"Biases Are Part of Investing – But You Can Outsmart Them"

Investing isn’t just about numbers and charts. It’s also a battle against your own brain. Hidden mental traps, called cognitive biases , can trick even smart investors into making poor decisions. The good news? Once you spot these traps, you can learn to avoid them. What Are Cognitive Biases? Imagine your brain has two “modes” when making decisions: Emotional Mode : Driven by feelings like fear or greed. For example, panic-selling during a market crash or buying a trendy stock because everyone else is. Logical Mode : Relies on facts and analysis. But even here, your brain takes shortcuts, leading to errors like clinging to outdated beliefs or focusing only on information that confirms what you already think. These biases evolved to help ancient humans survive (like avoiding danger), but they backfire in investing. 6 Common Mental Traps in Investing Overconfidence Bias : “I’m smarter than the market!” Example: A new investor thinks they can “time the market” a...