I am listing three common mistakes that you may be doing. I am also
giving you the some easy to follow solutions to escape from doing these
mistakes.
Mistake 1: How often do you take investment decisions on the spot?
Assume you are sleeping peacefully. Suddenly a big thud wakes you up,
how do you react in such scenarios? Be it a cat or a thief. Immediately
you grab an object available near you and are ready to hit the
threatening subject, right?
Do you react the same way while choosing an investment plan? If so, the
chances are higher for you to underperform. Instant or spontaneous
investment decisions do not help you to become rich as you wish. Studies
have shown that even the professional investors fail to perform well
when they take hasty, emotional, overly spontaneous or sudden decisions.
That too while buying well structured products like mutual funds.
So, how can you avoid taking decisions on the spot?
Keep a pattern while building your investment portfolio and stick to
it. Be a scriptwriter to your portfolio, set a pattern in buying or
selling the investment products. Do not make hasty or spontaneous
decisions just because your 'hunch' says so.
Does this mean you just keep quiet during market fluctuations? No, not
at all, just rebalance your investment portfolio periodically.
Mistake 2: How long do you think before choosing an investment option?
One of my friends recently had a tough time at work because of poor
performance. He has been identified with mild diabetes where he is
refrained from taking whole sugar sweets. After few months, he seems to
be doing fine again. I asked if diabetes made him physically weak
earlier, he said no. He has been thinking too much about not able to eat
sweets. The thought process sucked his energy and later reflected in
his work. When he slowed down the thought process, he started performing
well in his work.
Too much of thinking is not good while taking investment decisions as
well. Do you know why? You lose lot of energy and the willpower in the
thinking process. You become tired at the end of it. With less energy
while 'really' taking a decision, you end up taking a wrong one.
So, how can one avoid thinking too much while taking investment decision?
Automating the thinking process will help a lot in taking the right
decision. Do not waste your energy by thinking always about saving
options. Strategize a plan on what are the products you would be
interested in investing.
This can be done by analysing the pros and cons of various products.
Choose the ones depending on your risk tolerance. Streamline your
thought process by planning in steps. Once you have a basic plan, start
investing on it. For example, if you feel a particular mutual fund suits
your requirement, invest in it. You may start with a smaller amount.
Don't wait until you analyse all the products. Slowly increase investing
more money on other options that you choose.
Mistake 3: How frequently do you take action?
Many investors love to think about investments. They like to read a lot
about personal finance. They enjoy discussing with their friends about
portfolio building. They show an enormous amount of enthusiasm in
analysing different investment options.
Just, thinking, reading, discussing, and analysing about investments
will not change the outcome of your investments. If you take decisions
and act based on whatever you have read, discussed, thought over, and
analysed, then your outcome will change. Take financial, investment
decisions and execute them as and when required.
Look out for the signs and symptoms for these three mistakes and
completely avoid them. This will kick start your journey towards
becoming rich.
Source: ndtv-profit
