Saturday 26 September 2015

Risk Aversion

Recently, I'm beginning to learn that everything we've learnt in the investment world is wrong.

Risk aversion is the arch nemesis of investing.

It used to be constantly shoved down our throats that investing was the only way to fight inflation. Rather than keep our money is savings accounts earning pathetic interest rates, we were far better off investing that money for a historic return of X% that would stave off inflation and hence keep up with rising consumer prices.

Yet the ability to save is a very strong virtue. Given our Asian roots, we are far better savers than people in the west. 

And maybe it is this ability that has withstood the test of time.

Saving and letting cold hard cash lay idle, is not the worst idea in the world. Because many a times, the best trade we did, was the trade we didn't make.

At least when you let your cash lay idle, you do not suffer the anxiety and worry of your investment going wrong (which, believe me, happens a lot). Even better yet, you do not suffer WHEN the investment goes wrong and end up with you suffering loses instead.

Save well, and save for a rainy day.

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