Thursday 13 August 2009

What guides your investing?

It is surprising to know of many remisiers who cannot give you a short account of their investment principles. In conversations, they talk about short term "hot stocks". So and so "smart" investor is buying. So and so "smart" investor is selling. This stock should go up higher soon because of this and that. This is not such a good stock. This is a good stock.

Such "guide" is of little use for a serious investor who seeks to "invest" significant amount into the market for good returns (either for dividend and/or capital gains) over a life-time.

It is surprising why so many investors do not have a "good" guide for their investing. Many understand the buy low and sell high approach (or for some, buy high and sell higher approach), but with little application of fundamental business analysis. They have little control over the controllables, therefore, their approach is very much dependent on the play of the market and chance.

However, by adopting certain investment philosophy and understanding their emotion and behaviour, their investment operations can be safer with a higher probability of a positive moderate return. And there is no need to have a superior IQ to do so.

No comments: