We often hear investors say, “I’ve spread my risk — I’m well diversified.”

But when we take a closer look, their portfolios tell a different story. We often find overlapping funds, highly correlated assets, exposure to similar sectors, or a long list of holdings that feel diverse but tend to move in the same direction when markets shift.

The truth? Owning more things doesn’t always mean you’re diversified. Sometimes, it just means you’re busy.

Variety is not the same as balance

Let’s say you own ten different unit trusts. That sounds diversified. But if eight of them are heavily invested in large-cap US tech companies, you’re still concentrated in one market theme. You might also be unknowingly exposed to the same risk factors across multiple funds, like inflation sensitivity, currency volatility, or interest rate movements.

Diversification isn’t about how many items are in your portfolio. It’s also about how those assets behave in relation to one another.

True diversification means combining assets that don’t all react the same way to the same economic events. When one asset goes down, another may hold steady or rise. That balance helps smooth out your experience during periods of uncertainty.

How to know if your portfolio is truly diversified

Ask yourself:

1. Are your investments spread across different asset classes like equities, bonds, property, and cash?
2. Are you diversified geographically, across different currencies and economies?
3. Are you exposed to a mix of sectors and investment styles, not just one theme or trend?
4. Do you have a range of time horizons that support both short-term liquidity and long-term growth?

If you're unsure, it's worth reviewing your allocations with fresh eyes.

One of the most common issues we see is something we call “diversification drift.” You may have started with a well-balanced plan. But over time, after chasing performance or adding new funds on impulse, the portfolio becomes cluttered and overlapping.

This kind of build-up can make your investments harder to understand, more expensive to manage, and less resilient when markets get rough.

A truly diversified portfolio doesn’t have to be complicated. In fact, simplicity often signals clarity and good planning. The goal is not to own everything, but to own the right combination that works for your goals, your timeline, and your risk comfort.

Sometimes that means trimming the noise. Sometimes it means adding exposure to areas you’ve been underweight. And sometimes it simply means pausing to ask, “What role is this investment playing in my plan?”

If your investment strategy feels cluttered or confusing, or if you’re not sure what each holding is really doing, let’s talk.