• Preservers have an aversion to risk and to them losing money is the worst possible outcome. They place strong emphasis on financial security and preserving their wealth. They often obsess over short-term performance and losses.

• Accumulators are emotional investors who are interested in accumulating wealth and not afraid of risk. Often over confident, they act quickly on perceived opportunities to make money, and seldom follow a structured plan. They like to be heavily involved in adjusting their portfolio allocations and holdings to market conditions.

• Followers are passive and generally not interested in being in charge of overseeing their money. They will follow the lead of their friends or the latest investment fad. Often, their decision-making process does not involve a long-term plan.

• Independents are analytical, critical thinkers who will take the time to understand an investment plan, even if it means missing an opportunity in order to do so. They seek to be actively involved in the investment process, are willing to take risks but will stick to an investment plan to accomplish their financial goals.

How do you figure out which one you are? Think about what motivates you as an investor! Be truthful, ask yourself what your goals are and why, and what influences your decisions. It might be urgent timelines, need for liquidity, or fear of risk. And if you have a tendency towards risk, how does it change, what affects it? Some research says that a person’s propensity towards risk doesn’t change with varying circumstances, but would you play it safe for a better return on investment or would your common sense be overruled by the promise of higher returns with a bigger gamble?

Ask yourself these questions to discover your investment personality:

1. Am I a cautious investor? Are you conservative in your investment choices, yearn for financial security and avoid risk? If you hate losing even the smallest sum, your investment decisions probably require a great deal of time, thought and investigation.

2. Am I an emotional investor? Do you trust your gut instead of due diligence? If you invest with your heart rather than your head, a “hot tip” can be rewarding, but it can also lead to a reluctance to cut losses on a bad investment because you believe the tide will turn in your favor.

3. Am I a technical investor? Are you constantly looking for the edge when it comes to the latest tech developments? You most likely make financial decisions based solely on facts and figures and are ready to move when you spot a trend.

4. Am I a busy investor? Do you live for the thrill of the markets and constant trading, always checking the latest price movements, or the latest bit of market gossip or economic hearsay? This type may miss out by not thinking long term and waiting patiently for a higher return.

5. Am I a casual investor? When it comes to finance and investment are you more likely to be handing your funds over to a professional advisor, and once you’ve made an investment not likely to check up on how it’s doing until you must?

6. Am I an informed investor? Before making any financial decisions do you gather information from multiple sources? Do you watch the markets as well as the economy to figure out what could potentially give you a better return? This investor will seek expert advice to leverage knowledge and experience into long term gains.

At the end of the day, since most of us have a little bit of all these traits, the most important thing is to know your strengths – and also your weaknesses. Develop a financial plan that overcomes your particular bias, and whether you lead with your heart or your head be sure it looks to the long term by managing diversity and volatility.