You’ve heard it all before: The best time to start planning for retirement is now; the sooner you begin investing, the better. You hear this repeatedly because, over time, money that has been invested has the potential to grow exponentially.

What’s discussed less often is that how you invest should evolve as you age. As your income changes and your retirement goals come into clearer focus, the amount you invest and the way those investments are allocated should be reassessed.

“Asset allocation” refers to the mix of accounts or commodities in which you’re investing. Primarily, this includes stocks (equities), bonds (fixed-income securities), and cash or cash equivalents (savings accounts, money market accounts and certificates of deposit (CDs)). Otras clases de activos incluyen bienes raíces, productos, contratos futuros e instrumentos derivados. Cada activo conlleva un nivel de riesgo (la probabilidad de perder dinero) y una recompensa (la probabilidad de ganar dinero, que también se conoce como rendimiento) distintos. Los inversionistas se esfuerzan por lograr el equilibrio correcto de los tipos de activos para obtener el mayor rendimiento de su dinero sin someterlo a un riesgo injustificado.

Cómo debe evolucionar su asignación de activos a medida que envejece

If you’ve found an investment strategy that’s been working well for you, you might think that you’ve achieved an ideal balance of assets and that your investment portfolio is set for life. However, as we age, our tolerance for risk decreases, because we don’t have decades to recover from losses we may incur. Por ejemplo, si una acción en la que ha realizado una gran inversión pierde valor repentinamente, tiene más probabilidades de recuperarse de esa pérdida a los 20 que a los 60. That’s because you still have decades to benefit from stock market fluctuations and to invest in other, potentially high-performing assets.

Si bien la estrategia de todo inversionista se debe adaptar a sus metas y circunstancias individuales, los siguientes ejemplos ilustran cómo podría verse una asignación de activos a diferentes edades. Note that situations change over time, so it’s crucial to routinely review your strategy. Periodic meetings with a PNC Wealth Management Financial Advisor will help ensure your retirement plan stays on track, and it’s always wise to hold at least six to 12 months of living expenses in cash or liquid assets for access to immediate funds.

Cómo invertir cuando tiene de 20 a 29 años

Ejemplo de asignación de activos:

Acciones: 80 % a 90 %

Bonos: 10 % a 20 %

Your 20s are a busy time financially, while your top priorities should be paying off any student loans or credit card debt you may have and building up an emergency fund, it's also a great time to start investing for retirement. Puede ser más agresivo con sus inversiones a esta edad, lo que significa que puede apoyarse en mayor medida en los activos de riesgo más alto, como las acciones, que pueden generar una tasa de rendimiento más alta que los bonos o el efectivo.

Una de las maneras más fáciles para empezar a invertir es inscribirse en el plan 401(k) de su empleador, si es que ofrece uno. This type of retirement account allows you to put money from your paycheck toward your retirement before taxes are taken out. Puede elegir cómo se invierten esos fondos y puede cambiar dicha asignación sobre la marcha. Una de las excelentes características del plan 401(k) es que algunos empleadores igualan las contribuciones que sus empleados aportan al plan de acuerdo a un porcentaje determinado, por lo que tendrá incluso más dinero para invertir. No se paga impuesto sobre la renta por dichos fondos sino hasta que usted los retire durante la jubilación.

If your employer does not offer a 401(k) or if you are already contributing the maximum amount your employer will match, consider opening a traditional or Roth individual retirement account (IRA). Estas cuentas también le permiten elegir la forma en que se invierten sus fondos.

Cómo invertir cuando tiene de 30 a 39 años

Ejemplo de asignación de activos:

Acciones: 70 % a 80 %

Bonos: 20 % a 30 %

Es probable que sus prioridades cambien cuando tiene de 30 a 39 años. En vez de enfocarse en liquidar sus préstamos estudiantiles, es posible que le preocupen más los pagos de la hipoteca o los costos de empezar una familia y ahorrar para la educación universitaria de sus hijos. Probablemente también haya avanzado más en su carrera y esté ganando más dinero de lo que ganaba cuando tenía de 20 a 29 años, por lo que quizás este sea un excelente momento para aumentar el monto que está invirtiendo. Dado que faltan años para la jubilación, sus inversiones aún pueden resistir una suma moderada de riesgo. Sin embargo, quizás deba considerar asignar un poco más a los activos más conservadores, como los bonos, para que tenga más fondos de reserva.

Cómo invertir cuando tiene de 40 a 49 años

Ejemplo de asignación de activos:

Acciones: 60 % a 70 %

Bonos: 30 % a 40 %

In your 40s, retirement planning should become a primary financial focus. While you may still have years before you begin withdrawals, this is an important period to strengthen your retirement plan and confirm you remain on track to meet your long-term goals.

As you move through this decade, your investment risk profile often begins to shift. You may still maintain exposure to growth-oriented investments, but decisions should be made with greater discipline and diversification. Prioritize high-quality, well-researched investments aligned with your objectives, and avoid taking unnecessary risks, as there may be less time to recover from significant market declines than in earlier decades.

Invertir cuando tiene de 50 a 69 años

Ejemplo de asignación de activos:

Acciones: 50 % a 60 %

Bonos: 40 % a 50 %

As retirement nears, the focus shifts to balancing growth with protecting your assets. Many retirees still keep equity exposure to help protect against inflation.

Una de las principales prioridades cuando tiene de 50 a 59 años debería ser la elaboración de un plan de jubilación detallado. ¿a qué edad se quiere jubilar? Given your retirement funds, at what age will you be able to retire? Elabore un presupuesto para determinar cuánto dinero necesitará cada mes durante la jubilación para vivir cómodamente. If you find that you need to “catch up” on your investing, revisit your 401(k) account. The IRS allows employees over 50 to contribute additional funds to their 401(k) account in preparation for retirement.

Invertir cuando tiene de 70 a 89 años

Ejemplo de asignación de activos:

Acciones: 30 % a 50 %

Bonos: 50 % a 70 %

Si no se ha jubilado a esta edad, siga invirtiendo. Your investment strategy at this stage should shift mostly away from growth and instead move toward making your money last — perhaps for multiple generations. This is where you want to be as conservative as possible, because no one wants to see their hard work vanish before their eyes.

Age Group

Example Asset Allocation

Key Financial Priorities

Investment Approach & Considerations

20s

Stocks: 80–90%
Bonds: 10–20%

• Pay off debt (student loans, credit cards)
• Build emergency fund
• Start investing for retirement

• High risk tolerance; focus on growth
• Contribute to a 401(k), maximize employer match if available
• Consider Traditional or Roth IRA

30s

Stocks: 70–80%
Bonds: 20–30%

• Pagos hipotecarios
• Family expenses
• College savings for children

• Increase investment contributions
• Maintain moderate risk
• Begin shifting slightly more conservative

40s

Stocks: 60–70%
Bonds: 30–40%

• Strengthen retirement investments
• Ensure long‑term goals stay on track

• Decreasing risk tolerance
• Prioritize reliable, proven investments
• Avoid unnecessary risk as losses are harder to recover

50s & 60s

Stocks: 50–60%
Bonds: 40–50%

• Build detailed retirement plan
• Determine retirement age
• Use 401(k) catch‑up contributions

• Focus on capital preservation
• Reduce exposure to high‑risk assets
• Prepare for steady retirement withdrawals

70s & 80s

Stocks: 30–50%
Bonds: 50–70%

• Make assets last through retirement
• Manage withdrawal strategy

• Prioritize stability and income
• Shift away from growth investments
• Keep investing if still working

Tenga en cuenta que los porcentajes antes mencionados solo son ejemplos y no representan asesoramiento con respecto a cómo debe invertir.

Resumen

Your investment strategy should evolve as your life, income, and financial goals change. While starting early is one of the most powerful ways to build wealth for retirement, how you invest matters just as much as when you begin. Asset allocation, the balance between stocks, bonds, and cash, should be adjusted over time to reflect changing risk tolerance, responsibilities, and time horizons.

In your 20s, the focus is on building good financial habits, managing debt, and taking advantage of growth‑oriented investments. As you move into your 30s and 40s, increasing contributions, balancing growth with stability, and staying on track for retirement become key priorities. In your 50s and 60s, protecting your assets and preparing for retirement income take center stage, often with a more conservative allocation. By your 70s and 80s, the emphasis shifts toward preserving wealth, generating income, and making your assets last throughout retirement.

While the sample asset allocations in this article provide general guidance, every investor’s situation is unique. Reviewing your investment strategy regularly and adjusting it as your circumstances change is essential. Working with a PNC Wealth Management Financial Advisor can help you stay aligned with your long‑term goals and make informed decisions at every stage of your life. Ultimately, investing for retirement is a lifelong journey—and the most important step is getting started and staying engaged along the way.