You have probably heard it from some of your clients: How will rising interest rates affect my portfolio wealth, and how can I protect it? How should I adjust my portfolio, and when?

How can you help them calm their fears and keep them from making the wrong move at the wrong time — and perhaps even blaming you?

In this environment, perhaps the best approach is the simplest one: Help your clients understand what differentiates the most important asset classes, how each is likely to respond to coming macroeconomic conditions, and how important it is for them to continue to keep significant wealth in each one.

There are just four fundamental asset classes that should be in every investor’s portfolio, and they are divided into just two categories: fixed income and equity. The differences between the asset classes in each category (cash and bonds; stocks and real estate) are important, but the differences between the two categories (fixed income and equi