Clarify Goals, Anchor Direction: First, determine your investment objectives, whether it's short-term capital appreciation or preparing for future retirement living. Different goals dictate the direction and strategy of investment. For example, if you plan to buy a house within a year, highly liquid and lower-risk options like money market funds and short-term bonds are good choices; if it's for long-term retirement planning, appropriately allocating to stocks, equity funds, and other equity assets can help you achieve higher returns over time.