Investing in stocks shouldn’t be difficult. However, prospective investors tend to get some things wrong by failing to research adequately. The logical investor – on the other hand – learns the basics, thus ensuring they can juggle between gut instincts and rational thoughts. Today, we take a comprehensive look at common mistakes prospective investors make when researching stocks.

Not Having a Plan

For starters, any investor that doesn’t have a plan is already failing. These investors don’t know what they want to achieve from investing. Investments are made with one clear aim in mind – to finance a goal or accomplish a task.

An investor that knows what they need to achieve can invest wisely and properly. For instance, someone investing for their retirement is likely to buy long-term securities. However, individuals looking to finance their vacation will look towards short-term investment opportunities.

You can only invest in suitable securities once you have a plan. It will also help you determine the investment duration and the total amount to invest. Therefore, you can expect to get adequate returns to suit your needs and goals.

Following Current Market Trends

Most first-time investors make the mistake of blindly following the financial media. Yes, they offer excellent insight into investment opportunities. However, opinions on financial media can be somewhat misleading.

You will end up investing in ”fashionable securities” that don’t match your end goals. Some investors lose large amounts of money once these securities hit a downside. Everyone else is following these speculative stocks, which increases the risks of a downfall.

What you need to do is a bit of self-study after reading reports in the financial media. Therefore, you can make more informed decisions that suit your needs. You will also find it easier to analyze the trend and better speculate on its performance.

Lacking a Portfolio

Did you know that your biggest strength is your portfolio? For starters, it helps you maximize returns while cutting losses. This way, you can effectively invest in stocks without losing every penny you have.

The main goal of a portfolio is to hedge risk. Although it can’t completely nullify risk, it can help cushion the financial blow of a bad investment. Breaking even is better than losing all your finances with a single stock.

Although we know that riskier investments often produce the highest rewards, that is not always the case. Some high-risk stocks are not worth it both in the long run and in the short run. Therefore, having a well diversified portfolio is vital for all investors.

Solely Depending on an Investment Manager

It is good to have confidence in your investment manager. After all, they probably have years of experience in the field. Most of the time, their input will be invaluable in your investment journey. However, it doesn’t mean that they are always right.

Blind dependence on investment managers can lead you down the wrong investment path. Consider that we are all human, and we all make mistakes. Therefore, you must research before making any investment – even when approved by your investment manager.

Start by seeking out the input of your investment manager. Ask them to give you several options based on their findings and opinions. Then, ensure you look into these options and pick suitable ones for your portfolio. Doing this ensures you maximize your returns by limiting risks, thus safeguarding your initial investment.

Seeking Out High Performing Securities Only

A stock that is performing well at the moment might not do so well in the near future. Most investors make the mistake of researching high-performance stocks only when creating their portfolios. Doing so greatly limits your options without offering a guarantee of success.

You must investigate how companies of interest are performing based on their loss/profit statements, cash flow statements, and balance sheet. Only looking at high-performing options will not help you better diversify your portfolio.

It will also help to research how companies intend to utilize raised funds. Doing this will help you determine the probability of making suitable returns. A company that intends to expand its operations is more likely to make profits than one trying to clear its debts.

The Bottom Line

You must conduct adequate research before investing in stocks. Knowing your options will help you avoid beginner mistakes that could cost you a fortune. You will also exercise more patience and ignore advice that could lead you in the wrong direction.

It will also help to look beyond stocks when diversifying your portfolio. An excellent option to consider is investing in blue-chip art. The art market is characterized by low correlation and a high appreciation rate, which helps hedge against inflation. At Masterworks, we are an exclusive community investing in blue-chip art that can help better diversify your portfolio. Ensure you request an invitation to get started today.