Exploding the Myths

Each stock market boom brings about a new wave of entrepreneurs and marketing gurus who will take advantage of the upswing using slick advertising and catch phrases to lure you into the latest investment. Dividend imputation funds, ethical investing, asset allocation, derivative trading and dollar-cost-averaging give the industry an exotic flavour. Money flows readily from our pockets into the latest managed fund. I have felt for some time that many of the advertising slogans are derived from old ideas that will not help you to be a profitable trader. These slogans along with other "old wives tales" are what I lump together as market myths. As each new share market boom arrives another generation of new investors is swept along on the crest of a wave that finally comes crashing down on them. Bewildered first timers are left holding worthless pieces of paper as companies enter bankruptcy and disappear off the face of the planet. Short-term trades entered for instant profit become long-term investments relegated to the bottom drawer. Losing traders have no idea what went wrong. They are often too embarrassed to make an effort to analyse their mistakes, pass on their knowledge and ensure the next generation is more successful. Once bitten, twice shy! Don't expect to get an education from the broking industry. It does not exist for that purpose. It is there to take a commission or a management fee from you. Don't expect your broker to make above average returns for you. Again, he is there to earn a commission. Each boom-time brings a new wave of investors being advised by a new wave of young advisors who have limited experience and lack the knowledge required to outperform the Index. Given that industry statistics show that 80% of newcomer lose, how good is the industry?

Many myths have been perpetuated over the years. You will be aware of them but will not understand how they affect your attempts to beat the averages. It is these Investment Myths that have led me to write this book. They are myths because they will not help you outperform the market index. I expect you want more than that. This book is about exploding those myths and trying to set the newcomer on the road to financial independence through profitable trading.

Myth One

Time in the market is important, not timing! This is the biggest load of rubbish that I have ever heard. This saying is for those who are unable to get their timing right. For those who know better, it is a myth. Waiting years and years for an investment to produce a higher than average return rates as the greatest fallacy of all. Is there any point buying shares in say Melbourne IT at $12.00 or $14.00 in March or April 2000 and watching for a couple of years as they go down to less that $1.00? Timing is of paramount importance! To suggest otherwise is absurd. Everything we do requires good timing...