We live in a YouTube, do-it-yourself, Bunning’s generation. I’m all for learning and self-support. I mean hey, if you can save some money and have fun while doing it, why not? The only problem with applying that approach to investing is that if you stuff up, I’m pretty sure the consequences will be far reaching and probably cost you a lot of money.
I’ve spoken to many people in my journey as a financial planner and there is nothing sadder than hearing stories of failed businesses and failed investments. It doesn’t just cost you money, it affects your well-being, your emotions, your outlook on life, your relationships, your family and how you look at every investment decision for the rest of your life.
In my opinion and experience with my own personal investment losses, a big part of the desire to do it on your own is pride. Yes, we tell ourselves you can save on cost/fees. It could also be a trust issue or maybe it was a bad experience in the past. But there is also that voice in your head that tells you, you can do it, you just have to read and educate yourself more than others and you’ll get ahead in no time. It’s that competitive spirit that can drive us.
Well with investing, you need to be careful with this pervasive mindset. Economic cycles have no respect for how much knowledge you have. Markets move more quickly than you can make sense of it. Interest rates change. Political leaders get kicked out or come into power. New laws are written and old ones replaced. All of which you have no control over.
You need to be humble, and respect the idea that the future is unknown. That you don’t know it all and you don’t know what you don’t know. Far too often this lesson is only learnt, after money has been lost and the damage is done.
In the next few blogs I’m going to give you some guard rails for investing because I don’t want you to learn through loss. Life’s too short not to learn from the mistakes of others.
By Ray Ong
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Contact us on 0893816811 for a complimentary consultation. Ray is a holistic, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and LIFE RISK SPECIALIST® and has a Bachelor’s of Commerce in Financial Planning (with distinction). He is a member of The Financial Planning Association of Australia. We are based in Perth, Western Australia and specialise in retirement planning, wealth accumulation and wealth protection (life and disability insurance).