If your retirement investments are growing, that's great. But when you receive an update on your account, don't just look at the bottom line. Also check your asset mix to see if you are still comfortable with how your account is divided among your investment choices. After reviewing your asset allocation, you may need to rebalance your portfolio so that it accurately reflects your investment strategy.

When you set up your investment portfolio, you may have selected investments in a variety of asset classes in order to spread out your overall risk. If you have a high tolerance for risk, your portfolio may have been heavily weighted in stocks, with less of your total account in bonds and money market investments. A conservative investor might have only a small fraction in stocks, with more of the account in bonds and money market investments. The right asset allocation is different for every investor.

Over time, your asset allocation will shift based on the performance of your investments. For example, suppose the stock investments in an investor's portfolio have increased in value significantly over time. Those stock investments, which originally represented 50% of the entire portfolio, now represent 60% of the portfolio. The unbalanced portfolio is more aggressive than the investor intended or is comfortable with.

If your portfolio has become unbalanced, it's relatively simple to rebalance it again. The investor in the previous example would need to reduce his or her stock investments and direct more money into the other investment categories in order to get back to the original allocation.

While you should enjoy the growth of your retirement investments, remember to pay attention so that your portfolio doesn't get unbalanced. It's a good idea to review your asset allocation periodically to make sure that you maintain your investment strategy.

Emily S Hazlett is Vice-President:Investments at ENB Insurance Agency, Inc. a wholly owned subsidiary of Evans National Bank.