....when they go on sale or do you prefer to pay full price? Now, before you snicker, consider that many people do prefer to pay full price. Why? Take clothing as an example. If you want to be trendy, you'll likely pay full price since most clothing stores don't put the latest fashions on sale.
Other folks, while still "fashion conscious," prefer to wait until an item goes on sale so they can get it at a "bargain" price. And, chances are, if you're patient, you can get that desired piece on sale as the store makes room for the next season's clothes.
How people shop for clothes can be very instructive in how to invest successfully in the financial markets. Here are several comparisons to think about:
1) Buy what's on sale. Like clothing, investments occasionally drop to a point where they seem like a bargain. Just as smart shoppers like to buy clothes on sale, shrewd investors like to buy securities that are temporarily out of favor.
2) Buy at full price. Well, maybe not. It's fine to buy trendy clothes at full price because of the psychic rewards of being sharply dressed. But, investors should focus on making money, not on having bragging rights at the cocktail party about owning the latest high-flying, change-the-world Internet company.
3) Buy only what you need. Consumer's closets have limited space so most clothes shoppers have a limit on how many suits or coats they buy. Likewise, investors should buy only what they need to help meet their goals and objectives. Specifically, there's no need to take extra risk if a lower-risk portfolio has a reasonable chance of helping you meet your goals.
Interestingly, investors often think very differently about how they approach buying clothes and making investments. With clothes, many people prefer to wait for a sale and are apt to buy more if they can get them at a deep discount. Conversely, when investments go "on sale," meaning, their price has dropped, investors often shy away.
As an advisor, part of our job is to help make investing more like bargain clothing shopping. We look for investments that are on sale, that meet your needs, and will last for more than one season. Unlike tie-dyed shirts, we think this type of investment strategy will never go out of style.
