Build your financial security with OBT Financial Group – Lockyer Valley Business of the Year recipients and specialist financial advisers to individuals, business owners and farming families on accounting, tax, business advice and wealth planning for over 40 years.Many people don’t realise the greatest impact on their investment returns could in fact be their own behaviour.
Here are four behavioural traps you should be aware of:
1. Making decisions during market volatility
When you see markets up one day and down the next, it’s easy to be nervous about investing, and this is when we risk making irrational decisions. It’s important to remember that market volatility is inevitable, while markets tend to bounce back over the long term. While there may be good reasons to sell, you should also remember that by selling out if you’re nervous, when markets are low, you may only crystallise losses.
One suggestion is to stay focused on your long-term goals and try to ignore market ‘noise’.
2. Becoming overconfident in strong markets
Many decisions people make during strong markets will likely come right, because the entire market is rising. This will make many people feel smart and more con dent in their ability to invest. It’s important to remember that returns from rising markets aren’t an indicator of investment skills. It’s how people behave and how their investments perform during times of market distress that are the sign of a good investor.
3. Avoiding herd mentality
It’s a natural human tendency to position ourselves relative to others and to feel the need to ‘keep up’. However this can lead to poor financial decisions. New investment trends can easily get traction and create conversations amongst friends and family. The dotcom bubble is a perfect example as share prices of many internet companies soared, encouraging investors to get in.
By early 2000, markets began to crash and investors suffered. While it’s tempting to take part in the latest trend, it’s important to take the time to assess any investment on its own merit and whether it suits your personal goals.
4. Being swayed by recent events
We are wired to give undue weight to the most recent events. This is especially true when investing. In 2010, with the GFC fresh in the minds of many, the common view was that Australian shares could do no wrong and international shares were shunned.
But then, in the ve years that followed, international shares provided far better returns than Australian shares.
This meant that investors who had sold out of international shares missed the rally. Instead of chasing yesterday’s winners, it’s usually best to remain patient and stick to your personal plan.
We often go to considerable efforts to maintain the belief that we’re in control of situations where we really aren’t. It’s the same for investments: no one truly knows what lies ahead for markets.
Always speak with your OBT financial planner to discuss your investment options on 5462 2277.
Rodney Turner and OBT Financial Group are Authorised Representatives of Lonsdale Financial Group Ltd ABN 76 006 637 225 | AFSL 246934.
This is general advice only and does not take into account your financial circumstances, needs and objectives. Before making any decision based on this document, you should assess your own circumstances or seek advice from a financial planner and seek tax advice from a registered tax agent. Information is current at the date of issue and may change. This information and certain references, where indicated, are taken from sources believed to be accurate and correct. To the extent permitted by the Law, Lonsdale, its representatives, officers and employees accept no liability for any person that relies upon the information contained herein. Information is current at the date of issue and may change.
Source NAB Asset Management
