Faith & Finance - Investing: Getting the Big Moves Right with Mark Biller

They say you shouldn’t sweat the small stuff, but that doesn’t mean you can ignore the big stuff, either. When it comes to finances, and especially investing, it’s important to get the big moves right. Mark Biller joins us today to go over the things that need special attention.

Mark Biller is Executive Editor and Senior Portfolio Manager at Sound Mind Investing, an underwriter of Faith & Finance. 

Today, we’ll cover some key takeaways from Sound Mind Investing’s recent article, Getting the Big Moves Right, which explores seven critical investment decisions that can make or break your financial future.

1. Have a Clear Investing Plan

As the old saying goes from the Cheshire Cat from Alice in Wonderland, "If you don’t know where you’re going, it doesn’t matter which way you go." A successful investment strategy starts with a plan—one that outlines:

• Your target retirement date
• The amount you hope to have saved by that date
• The steps needed to achieve that goal

Without an investment plan, it’s easy to drift or make hasty decisions based on emotions or short-term market fluctuations.

2. Commit to Investing Consistently

One of the most significant factors in successful investing is how much you invest each month. While everyone’s situation differs, investing 10–15% of your monthly income during your working years is a general rule of thumb.

Your age, retirement timeline, and savings goals will influence this percentage, but the key is to make investing a consistent habit—not something you do only when you have extra cash.

3. Get Your Asset Allocation Right

There’s no such thing as a “perfect portfolio” that always wins in the market. Instead of chasing returns, focus on the right mix of investments for your:

• Time horizon (how long you have until retirement)
• Risk tolerance (your ability to withstand market fluctuations)

At SMI (Sound Mind Investing), their members start with a risk tolerance quiz to