A well thought out investment plan is a great first step toward ensuring your investment portfolio is going to work for you, saving you money, provide needed security, reflects your investment profile, and work in any market conditions ahead.

Here are a few simple steps that you can make to help you prepare for changing life circumstances and investment future:

1. Establish a Plan - Having a solid long-term investment plan will help you keep ahead and prepares you for whatever conditions lie ahead. A well-thought-out investment plan is the hallmark of a successful investor and can help you deal with any market conditions.

2. Check and Update Your Investment Plan - A good investment plan should reflect your unique needs and goals. Checking your investment plan, updating, and making sure that your plan hasn't developed any "cracks" is important part of solid investment plan maintenance.

3. Maintain a Proper Balance - Maintaining a proper balance between cash, bonds and equities is important to achieving investment success. Doing so also ensures that your portfolio properly reflects your investment profile and objectives.

4. Rebalance and Tune-up - Rebalancing your portfolio from time to time helps ensure that you stay on track with your plan and achieving your goals. Tune-up and regular changing ensures that your portfolio is working at optimal levels all the time. Avoid the rush and don't be procrastinator who wait until the last minute.

5. Have a Right Advisor - Make sure you have the right advisor and help needed to avoid making costly mistakes, emotionally driven investment decisions and to keep you on track through all the seasons and conditions of the market. There is no harm in being selective and careful.

Don't forget to take advantage of powerful investment strategy known as dollar cost averaging (DCA) which involves investing a fixed amount at regular intervals (e.g., monthly) regardless of market conditions. DCA will allow you to "stock up" on more investment units when prices are low and fewer when prices are high, enabling you to build wealth over time.