Why is it important to have a diversified investment portfolio?

A diversified investment portfolio is important because it helps to reduce the overall risk of investments. By spreading investments across various asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, real estate, and other financial instruments, an investor can minimize the impact of any single investment's poor performance on their total portfolio.

For instance, if one sector of the market experiences a downturn, other sectors may still perform well, balancing out the losses. This strategy is rooted in the principle that different assets often react differently to the same economic events. Thus, diversification helps to stabilize returns over time, providing a more secure investment strategy and protecting against market volatility.

The other choices focus on investing in high-risk options or simplifying the process, which can overlook the critical aspect of risk management that diversification provides. A diversified approach not only maintains growth potential but also safeguards against substantial losses, making it a wise strategy for both conservative and aggressive investors.