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It's best to rely on facts, not mood when investing Dollars & C Sense ompelling proof suggests you call your psychotherapist and not your investment adviser before you make investment decisions. Evidence puts forward the idea your returns are based on your mood instead of investment logic. How is this possible? We know the markets go up and down. It is these highs and lows that provide you with gains or losses. However true this may be, your mood dictates whether you are a buyer or seller. It has nothing to do with the market itself. We have known this for some time and, in that regard, nothing has changed. What is new is another study we have that reiterates the lessons we have learned from other similar studies. The investment rm BlackRock completed a study titled, "Investing and Emotions." Their data is based on the American market as measured by the S&P 500 index. The market returned an average annual rate of return of 8.2 per cent during the period 19922011. During that same time, the average investor only earned 2.3 per cent. Even the poorest or unluckiest investor should be able to capture more of the market returns than the average American investor. This appears, however, not to be the case. The culprit is the human mind. When the market appreciates in value, investors are con dent and they continue investing. The opposite is also true. When the market declines investors are hesitant and that caution Guest Contributor 17 | Thursday, March 19, 2015 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Peter Watson Warren Buffett, one of the most senior and respected U.S. investors, says, "Be greedy when others are fearful and fearful when others are greedy." His approach is to go against the crowd and buy or sell when the investment mood is opposite. Understand there is risk when you invest. We advise not to add to that risk by investing based on your potentially-irrational behaviour. -- Submitted by Peter Watson, MBA, CFP , R.F .P ., CIM, FCSI., Certi ed Financial Planner Choose from Special Selections of: LINING SOLIDS Our Reg. $4 m Now $1.88 m BROADCLOTH Our Reg. $3.50m Now $2.88 m means they do not invest. The popular investing expression of "buy low and sell high" is great in theory. In reality, it has no practical application because of the way the human mind responds to market uctuations. It is almost better if after you invested, you forgot you had invested. That way you would not let your volatile human emotions manage your investments. As it turns out, we have concrete information supporting the importance of not allowing human emotions to torpedo your investment returns. This comes from one of the biggest investment rms in the U.S. Fidelity analysts reported investors who had forgotten they had an account with their rm outperformed other accounts. In other words, those who did not remember their investments could not use their own version of market timing to interfere with performance. Financial planners have been suggesting a buy-and-hold strategy that tries to negate the adverse impact of the emotion-driven buy-and-sell decisions. Markets do ne in the long term; unfortunately, individual investors don't. There is another strategy. Choose from a great selection of Basics & Fashion, Home Decor & more! now $ from Spring SAVINGS! FLANNELETTE PRINTS Our Reg. $8 & $12 m Now $3.44-$3.88 m FLEECE SOLIDS & PRINTS Our Reg. $12-$16 m From $4m SPRINGTIME PRINTS Our Reg. $12 m Now $5 m DECOR SHEERS & TEXTURES Only $3 m DRAPERY LINING McCalls 7012 140cm From $4 m 188 $288 $388 $ 4 $5 $6 $7 $8 & up, per m or unit! And much more! Sale in effect February 25-March 29/15, on selected merchandise. Most items available in all stores. Look for the red sale tags. See flyer for full details! MISSISSAUGA: 3015 WINSTON CHURCHILL BLVD. (N.W. side @ Dundas) 905-828-9966 AND BURLINGTON: 3515 FAIRVIEW ST. 905-639-2516 Follow us on Facebook and Twitter! www.fabricland.ca A fusion of JApAnese & Chinese Cuisine in the heArt of oAkville! something neW coming soon to august 8 Dine in for All You cAn eAt lunCh or Dinner www.August8.cA 7 DAYs A week 4 Locations to serve you better! oAkville 280 north service road W. @ Dorval 905-338-6228 BurlinGton 834 Brant Street We Do tAkeout! hAMilton 1 Wilson Street stoneY Creek 835 Paramount Drive 10% off Dinner only. Cash only & with this ad.