition to investing in the stock market, many investors also incorporate other investment strategies into their portfolios. These can include alternative investments like real estate or commodities which tend to be viewed as more secure than stocks and may help mitigate any effects of an economic downturn.

Portfolio Strategy

Portfolio strategy is a roadmap that outlines the most efficient methods of maximizing investment returns. When building your portfolio, take into account your risk tolerance and time horizon; doing so helps prevent impulsive decisions with negative repercussions.

A well-diversified portfolio can help reduce the volatility of your investments and limit losses. This way, you can shield your capital against market declines while maximizing profits.

However, a portfolio that is too diversified can lead investors to lose money on a regular basis. This is because different sectors or subsets of stocks may perform differently over time.

To minimize exposure to volatility and seize on unique opportunities, diversify your portfolio among multiple asset classes such as stocks, bonds and managed futures. Doing this will minimize exposure to price changes.

For instance, you could allocate more of your portfolio towards a particular region or sector to take advantage of its growth prospects. This approach can be especially advantageous for individuals who are working toward retirement or other long-term objectives.

Another popular approach is to build a portfolio with an eclectic mix of assets and various strategies. This way, you can invest in multiple profitable assets that are likely to increase in value over time.

Investment strategies can be divided into two categories: active and passive. Active strategies aim to outperform a benchmark, such as an index, by regularly purchasing and selling securities. This could involve buying individual stocks or investing in closed-end funds.

These strategies may be highly risky, as they involve a high degree of leverage and other speculative activities. Furthermore, active strategies have greater sensitivity to market changes than passive ones do.

Furthermore, these strategies may not be suitable for everyone. Therefore, you should seek the advice of an experienced asset manager before investing in these strategies.

At the Inaugural Investing Club Annual Meeting, you'll uncover some of the top portfolio strategies designed to maximize your returns. Plus, learn how to construct a successful portfolio that helps safeguard your capital and increase wealth over time.

Personal Finance

Personal finance is all about taking control of your finances and planning for the future. This includes saving for retirement, setting financial goals, and understanding how your credit score affects daily life.

No matter your level of knowledge about personal finance, there are plenty of online resources to assist with managing your money. From credit card reviews and budgeting tips, we've got everything you need.

According to Investopedia, personal finance is the financial management of an individual or family unit, including budgeting, savings and spending over time. It also encompasses managing debt, insurance and investing for long-term security in one's finances.

Starting with a budget is the ideal place to begin, but you may also consult your bank or investment advisor to create an official plan. These documents, commonly referred to as financial planning, serve as the framework for all of your financial decisions.

Beyond having an organized budget, it's essential to be financially literate so you can make informed decisions with your money. This includes understanding interest rates and when using a cash-back credit card makes sense.

Another aspect of personal finance that may be overlooked is your credit score. Lenders use it to determine whether you are a high risk or low risk borrower, which in turn impacts things like the interest rate you pay on loans and mortgages.

You can find a wealth of information online and on your phone about credit scores, but if you're new to the world of finance it can be overwhelming. To ensure an informed decision when applying for loans or mortgages, take time to educate yourself about your report and score so you know what to expect.

Personal finance encompasses more than just retirement planning and savings; therefore, educate yourself on these topics so you can make informed decisions with your money. Doing so will give you peace of mind both now and in the future as you live a financially secure lifestyle.