13 Dumb Moves Investors Make

The concept of saving for a rainy day has probably been around for as long as humans have. It’s virtually instinctive to prepare for an uncertain future by setting something aside.

It’s after we set aside savings that potential problems pop up. Because it’s not enough to simply save. From insured savings to stocks to real estate, we want our savings working as hard for us as we do for them – hopefully without losing anything in the process.

And now for a more complete list of dumb moves investors make…

Not investing

The biggest mistake investors and savers make is not doing it.

Don’t wait for that raise, inheritance, or lottery win. Start today, right now, with whatever you can.

Consider this: If you can save just 5 bucks a day every day for 30 years, and earn 10 percent on it, you’ll end up with $343,693. That’s enough to change your life and the lives of those you love.

And if you can’t find $5, start tracking your expenses and see if you can.

Investing before doing your homework

When it comes to investing in risk assets like stocks, one mistake I’ve made is going on “gut instinct” and 20 minutes of Internet research.

In college I decided to start investing as a way to build my retirement. Good plan. But I also decided to invest in companies I knew and liked, rather than actually understanding them. Bad plan.

When dealing with investments that can go south, don’t invest without a clue. If you’re thinking about stocks, there’s plenty of online research and information available free, not to mention TV shows and library books.

There’s no reason to be uninformed.

Being impatient

In a post called The 10 Commandments of Wealth and Happiness, the author, Stacy Johnson, offers this advice: Live like you’re going to die tomorrow, but invest like you’re going to live forever.

He also offers an example of how patience pays:

“The biggest winner in my IRA is Apple. I don’t remember exactly when I bought it, but I’m guessing it was in 2002 or 2003.

My split adjusted price is around $8/share: Today Apple’s trading at around $400/share, so my $1,600 investment is now north of $80,000.

Had I been impatient and sold early, I would have missed out on the most profitable investment I ever made.”

Stare at a newly planted tree for 24 hours and you’ll be convinced it’s not growing. Fixate on your investments the same way, and you could miss out on a game-changer.

Not diversifying

There are two types of risk in stocks. The first is called market risk: If the entire market tanks, your stocks probably will as well. The other is called company risk: the risk a specific company will do poorly.

It’s hard to eliminate market risk, but you can reduce company risk by investing in lots of companies.

Can’t afford to own a meaningful number of companies? That’s what mutual funds are for.

A mutual fund allows you to own a slice of dozens – even hundreds – of companies with an investment of as little as $50.

Taking too much risk

Everybody wants to double their money overnight. But if you’re always swinging for the fence, you’re going to strike out often.

Some investments are little more than gambling. Investments like options and commodities, for example, promise huge rewards, but the risk is also huge.

There’s nothing wrong with the occasional flyer, but if that’s all you’re going to do, you’re not investing, you’re gambling. Go to Vegas; at least you’ll get free drinks.

Not taking enough risk

On the other side of the same coin, some investors stand like a deer in the headlights, unwilling to take even a measured amount of risk.

Instead, they keep their savings in insured bank accounts, earning less than 1 percent and comforting themselves with Mark Twain’s expression: “I’m more concerned with the return of my money than the return on my money.”

Insured savings will insure you never lose anything. But they’ll also insure the purchasing power of your savings won’t keep pace with inflation. In other words, you’ll become poorer over time.

Getting greedy

The first time I made money in a stock, I was hooked. I went overnight from stable, thoughtful investor to wild speculator.

Thankfully, my father stepped in and convinced me to stop sprinting and start walking again. If he hadn’t, I probably would have blown my entire savings.

Paying too much attention

There is such a thing as information overload. Between the Internet, newspapers, magazines, and cable TV, it’s easy to get more than your fill of conflicting information.

Step back, look at the big picture, find a few financial journalists or others you trust, then tune out the rest.

Stacy says, “If I listened to all the experts on CNBC, there’s no way I’d still own Apple today. I buy quality companies and hold onto them for long periods of time. I can go weeks – even months – without checking them.”

Following the herd

One of the world’s wealthiest men, Warren Buffet, said, “Be fearful when others are greedy; be greedy when others are fearful.”

Most of the stocks Stacy owns were purchased when the Dow was below 7,000 and nobody was buying. His logic?

“If you’re convinced the economy is going to zero, buy guns and canned goods. But if you can reasonably expect a recovery some day, invest – even if that day is a long way away, and even if it’s possible things could get worse before they get better.”

Holding on when you should be letting go

Stocks are best played as a long game. You should hold on long enough to see it through, but not knowing when to get out could cost you big.

In 1980, General Motors was the largest company in the world. In 2009 it went bankrupt.

Don’t obsess over your investments, but don’t ignore them either.

Being overconfident

The economy runs in cycles of boom and bust – when times are good, people often confuse luck with skill.

This is what happened during the housing bubble and the dot.com stock bubble that preceded it. Being in the right place at the right time isn’t the same as being smart.

Failing to adjust

How you invest should change as your life changes. When you’re young, it makes sense to invest aggressively, because you have time to recoup from mistakes.

As you approach retirement age, you should reduce your risk.

The great recession and stock market decline of 2008-2009 wiped out the savings of many on the verge of retirement. That shouldn’t have happened, because they shouldn’t have had that much exposure to stocks.

Not seeking qualified help

While investing isn’t rocket science, if you don’t have the time or temperament, consider getting help.

The wrong help?

A commissioned salesperson more interested in their financial success than yours.

The right help?

A fee-based planner with the right blend of education, knowledge, credentials, and experience. Check out How to Find an Awful Financial Adviser for tips.

“13 Dumb Moves Investors Make” was provided by MoneyTalksNews.com.