Wall Street has been preaching the doctrine of Buy and Hold forever. The worst part about it is the small investor (and some big ones) actually believe it. Brokers and financial planners believe it, but when you show them they can get a better return by timing the market they just say, "It can't be done". They are either lazy or stupid.
Most brokers have not learned their trade - investing. Webster says that means putting money into something (stocks) for the purpose of obtaining an income or profit. When people look at their brokerage statements these days they must wonder where their broker went to school. Investors could have done better with a dartboard.
Brokers are not taught to make money. They are taught all the regulations that come out of Washington that must be followed so the brokerage company will not be sued. To my knowledge none of them are taught the basic fundamentals of increasing customers' wealth or protecting the customers' capital from loss.
Brokerage houses hire people to do reports about companies. They call them analysts, but today those jobs have deteriorated into snow jobs to get people to buy stock in a particular company. When you read the report you will find it very professionally done with pretty pictures and graphs and charts. Wow! I'll buy that. And a few months later you will wish you hadn't. When you have a loss the standard reply is, "Don't worry. You are in for the long haul. The market always comes back". In your lifetime? Today there are hundreds of stocks that have lost 50% to 90% of their value and there is absolutely no hope they will ever recover those losses. But?.you are in for the long haul. You now have the Buy and Hold philosophy.
Why do so many people cling to this doctrine?
You have a stock you bought for $40 per share that went up to some profitable number and now is down below $10/share. You're out 75% of your money. You are waiting for it to go back up so you can get out "even" and I will tell you "even" is a loser.
Many years ago I heard a story about how they used to catch monkeys in Africa. A hole was made just big enough for the monkey to get his outstretched hand in a hollowed out coconut shell. Fruit and sweets were placed inside. The monkey put his hand in and gripped the goodies, but could not remove his clinched fist. It refused to let go even when the hunter came to put him in a cage. All the monkey had to do was let go of the candy and he could have escaped.
Many investors are the same way about the stock they bought. They won't let go. The investor does not want to admit he was wrong. You are not wrong until you sell - just broke. Small losses will not hurt you, but holding on can put you in the poverty cage. Buy and Hold conventional wisdom will break you. Learn to let go of the losers quickly and you will preserve your capital.
Al Thomas' book, "If It Doesn't Go Up, Don't Buy It!" has helped thousands of people make money and keep their profits with his simple 2-step method. Read the first chapter at http://www.mutualfundmagic.com and discover why he's the man that Wall Street does not want you to know.
Copyright 2005
http://www.mutualfundmagic.com; 1-888-345-7870
limo prices to midway Crystal Lake west of Randal .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareThe greatest stock market myth is the idea that investing... Read More
For years I have been saying you must have a... Read More
Before we get into all the good news out there,... Read More
There is so much involved in developing peak performance, that... Read More
You have decided to buy some stock or mutual funds,... Read More
The ABC's of Stock Trading SuccessStock trading success...why is it... Read More
The Winter Games for the Olympics are coming up soon... Read More
I'll bet with almost anyone that has stocks or mutual... Read More
I have watched my cat play with a bag of... Read More
Did you know you can make money (and a lot... Read More
There is a famous cliff on the ocean in Acapulco... Read More
How can you dispel an illusion unless you look directly... Read More
How many times have you said to yourself, "I'd like... Read More
If you have not back tested your trading system, you... Read More
You remember the story about the frog that was put... Read More
When is a dividend not a dividend?The latest thing "conservative"... Read More
One of the basic laws of physics is that a... Read More
The trash business in its efforts to cook their books... Read More
Recently I watched my favorite football team lose a vital... Read More
Disclaimer: Please note that I do not necessarily purchase, own,... Read More
Most advisors will tell you they can beat the market.... Read More
An investor can find and research the best stock on... Read More
As one of my regular readers you know I have... Read More
You must take the time once a month to review... Read More
THERE'S SOMETHING TO BE SAID FOR standing firm in the... Read More
taxi o'hare Auburn ..Everybody is riding the Wall Street Roller coaster. Even if... Read More
Whenever I see mutual fund comparisons in the trade publications... Read More
Having lived aboard a sailboat for 2 years I was... Read More
I receive emails from Morningstar. This company provides statistics and... Read More
The stock market has been going up for more than... Read More
Let's say you are interested in this one company. You... Read More
There is no question that the stock market is being... Read More
In his wonderful book, 'Multiple Streams of Income', best selling... Read More
Among the largest forces that affect stock prices are inflation,... Read More
During our travel down life's path we come to many... Read More
I love roller coasters. The steeper the better. High and... Read More
Ever have one of those sample boxes of candy? Each... Read More
I know there are a lot of you out there... Read More
Every day in any financial publication you will find the... Read More
1. Do not spread your money too thin.My friend has... Read More
In a previously written article, we expanded the use of... Read More
Mutual fund investing is a lot like Thai cooking. Everyone... Read More
If you are going to be a winner in the... Read More
If you are serious about making and keeping money by... Read More
There is so much involved in developing peak performance, that... Read More
One of the most believed bits of conventional wisdom from... Read More
Over the past few months, several investment professionals have brought... Read More
We keep hearing about this bear market and that the... Read More
If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck... Read More
What is leverage?Here is a definition of leverage from an... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |