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Scary Investing Mistakes | From the desk of Matthew Haertzen

Halloween is just around the corner! Known for creative costumes, monster movies, and haunted houses, the holiday is designed to make us jump, scream, or cover our eyes. It is supposed to be scary, but also fun. But there is something else genuinely scary (and not fun) that may also make us want to jump, scream, or cover our eyes: investing mistakes. In the spirit of the season, let's examine some of the scariest mistakes. Avoid these and hopefully you can avoid digging your own financial grave.

Warning: the following content contains several Halloween references that some readers may find disturbing.

  1. The Mummy: Like mummies, investors can get wrapped up in the daily news of stock market movements. Why is that scary? Paying such close attention can lead investors to actively buy and sell, losing sight of the fact that success in the stock market requires a long-term approach. Too much focus on investing news can also lead to unnecessary anxiety and emotional stress. Don't make a mistake based on short-term market fluctuations that may come back to haunt you.

  2. The Zombie: Like zombies chasing living humans, investors may chase hot stock tips or popular funds based on recommendations from friends, coworkers, social media or CNBC. To share a skeleton in my closet, I have fallen prey to the Zombie in the past myself. The result? As predictable as a zombie movie. Investors buy a hot stock or fund at an unsustainably high price only to have the stock price eventually drop rapidly and significantly. Think GameStop, cryptocurrencies, or for those of you old enough to remember the tech bubble, Pets.com. As Warren Buffett said, "Be greedy when others are fearful and fearful when others are greedy."

  3. The Witch: Like witches throwing an eclectic collection of ingredients into a cauldron with hopes that their potion will work magic, some investors invest without a coherent strategy or financial plan. A sound financial plan should be a logical, realistic, and informed guide with both short-term and long-term financial goals to set the framework for investing success. Once you have a plan, stick to it. Of course, there can be legitimate reasons that warrant a change in plans. For example, you take on the responsibility of caring for aging parents or have a baby. But, buying an expensive sports car on a whim or lending money to a family member when you really cannot afford to do so are the types of decisions that can derail your long-term financial plan. It's like changing horses midstream, or broomsticks midair, which I would never recommend.

  4. The Frankenstein: Just like the scientist who created Frankenstein, it can be tempting to feel like we have control when we do not. Intelligent investors know they cannot control many things, including market fluctuations and investment returns. But they can control others: listening to fiduciary advisors, budgeting, saving, and investing on a regular basis, and diversifying. Focusing your energy on the things you can control can be the spark to your investing success.
While Halloween is supposed to be scary, investing does not have to be. Done right, investing should help you calmly achieve your financial goals in life. Avoiding these scary mistakes will give you more than a ghost of a chance to do just that.

Finally, I would also like to see your Halloween costumes. The first five to email or text me a picture from Halloween night or a Halloween party will receive a Starbucks Gift Card treat in the mail.

If you would like to discuss investments with me, you can email me at mhaertzen@wtwealthmanagement.com or call (520) 204-1058. You can also schedule a meeting directly with me using this link: Schedule with Matt

Sincerely,

Matt Haertzen
Matt Haertzen, CFA, CFP



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