Contemplating this process can feel onerous, but these simple steps go a long way to giving you peace of mind. Your Newmark Group advisor can then review your current situation and highlight any necessary steps to ensure you are properly protected. This process also paints a picture of who you are as a person and as an investor, helping your advisor ensure that he or she properly aligns your investments with your needs, your desires, and your risk tolerance. Clients often ask how much they should have saved for a rainy day. For most clients, a professionally constructed investment portfolio will allocate a portion of assets to cash and near-cash assets, like treasury bills and money market funds. These are liquid and available in an emergency. As a rule of thumb, people should have access to funds equal to between three and six months of income. Most new investors are best served by building up such a cushion as a first step to establishing an investment portfolio. From there, they can move forward with their investment strategy, growing their wealth and moving towards a better future.