CFA Financial Fitness Run May 29, 2016

Its good to be healthy both physically and financially. I wish to be financial heavyweight. So I could buy more dreams and then live with it. But literally speaking of heavyweight I am standing as 100 kgs. Wishing to be financial heavyweight sometime. But to achieve that...One must be physically and mentally strong. To perform that discipline to acquire those physical body and material wealth.

CFA institute for global investment is professional association for investment professional. They will host the Annual Financial Fitness Run this coming May 29, 2016 at the BGC or Bonifacio High Street - Taguig City. Where most of running usually held almost every other week. I thought they were just only an association for financial experts. But also support sport and running passion advocacy as well.  

I signed up for 5k, not that active anymore as before I can do 21k. Me and Wazzup got a chance to talk to Rose and Lauren. Both were runners with opposite vision. Regarding it's passion on running the opposite way. One is competitive the other is for fun and fulfillment see the interview on link. So register and join the Financial Fitness Run.

CFA warns investor on the ff misconception

1. No investment strategy

Every investor should form an investment strategy that serves as a framework to guide future decisions. A well-planned strategy takes into account several important factors, including time horizon, tolerance for risk, amount of investable assets, and planned future contributions.

2. Invest individual stocks instead of a diversified portfolio of securities

Investing in an individual stock increases risk versus investing in an already-diversified mutual fund or index fund. Investors should maintain a broadly diversified portfolio incorporating different asset classes and investing styles. Failing to diversify leaves individuals vulnerable to fluctuations in a particular security or sector.

3. Investing in stocks instead of in companies

Investing is not a gambling and shouldn’t be treated as a hit-or-miss proportion potential. Analyze the fundamentals of the company and industry, not day-to-day shifts in stock price.

4. Buying High

The fundamental principle of investing is low and sell high. Others at risk for "buying high" are those who follow investment fads, buying the "popular" stocks of the day. Typically, these investments become fashionable for brief periods, leading many to invest at the height of a cycle or trend - just in time to ride it downward.

5. Selling Low

The flip side of the buy-high-sell-low mistake can be just as costly. Keep in mind that not every investment will increase in value and that even professional investors have difficulty beating the S&P 500 index in a given year. Always have a stop-loss order on a stock. It's far better the loss and redeploy the assets toward a more promising investment.

6. Churning your investments

Too-frequent trading cuts into investment returns more than anything else. A study by two professors at the University of California at Davis examined the stock portfolios. The study found out that, without transaction costs, these investors received a 17.7% annualized return, which was 0.6% per year better than the stock market itself. 

But, after transaction costs were included, investors' returns dropped to 15.3% per year, or 1.8% per year below the market. Again, the solution is a long-term-and-hold strategy, rather than an active trading approach.

7. Acting on "tips" and "soundbites".

Listening to the media for their sole source of investment thinking rather than pursuing a professional relationship with an advisor is a far too common investor mistake. While breaking news and "insider tips" may seem a promising way to give your portfolio a quick boost, always remember you are investing against professionals who have access to teams of research analyst. 

8. Paying too much in fees and commissions

Incredibly, investors are often hard-pressed to cite specifics on the structure employed by their investment service provider, including management fees and transactions costs. Investors should, as a precondition to opening an account, make sure they are fully informed as to the associated expenses that accompany every potential investment decision.

9. Decision-making by ax avoidance

While individuals should be aware of the tax implications of their objective should always be to make the fundamentally sound investment decision. Some investors, rather than pay a large capital gains tax, will allow the value of shares in a well-performing stock to grow so large it accounts for an inordinate percentage of their overall portfolio.

10. Unrealistic expectations

It is important to take a long-term view of investing and not allow external factors cloud actions and cause you to make a sudden and significant change in strategy. Comparing the performance of your portfolio with relevant benchmark indexes can help an individual develop realistic expectations.

11. Neglect

Individuals often fail to begin an investment program simply because they lack basic knowledge of where or how to start. Likewise, periods of inactivity are frequently the result of discouragement over previous investment losses or negative growth in the equities markets.

12. Not knowing your real tolerance for risk

Keep in mind that there is no such thing as risk-free investing. Determining your appetite for risk involves measuring the potential impact of  a real dollar loss of assets on both you portfolio and your psyche. 

In general, individuals planning for long-term goals should be willing to assume more risk in exchange for the possibility of greater rewards. However, don't wait until a sudden or near-term drop in the value of your assets to conduct an evaluation of your level of tolerance for risk.