Wealthable

Money

The Cognitive Biases That Shape Our Financial World

When making financial decisions, it's clear that our choices are more emotionally driven than we might expect. Hidden beneath our choices are strong mental biases that influence how we think and act. By examining three of these biases—confirmation bias, loss aversion, and mental accounting—we can see how our financial behaviors mirror wider patterns common across different cultures and economic systems.

The Impact of College Expenses on Financial Planning

With the current economy's ups and downs, families are carefully evaluating the affordability and value of investing in higher education.

Understanding the Causes of Poor Financial Decisions

Making good financial decisions is crucial for achieving our goals and securing our future. Unfortunately, we often make poor money choices despite our efforts. In this post, we'll explore why we make these mistakes and offer practical advice to improve your financial journey.

How To Lower Your Mortgage Payment

Mortgage Interest Payments Purchasing a home is a significant financial …

Redefining Wealth, Money, and Happiness

Money and Happiness Ten key principles explain how money and …

Stepped-Up Basis Reform: Proposed Changes

President Biden’s recent tax reform proposal has sparked discussions about …

The Financial Pitfall of Comparison Culture

The Allure and Pitfalls of Comparison In today’s hyper-connected world, …

A 4-Step Journey to Financial Freedom

The journey to financial freedom is not just about crunching numbers; it's a psychological expedition that requires mindfulness, discipline, and consistency. While the mechanics of money—earning, spending, saving, and investing—are straightforward, the psychology behind these actions is what truly sets you on the path to financial independence.

Embracing Life’s Complexity: Understanding Financial Regrets

In the intricate web of life, we often find ourselves …

Financial Decisions: A System, Not A Snapshot

There's a tendency in our world today to view financial decisions as a series of disconnected snapshots. We make isolated choices, focusing on the immediate impact without considering the broader narrative of our lives. This approach, though seemingly practical, is akin to viewing a tapestry thread by thread, missing the grand design that emerges only when we step back.

Non-Violent Communication

In navigating the sometimes turbulent waters of family or couple financial discussions, Non-Violent Communication (NVC) offers an effective compass. Developed by psychologist Marshall Rosenberg, NVC encourages empathy and compassion in conversations, making it particularly useful for sensitive topics like finances.

Financial Independence: A Balanced Approach

Striving for Enough – Financial Independence Many people strive for …

Financial Guide the Creative Freelancer

As a creative freelancer, it's essential to establish a solid financial foundation to ensure long-term success. Start by creating a budget that accounts for all your income sources and expenses. Visual aids like spreadsheets and budgeting apps can be extremely helpful in tracking your cash flow.

Managing a Budget with Variable Income

Planning Around Variable Income Managing finances can be particularly challenging …

What’s Passive Income? Learn the Basics

Passive income is income earned without having to work for it actively. This can include rental income from investment properties, stock dividends, royalties from creative works, and more.

Money Can’t Buy Inner Peace

Money may provide a sense of security but cannot address our underlying existential anxieties. These fears are intrinsic to the human condition and cannot be fully resolved through material wealth.

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Volatility Drag

Volatility drag, often unnoticed by many investors, plays a significant role in the performance of investment portfolios, especially in markets characterized by high volatility. Understanding volatility drag is crucial for making informed investment decisions and managing long-term investment performance.

Understanding Volatility Drag

Volatility drag refers to the negative effect of investment volatility on compound returns over time. It occurs because losses have a more significant impact on portfolio value than gains of the same magnitude. For example, if an investment loses 10% one year and gains 10% the next, the investment will not return to its starting value due to the mathematical asymmetry between gains and losses. This phenomenon underscores the importance of minimizing large fluctuations in investment value to protect long-term returns.

The Mathematics Behind Volatility Drag

The mathematical principle underlying volatility drag is relatively straightforward but profound in its implications for investors. The key concept is that percentage gains and losses are not symmetrical. A 50% loss requires a 100% gain to break even, not a 50% gain. This asymmetry means that volatility (up and down movements in price) can erode the compound growth rate of an investment, even if the arithmetic mean of the returns seems healthy.

Example of Volatility Drag

Consider an investment with the following annual returns: +20%, -15%, +10%, and -5%. While the arithmetic mean of these returns might suggest a modest positive performance, the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) would tell a different story, factoring in the volatility drag and showing a lower effective return than the arithmetic mean would suggest.

Implications for Investors

  • Risk Management: Understanding volatility drag emphasizes the importance of risk management strategies, such as diversification and the use of derivatives for hedging, to minimize significant downturns in portfolio value.
  • Investment Strategy: Investors might consider investment strategies that aim for steady, consistent returns over those with potentially higher but more volatile returns. Such strategies might include investing in low-volatility stocks, index funds, or using dollar-cost averaging to mitigate the impact of market fluctuations.
  • Psychological Aspects: Volatility drag also highlights the psychological challenge for investors who may overreact to short-term market movements. A long-term perspective is crucial for successful investing, as frequent trading in response to volatility can exacerbate the drag on returns.
  • Performance Evaluation: When assessing investment performance, considering both the arithmetic mean return and the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) can provide a more comprehensive view of an investment’s performance, factoring in the effect of volatility.

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