What is the most common investors mistake?

[Sig]

Not having read the large body of literature on market efficiency.

 

[Jakobsberg]

More specifically I wondering about investing to the energy sector. But I do not want to make a mistake. It falls for a long time. Maybe it's time to buy? Sooner or later it is must stop falling. What do you think? Is it the moment when you need to buy the dip?

Well its certainly a better time to buy now that it is cheaper than in the recent past but what is your plan if it continues to get even cheaper, and even if you have a plan are you sure you can follow it ?

 

[xandman]

More specifically I wondering about investing to the energy sector. But I do not want to make a mistake. It falls for a long time. Maybe it's time to buy? Sooner or later it is must stop falling. What do you think? Is it the moment when you need to buy the dip?

Make no mistake. This is not a dip. It is a trend. You're not catching a falling knife. You're standing in front of a runaway train. Buying into a negative trend requires a very long term perspective to become a bag holder. Think value investing, Graham & Dodd stuff.

However, the best time to trade it from a bullish standpoint is after a peak in bankruptcies, turn up in oil, and massive acquisitions/capital spending.

If your going to short with an aging trend, good luck. Energy, like commodity based industries, can have very vicious bull runs. I don't think this high volatility era is from the negative expectations, imho.

 

[Redneck]

I'm a novice investor and I would like to know your opinion or maybe some experience.

Investing is not the same as trading - opposite ends of the spectrum


Some mistakes (for an investor)

Allowing some nit wit to manage your money - expecting they will protect your ass / work in your best interest

Dollar cost averaging.., while price dropping - wait till it bottoms and confirms

Excessive activity (investing is pretty much set it and forget it)

RN

 

[Sig]

Investing is not the same as trading - opposite ends of the spectrum


Some mistakes (for an investor)

Allowing some nit wit to manage your money - expecting they will protect your ass / work in your best interest

Dollar cost averaging.., while price dropping - wait till it bottoms and confirms

Excessive activity (investing is pretty much set it and forget it)

RN

+1 on the first and third item, but on the second...
Its so nice when they let you know that you're at the bottom. Since no-one does and all the research shows it's not possible to predict, this advice is along the same vein as "you should buy low and sell high".

 

[Redneck]

Its so nice when they let you know that you're at the bottom.

Since no-one does

and all the research shows it's not possible to predict,

That's funny - Thanks

this advice is along the same vein as "you should buy low and sell high".

Well..., one should - unless entering on momentum

Or..., obviously fighting price (buy high / sell low - yup.., winner.., winner chicken dinner)

RN

 

[cdcaveman]

I think a lot can be taken from this forum and even in the short thread a few good things have been said

 

[cdcaveman]

Most people are giving trading advice not investing advice....

 

[lawrence-lugar]

Most people are giving trading advice not investing advice....

This is EliteTrader, afterall -- not EliteInvestor .
...Trader sounds so much sexier than investor...

 

[Scataphagos]

Most people are giving trading advice not investing advice....

Isn't trading an investment style?

The difference between "trading" and "investing" is mostly semantic.