Investing in emerging markets

Emerging markets can offer an investment opportunity for growth and diversity in your retirement portfolio. But, there are big risks. Here’s what you need to know.

What is an emerging market?

The phrase emerging markets was coined by economists in the early 1980s to define investing in developing countries. Although the term is widespread, there is no one agreed upon definition.

Here are some clarifications that may be helpful:

• Most experts agree the term “emerging market investments” refers to countries or regions undergoing fast economic growth.
• A formula using a country’s gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita income is often used to determine if a country is an emerging market.
• The BRIC countries — Brazil, Russia, India and China — are examples of developing economies with explosive growth in the past decade.
• Some emerging markets such as South Korea have a large number of consumers and a wealthy economy.
• Others such as areas of Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa are still in the early stages of developing a strong economy and stable environment.

Advantages of investing in emerging markets

You may be asking yourself, "Why invest in emerging markets?" Here are two potential advantages to consider:

• Growth. The biggest advantage of emerging market investments is the potential for high growth.
• Diversification. International investments can be a good diversifier for your investment portfolio because economic downturns in one country or region, including the U.S., can be offset by growth in another.

Risks of investing in emerging markets

Experts often categorize emerging market risk in three ways:

• Political risk. Emerging markets may have unstable, even volatile, governments. Political unrest can cause serious consequences to the economy and investors.
• Economic risk. These markets may often suffer from insufficient labor and raw materials, high inflation or deflation, unregulated markets and unsound monetary policies. All of these factors can present challenges to investors.
• Currency risk. The value of emerging market currencies compared to the dollar can be extremely volatile. Any investment gains can be potentially lessened if a currency is devalued or drops significantly.

The role of emerging markets in retirement planning

Your tolerance for risk and how your current investment portfolio is allocated can be important factors in deciding if emerging markets should be part of your retirement planning. Speak with your Ameriprise financial advisor for help determining if emerging market investments are right for you.