Posted on December 22, 2008 - by Alvin

Buy and hold is not as easy as you think

Photo by Jef Poskanzer

I am not against buy and hold strategy. Instead, I believe it can really bring you great wealth – note that the world’s richest investor is a buy and hold strategist. Many investors are familiar with this strategy and often practise it, but not many are successful. Here are some of the reasons that may have caused their failure:

1) Fail to plan for future money needs

Many people are myopic such that they only see the near future of 3 to 5 years ahead, and some may even see shorter than that. When it comes to investing, they foresee they do not need the money and are willing to part with their money and invest in stocks for the “long term”, so as to grow their money. It is good that they are doing something for the future, but they have not considered a possible big purchase or major financial commitment may arise few years down the road. The major financial commitment can be marriage or buying a house. In order to free up some capital, they would usually liquidate the stocks. They would be very lucky if they can make a small profit, as buy and hold strategy is only profitable long term, safely to say 10 years and above.

Thus, it is important to know what your potential money needs in the future before you invest with buy and hold strategy. Do make sure you really do not need the money for any kind of events, either fortunate and unfortunate. Set aside a sum of money before you invest so you do not need to liquidate prematurely.

2) Weak psychology towards market downturn

As a buy and hold strategist, you cannot afford to be affected emotionally by the ups and downs of daily stock movement. Warren Buffett mentioned that he does not care if the stock exchange closes for 10 years! Unsuccessful buy and hold strategist tends to hold when losses are small, but when the losses sustain further, he or she may not have the tenacity to hold anymore and will liquidate the stocks.
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Related posts:

1. What’s Wrong with Buy-and-Hold?
2. What’s Right with Buy-and-Hold?
3. Buy and Hold is Overrated