Investment Strategies - Why Logic Is Important
I've been an active investor for about 20 years of my life. In using either my tried and tested strategies, or trialing new ones, one thing I have realised is that the more an investment strategy makes logical sense, the more successful it tends to be.
There are so many strategies I've tried, I have lost count. And there are at least as many which I've let go without trying. There are just too many. I found a quick fire way though which helps disregard the strategies which are useless, so you can trial the ones which are worth trialing. Its logic. Look at the logic of your trading strategy and see if there are holes in it. You'll be amazed by the number of strategies with big logical holes.
Most strategies presented to you will make sense. They have to or you would disregard them as nonsense. This is not what I am talking about though. The concern discussed in this article is logical completeness. If a strategy does not cover all possible scenarios you may come across, it will not take long before you find one of those scenarios. And when you do find a scenario which is not covered by your strategy, all of a sudden you need to make decisions outside the strategy. You will probably be left scratching your head or guessing.
When I am in this situation, where I have to make a decision outside a strategy I am trading because the strategy does not offer me guidance, I believe I am gambling. This is not good. I may make the right decision, but then again, I may lose my money. In all good investment strategies, you should not have to do this. You should simply plan the trade, and then trade the plan. There should not be room for guess work.
This guess work also breaks down the functioning of a trading strategy. If you are guessing parts of it, or making decisions outside the guidance of the strategy, how can you be sure that the strategy is driving your results or your other decisions are? If you can not be sure of this, how can you have confidence in your strategy?
So if someone presents you a trading strategy, go through the logic with a fine tooth comb. See if you can come up with scenarios which may happen in real life, which the strategy deos not cover. If you can think of some, try to get answers for these scenarios before you start trading with real money. Because believe me, if such scenarios exist, as soon as you put money down they will come up. I think 2007 - 2009 taught us all that.
And once you have covered off every situation you can think of, always remember to execute a preliminary trading exercise without putting money down. Spend a few months running the strategy in spreadsheets before you trade with money. You'll be amazed at the real life situations which come your way which you'd never have dreamed of. And you will thank your stars you resolved these issues when you had nothing on the line. - 23226
There are so many strategies I've tried, I have lost count. And there are at least as many which I've let go without trying. There are just too many. I found a quick fire way though which helps disregard the strategies which are useless, so you can trial the ones which are worth trialing. Its logic. Look at the logic of your trading strategy and see if there are holes in it. You'll be amazed by the number of strategies with big logical holes.
Most strategies presented to you will make sense. They have to or you would disregard them as nonsense. This is not what I am talking about though. The concern discussed in this article is logical completeness. If a strategy does not cover all possible scenarios you may come across, it will not take long before you find one of those scenarios. And when you do find a scenario which is not covered by your strategy, all of a sudden you need to make decisions outside the strategy. You will probably be left scratching your head or guessing.
When I am in this situation, where I have to make a decision outside a strategy I am trading because the strategy does not offer me guidance, I believe I am gambling. This is not good. I may make the right decision, but then again, I may lose my money. In all good investment strategies, you should not have to do this. You should simply plan the trade, and then trade the plan. There should not be room for guess work.
This guess work also breaks down the functioning of a trading strategy. If you are guessing parts of it, or making decisions outside the guidance of the strategy, how can you be sure that the strategy is driving your results or your other decisions are? If you can not be sure of this, how can you have confidence in your strategy?
So if someone presents you a trading strategy, go through the logic with a fine tooth comb. See if you can come up with scenarios which may happen in real life, which the strategy deos not cover. If you can think of some, try to get answers for these scenarios before you start trading with real money. Because believe me, if such scenarios exist, as soon as you put money down they will come up. I think 2007 - 2009 taught us all that.
And once you have covered off every situation you can think of, always remember to execute a preliminary trading exercise without putting money down. Spend a few months running the strategy in spreadsheets before you trade with money. You'll be amazed at the real life situations which come your way which you'd never have dreamed of. And you will thank your stars you resolved these issues when you had nothing on the line. - 23226
About the Author:
After years of profitable investing, Gnifrus Urquart enjoys discussing his favorite investment strategies and giving general investment guidance
posted by X - Men @ 1:39 AM
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