An investment philosophy is a way of conducting business necessary to make a profit from the investments made. It is the overall approach or way of looking at an investment and indicating financial future returns. In other words, it is how you choose to view your portfolio and what methodologies you apply to your investments.
The key to successful investment philosophy is to follow it consistently, to make the right decisions at the appointed time, and of course, to have enough time to realize your goals.
Investment philosophy refers to various mannerisms of individual stocks, bond ratios, equities or other financial derivatives in a given portfolio. Usually, in the past, investors had tended to use technical analysis, or the more traditional style of research, when it came to evaluating their portfolio investments.
There are two schools of thought on how to approach the evaluation of assets. Some investors stick to their original ways of picking stocks, choosing only the essential factors and then weighing them against the data available at the time to make a decision.
They do not rely on outside data to make their decisions, as they believe that today’s financial market will continue to be in the financial market tomorrow.
Others, such as value investors, believe differently. Value investing is a practice of investing in undervalued companies so that over time the capital gains are more significant than, or equal to, the total cost of capital invested.
By utilizing techniques such as price to book ratios, low debt equities, and aggressive use of derivatives, this type of investor seeks to create a portfolio that produces sustainable, income-producing profits. The value investing philosophy is similar to that of the old-fashioned stockbroker; the investor uses investment philosophy to determine what stocks to buy. However, because value investors are more risk-averse than most investors, they usually have to pay higher fees and carry higher levels of risk than more conventional investors.
Investment philosophy is essential
Experts warn that people who don’t have an investment philosophy risk changing their portfolio too often, jumping between strategies, or paying more taxes and costs.
There are some common elements to all investment strategies. We all want to see a positive return on investments. If you’re considering creating your philosophy, the first thing to believe is, “I am investing my money because I believe it can earn a good return.”
Here are some examples from investment philosophies
Contrarian Investment:
is based on the belief that mispricings can occur in securities markets if there is a certain amount of crowd behavior. An investor purchases and sells against the current sentiment, i.e., They buy and sell when the bond market is falling, but not when they are rising. It is usually considered responsible investing.
Value Investing is a way to make money by purchasing financial products, such as securities, for less than their actual value. This method was developed in the 1930s.
Growth Investing –
This section focuses on companies with above-average gains even though their stock price may seem high in either price-to-book or price-to-earnings ratio.
Socially Responsible Investment:
focusing on businesses that adhere to a set of moral/ethical values or standards such as low emissions and no animal cruelty.
Fundamental investing: evaluating a company’s growth and earnings before deciding to buy its shares. This means that you should focus on companies with high earnings potential.
The importance of investment philosophy
Investment outcomes can be measured by investment philosophy. Investors can fall into the vicious circle Ferri describes. Strategy changes are influenced by market conditions, or worse, market meltdowns. This is a terrible situation because real people are losing real dollars… unnecessarily.
It is impossible to maintain your course when the equity markets and accounts value start to fall, as they did in the previous week. You lose faith in your strategy and change it. You withdraw your money to the safety of cash. This safety idea reminds me of the quote by Cliff Asness, AQR fund manager. “Every time someone says that there is too much cash flow on the sidelines,” a small part of my soul goes. There are no sidelines.
On the other hand, if you don’t have an investment policy, it can be difficult not to worry about missing the boat when the market surges. Everyone else is a part of the latest success story. You run after hot and cold calls. It is a vicious cycle of buying high and selling low. This behavior is contrary to decades of empirical evidence. Research is clear. It is essential to create a solid financial plan that reflects your investment philosophy.
This will allow you to capture long-term growth in the market. A solid investment philosophy will make it easier to adhere to your plan, even when the market is acting crazy, as has been the case for the past week.
The Federal Reserve attempted to quantify the damage. The 2014 Federal Reserve economic reports examined investor performance between 1984 and 2012. Annual damage from return-chasing behavior was estimated at up to 5 percent. The Fed stated that “Poor portfolio timing due to return-chasing behavior has an important impact on portfolio performance.”
Three steps to an investment strategy
Aswath Damodaran, a Professor of Finance at New York Stern School of Business. He explains that there are three steps to an investment strategy.
Step 1
Acquire tools of the trade.
– Learn how to evaluate risk and integrate it into your investment decisions.
Financial statements are essential to be able to comprehend.
– Be aware of the risks and frictions involved in trading.
Step 2
Create a perspective about markets and the potential for their collapse.
Step 3 –
Depending on your risk tolerance, tax status, and time horizon, choose the philosophy that suits you best. Develop suitable asset allocation using broadly diversified funds and fund types.
Warren Buffett, an American billionaire and successful investor said these things about investing:
Rule No. 1:
Never lose your money.
Rule No. 2:
Do not forget rule No. 1.
You pay what you get. Value is what you get. Uncertainty is the risk of not knowing what you’re doing.
According to the Financial Times Lexicon, an investment philosophy is:
An investor’s or fund manager’s specific approach to maximizing returns. You could focus on value (look out for stocks that are under-priced), on fundamentals (lookout for a fund company with solid earnings prospects), or on growth markets (lookout for companies whose products have high demand); and so forth.
Definition of the 3 Types of Investments
1. Ownership Investments
When the term investment is mentioned, ownership is what most people think of. These are the most profitable and volatile types of investment. Here are some examples.
Stocks
stock is a way to own a percentage of a company. Although it may seem like a small stake, it is still ownership.
All traded securities, including currency swaps and futures, can be considered ownership investments. Investors purchase them to share in the gains, increase their value, or both.
Stocks, for example, can be purchased with the right of a share of the company’s stock value.
Some, like futures contracts, allow owners to take specific actions that will benefit them.
How the market values the asset that you have the right to determine your expectation of profit. Other investors will want Apple shares if you have Apple shares (AAPL). If you decide to sell your shares, their demand will drive up the price.
Business
It is an investment to invest in a business’s startup and operation.
Entrepreneurship is one of the most challenging investments because it involves more than just money. It is also an ownership investment that has huge potential returns.
Entrepreneurs can make substantial personal fortunes by creating products or services and selling them to the people who need them. Bill Gates, founder of Microsoft and is one of the world’s most successful men, is an example.
Real Estate
Investments are houses and apartments that can be rented out or resold.
Because it fulfills a basic need, the house you live in will be a completely different thing. It provides shelter. While it may increase in value over time and be a good investment, you shouldn’t expect to profit from the purchase. The underwater mortgages generated in 2008 are good examples of the dangers of investing in a primary residence.
Many people make a mistake of buying homes they cannot afford, assuming that they will soon sell for more.
Precious Objects & Collectibles
All ownership investments can be gold and precious gemstones, paintings by Impressionists, and signed LeBron James jerseys. As long as the objects are purchased to resell them, they can be considered investment assets.
They can raise or fall in price over time, just like any investment. Art and collectible tastes change. Market values for gems and gold can fluctuate.
They are expensive from the viewpoint of an investor. To retain their value, they must be insured and maintained in perfect condition.
2. Lending Investments
Lending money is one type of investing. There are generally lower risks than with other investments, and the rewards are therefore relatively small.
A bond issued either by a company or by a government will pay a fixed amount of interest over a specified period. There is a risk that either the government or the company will fail, in which case the bondholder might not get any of their investment back.
Savings accounts
An investment is a regular savings account. The bank is lending money to the investor. The bank will pay interest on the account holder. It will also make a profit by lending the remaining money to businesses at a higher interest rate.
While the return on savings accounts is low, it is virtually zero risks. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation fully insures savings accounts in the United States.
Bonds
Bond can be used to cover a variety of investments, from U.S. Treasuries to international debt issues and corporate junk bonds to credit default swaps (CDS).
There are types of bonds with different returns and risks. These types of investments are less risky and offer a higher return than those made from ownership.
Cash equivalents
These investments are easily converted to cash quickly and easily.
Money Market Funds
Money market funds can be bought at any bank and are very similar to savings accounts. To receive a slightly higher interest rate, the investor must commit to leaving the money alone for a certain period. The time can be as short as three months or as long as one year.
Money market funds are liquid than other investments. You can write checks from money market accounts the same way you would with a checking account. However, you can no longer use it as an investment once you begin writing checks.
