What is the primary purpose of diversification for investors?

The primary purpose of diversification for investors is to reduce risk. Diversification involves spreading investments across a variety of asset classes, sectors, or geographic regions. By doing so, investors can minimize the impact that poor performance in any single investment or sector can have on their overall portfolio.

When an investor holds a diversified portfolio, the likelihood that all investments will experience significant losses simultaneously is lower, as different assets often respond differently to economic changes. For example, while stocks in one sector may be underperforming, bonds or stocks in another sector may be doing well, helping to cushion the overall impact on the portfolio.

This strategy does not necessarily guarantee high returns, as the returns are usually averaged out across the diversified investments. However, it does provide a measure of safety by not putting all financial resources into one specific investment or market segment, which inherently carries higher risk.