Avoid FOMO Investing Mistakes
FOMO. The fear of missing out. The compulsion to keep up with the Joneses can reach every corner of our lives: purchases, lifestyle, and even investing. Have you ever felt it? Social media has brought this phenomenon to the forefront in recent years, but most people haven’t given much thought to how to avoid FOMO investing mistakes in their investing behavior.
People like to think that they make their financial decisions based solely on logic …but that may not be the case.
Two researchers from Stanford say when it comes to investing, what we fear most is not the risk of losing our money, but the risk that we might not do as well as our peers. This could mean taking on more risk than is pertinent in the hopes of big pay offs, or leaving too much money on the proverbial table when market euphoria hits. All because we’re afraid of missing out on the next big opportunity.
This strange phenomenon explains why and how bubbles in the stock market appear. Investors pile into certain “hot” sectors or stocks, and prices inflate to unsustainable levels.
So why do investors follow the same patterns over and over again? Strangely enough, a herd mentality emerges that allows investors to feel a sense of false security – the idea that everyone is doing it, so it must be a good idea – and shared loss. When everyone loses money together, it’s not as painful as being the only one to lose (or the only one to “miss out”). The shared loss makes it easier to shrug off losing money, which sets investors up to repeat their previous investing mistakes.
There is good news though. You can avoid FOMO investing mistakes on great monetary gains while still managing risk appropriately. One way to accomplish this is by moving a portion of your portfolio to a fixed index annuity.
A Fixed Index Annuity offers the potential to grow your money along with stock market indexes, and comes with a guarantee that your money is 100% protected from stock market losses.
If you’re looking for a way to secure savings for your retirement, you may want to consider re-allocating some your assets from risky positions to a fixed index annuity.
Are you in need of a financial FOMO intervention? Contact Dewitt & Dunn today to schedule a complimentary appointment with one of our experts.
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Disclosure: For informational and educational purposes only. The information contained herein may contain information that is subject to change without notice. Any investments or strategies referenced herein do not take into account the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any specific person. Product suitability must be independently determined for each individual investor.
Indexed annuities are insurance contracts that, depending on the contract, may offer a guaranteed annual interest rate and some participation growth, if any, of a stock market index. Such contracts have substantial variation in terms, costs of guarantees and features and may cap participation or returns in significant ways. Any guarantees offered are backed by the financial strength of the insurance company, not an outside entity. Investors are cautioned to carefully review an indexed annuity for its features, costs, risks, and how the variables are calculated. A fixed annuity is intended for retirement or other long-term needs. It is intended for a person who has sufficient cash or other liquid assets for living expenses and other unexpected emergencies, such as medical expenses. A fixed or indexed annuity is not a registered security or stock market investment and does not directly participate in any stock or equity investments or index.
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