Since the whole idea of investing is to make money, it is important to take the time to get the most bang for your investment dollar possible. While you can simply leave it all to the professionals, knowing what they are up to will give you more peace of mind. And if you do your own investing, then regularly checking your investment portfolio can only be considered wise.

Following the golden rules of investing will help to enhance your return and minimise fees and losses. Read on for some wise advice about investment portfolios from the professionals.

1. Firstly, if you have business interests, you should certainly keep them separate from your personal investment portfolio. Then if something nasty should happen to your business, you can’t be sued for the clothes on your back, as it were. You might think your business is rock solid, but accidents such as fires can happen - and then, you may pass the business on to the younger generation who may not be as wise as you are. So protect your investments by keeping them separate.

2. Hold your investment portfolio outside your name. Many lenders require a personal guarantee that means you can be sued for your personal assets if you should default on the loan. So for standard asset protection, put them in another name.

3. Thinking ahead will help stave off any problems. Burying your head in the sand will not solve anything and it only makes matter worse. Saving money outside of your personal name and your business name makes good sense, even if your business appears rocks solid at the moment.

4. Now that superannuation laws have been changed, it’s up to you to make the most of them. Adding significant contributions to your super while it is still allowed will certainly increase your investment returns. And the new law means that your superannuation is protected from creditors in the event of bankruptcy.

5. Use of a discretionary trust is a good way to protect assets in case of bankruptcy, but also gives excellent tax benefits. This is done by splitting income and capital gains with adults who have a lower tax rate than your own.

6. Forming a company may not be the best way to protect assets or gain tax benefits. Appreciating assets from investments should not be held in a company because they are not eligible for the CGT discount of 50%. However, companies do have some good points if care is exercised.