Selling Low, buying High

[LimJim]

I find it near impossible to resist fiddling with my investments in periods of volatility, and my long term returns are about as poor as you would expect from a retail investor trading his SIPP over the morning papers .

What fixed term options are there for investing long term in equity markets, which remove this temptation entirely? I generally invest in things like SMT and VWRL.

The two options that spring to mind are fixed term investments that can't be altered within a set number of years. Or perhaps a cheap financial adviser who is only allowed to buy not sell?

[Drezza]

Just buy good funds and leave them, I'm clueless but still up 30% overall as I just drip feed monthly and do nothing.

[anonymous-user]

Split the pot and leave most in a diverse fund portfolio, but leave yourself a bit to speculate with

[LimJim]

I've sadly ruled out the possibility of any kind of self control. There is such things as fixed term bonds and fixed term savings, I'm wondering if there are fixed term global trackers which give better admin rates?

[bitchstewie]

Maybe look at options that don't allow phone or online trading?

Being stuck having to post an instruction might help.

Or funds as you can't buy and sell them in real time but as they're generally free to deal it can lead to bad behaviour too it's just timelagged.

Or as suggested have a proper investment pot with 90% or whatever of your investments in it and have it somewhere with sufficient dealing fees/barriers to discourage trading and open an account with trading212 or somewhere cheap with "fun" money.

Or just give your platform passwords to someone else (who you you trust a lot )

[LeoSayer]

You need to change your mindset.

I find the youtube videos of Lars Kroijer and Ben Felix helpful here.

[superlightr]

bhstewie said:

Maybe look at options that don't allow phone or online trading?

Being stuck having to post an instruction might help.

Or funds as you can't buy and sell them in real time but as they're generally free to deal it can lead to bad behaviour too it's just timelagged.

Or as suggested have a proper investment pot with 90% or whatever of your investments in it and have it somewhere with sufficient dealing fees/barriers to discourage trading and open an account with trading212 or somewhere cheap with "fun" money.

Or just give your platform passwords to someone else (who you you trust a lot )

I think this is the best, I like to fiddle and meddle with my funds so Ive got the majority of my pension/isa with IM and try not to adjust too much but I do have £1k in trading 212 which allows me to play at supergod trader but for generally very small amounts. It scratches that itch and leaves my real fund safe from my meddling.

[bitchstewie]

superlightr said:

I think this is the best, I like to fiddle and meddle with my funds so Ive got the majority of my pension/isa with IM and try not to adjust too much but I do have £1k in trading 212 which allows me to play at supergod trader but for generally very small amounts. It scratches that itch and leaves my real fund safe from my meddling.

Of course the right answer is sort the psychology.

Easier said than done though

[thekingisdead]

Set up your investments thru an IFA who could talk to you before you over trade during turbulence?

If you really can’t trust yourself (as above, read up on the psychology of investing - as you describe - you are your own ‘worst’ enemy), then I’d look to take yourself out of your investment decisions.

[btdk5]

Why are you pissing about with such a substantial pot of money that also has IHT benefits if you don’t use it.

If you want to day trade get an ISA or investment account and lob £20k or whatever in there.