Whether you are a beginner, or an expert, you are going to make some investing mistakes at some point. While these mistakes can turn out to be an excellent learning experience, you still want to minimize your losses as much as possible. This is because these investment mistakes don’t just cost you money, but also make you feel defeated. According to investment expert Ido Fishman, when your pocket as well as mind are rattled, it can leave you vulnerable to more costly mistakes and those you would rather avoid.
How can you do that? The key is to understand the investing mistakes that are common amongst beginners and learn to steer clear of them. What are they? Ido Fishman has highlighted some of the prominent ones below:
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Timing the market
The stock market is a volatile one and things will go up and down. Lots of people make predictions of when to sell and buy in bullish and bearish markets. In fact, people try to time other markets as well and not just the stock market. But, Ido Fishman says that this is just wrong because even though there are signals and patterns, no one can predict what will happen. Therefore, people should not be looking to time the market to make some quick cash because this is highly risk and you can lose it all in one go.
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Not doing your homework
There is no shortage of articles, experts and influencers talking about what they think are the best investments. Some of the information might be interesting, but Ido Fishman says that you should always do your research before investing. Some stocks are hyped up deliberately and they come crashing down later. This is referred to as a ‘pump and dump scheme’. The lesson here is that you should not trust recommendations blindly and not make investments without understanding them properly.
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Failing to diversify
One of the worst investment mistakes that beginners can make is not diversifying their investment portfolio. Everyone has different goals and expectations, so Ido Fishman says that your portfolio choices will be unique to you. But, this does not mean that you put everything in one area because that means exposing yourself to extreme risk. Look for different sectors and assets that can withstand downturns and keep your portfolio balanced.
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Expecting to become rich
Investing is thrilling because you are putting your money to work, but Ido Fishman says that you should not consider it a method of getting rich quick. Sure, you could make some money quickly, but always keep the long-term approach in mind. It can take time to build wealth, but your money will begin to grow due to the growth of markets and compound interest.
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Letting your emotions take control
Another major mistake that every beginner investor needs to avoid is letting their emotions take control. Experts like Ido Fishman will tell you that this is more common than you expect. Some people tend to become attached to a particular investment and may not want to let go, even when it becomes a loss. Likewise, some investors tend to panic when the market is going down and may make decisions in a hurry. You have to keep your emotions in control during when investing in order to make sound decisions.
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Investing too much before you are ready
When you do start investing, Ido Fishman says that you should start slowly and not dive into the deep end of the pool. You do not want to invest too much and lose all of it because that can and does happen. Always take small steps and increase your investment gradually when you feel comfortable that you have gained enough knowledge and are capable of making smart decisions.
As long as you steer clear of these mistakes, you will be able to move closer to your goals and take things forward.