Why would anyone sell when further gains are guaranteed? Because the gains are unreal but the losses are real.
When markets are soaring and your portfolio is rocketing higher, the gains seem unreal.Did I really make that much in one day, week, month? Wow! With the gains higher every time you look, it would be foolish to sell because look at the flood of media reports on “the Roaring 20s” that are predicted with such certitude that it’s essentially guaranteed, the reflation that’s lifting all boats globally, the Federal Reserve printing trillions to further inflate the market, and the millions of new traders scooping fantastic gains.
Why would anyone be idiotic enough to sell when the Bull Market is just getting started? Indeed. Sure, you sold to book those crazy gains in a couple of speculative frenzies, but you bought right back in to grab the next booster rocket higher.
There is only one thing more painful than watching the market continue higher after you sold:and that is holding on for the inevitable bounce and losing your entire profit.
There is only one thing more painful than holding on for the inevitable bounce and losing your entire profit: and that is continuing to hold because you’re so sure the market will bounce big-time that you lose much or most of your capital.
There is only one thing more painful than being so sure the market will bounce big-time that you lose much or most of your capital: and that’s refusing to accept your losses and hanging on until you’ve lost all your capital.
There is only one thing more painful than refusing to accept your losses and hanging on until you’ve lost all your capital: and that is realizing you still owe the government an enormous sum for the capital gains you reaped on the way up but no longer have the money to pay.
Why would anyone sell when further gains are guaranteed? Because the gains are unreal but the losses are real. Put another way: the gains aren’t really yours until you sell and pocket them in cash. (Best to pay your estimated taxes the day after you book the gains, as a third of those gains aren’t really yours, they belong to the government.)
Gains are unreal, losses are real.
If you found value in this content, please join me in seeking solutions by becoming a $1/month patron of my work via patreon.com.
My new book is available!A Hacker’s Teleology: Sharing the Wealth of Our Shrinking Planet 20% and 15% discounts (Kindle $7, print $17, audiobook now available $17.46)
Read excerpts of the book for free (PDF).
The Story Behind the Book and the Introduction.
Recent Podcasts:
Jay Taylor and I discuss The Upcoming Revolt of the Middle Class (22 min)
My recent books:
A Hacker’s Teleology: Sharing the Wealth of Our Shrinking Planet (Kindle $8.95, print $20, audiobook $17.46) Read the first section for free (PDF).
Will You Be Richer or Poorer?: Profit, Power, and AI in a Traumatized World
(Kindle $5, print $10, audiobook) Read the first section for free (PDF).
Pathfinding our Destiny: Preventing the Final Fall of Our Democratic Republic($5 (Kindle), $10 (print), (audiobook): Read the first section for free (PDF).
The Adventures of the Consulting Philosopher: The Disappearance of Drake$1.29 (Kindle), $8.95 (print); read the first chapters for free (PDF)
Money and Work Unchained $6.95 (Kindle), $15 (print)Read the first section for free (PDF).
Become a $1/month patron of my work via patreon.com.
NOTE: Contributions/subscriptions are acknowledged in the order received. Your name and email remain confidential and will not be given to any other individual, company or agency.
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Thank you, Mike ($5/month), for your gloriously generous pledge to this site — I am greatly honored by your support and readership. |
Thank you, Christopher G. ($5/month), for your superlatively generous pledge to this site — I am greatly honored by your support and readership. |
Why would anyone sell when further gains are guaranteed? Because the gains are unreal but the losses are real. When markets are soaring and your portfolio is rocketing higher, the gains seem unreal.Did I really make that much in one day, week, month? Wow! With the gains higher every time you look, it would be foolish to sell because look at the flood of media reports on “the Roaring 20s” that are predicted with such certitude that it’s essentially guaranteed, the reflation that’s lifting all boats globally, the Federal Reserve printing trillions to further inflate the market, and the millions of new traders scooping fantastic gains. Why would anyone be idiotic enough to sell when the Bull Market is just getting started? Indeed. Sure, you sold to book those crazy gains in a couple of speculative frenzies, but you bought right back in to grab the next booster rocket higher. There is only one thing more painful than watching the market continue higher after you sold:and that is holding on for the inevitable bounce and losing your entire profit. There is only one thing more painful than holding on for the inevitable bounce and losing your entire profit: and that is continuing to hold because you’re so sure the market will bounce big-time that you lose much or most of your capital. There is only one thing more painful than being so sure the market will bounce big-time that you lose much or most of your capital: and that’s refusing to accept your losses and hanging on until you’ve lost all your capital. There is only one thing more painful than refusing to accept your losses and hanging on until you’ve lost all your capital: and that is realizing you still owe the government an enormous sum for the capital gains you reaped on the way up but no longer have the money to pay. Why would anyone sell when further gains are guaranteed? Because the gains are unreal but the losses are real. Put another way: the gains aren’t really yours until you sell and pocket them in cash. (Best to pay your estimated taxes the day after you book the gains, as a third of those gains aren’t really yours, they belong to the government.) Gains are unreal, losses are real. If you found value in this content, please join me in seeking solutions by becoming a $1/month patron of my work via patreon.com.My new book is available!A Hacker’s Teleology: Sharing the Wealth of Our Shrinking Planet 20% and 15% discounts (Kindle $7, print $17, audiobook now available $17.46)Read excerpts of the book for free (PDF).The Story Behind the Book and the Introduction. Recent Podcasts:Jay Taylor and I discuss The Upcoming Revolt of the Middle Class (22 min) My COVID-19 Pandemic Posts My recent books:A Hacker’s Teleology: Sharing the Wealth of Our Shrinking Planet (Kindle $8.95, print $20, audiobook $17.46) Read the first section for free (PDF).Will You Be Richer or Poorer?: Profit, Power, and AI in a Traumatized World (Kindle $5, print $10, audiobook) Read the first section for free (PDF).Pathfinding our Destiny: Preventing the Final Fall of Our Democratic Republic($5 (Kindle), $10 (print), (audiobook): Read the first section for free (PDF). The Adventures of the Consulting Philosopher: The Disappearance of Drake$1.29 (Kindle), $8.95 (print); read the first chapters for free (PDF)Money and Work Unchained $6.95 (Kindle), $15 (print)Read the first section for free (PDF). Become a $1/month patron of my work via patreon.com. NOTE: Contributions/subscriptions are acknowledged in the order received. Your name and email remain confidential and will not be given to any other individual, company or agency. Thank you, Mike ($5/month), for your gloriously generous pledge to this site — I am greatly honored by your support and readership. Thank you, Christopher G. ($5/month), for your superlatively generous pledge to this site — I am greatly honored by your support and readership. Go to my main site at www.oftwominds.com/blog.html
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