How do you think of yourself as an investor?

[Lsbcal]

Answer with your gut feeling. This may be a combination of your returns, your knowledge and your ego.

EDIT: This is about your total investing picture, not about how good a stock picker you are or if you do wild ass options, etc. You might invest like a Boglehead and might answer "average" but you could also think this is an "above average" investing style or some other category in the 5 to choose from.

 

[Jerry1]

Lousy. My buddy at work used to call me and another friend Itchy and Scratchy because we moved money so often. Neither of us were any good at it in terms of being financially successful.

 

[Rianne]

Let's say boring. That response not in the poll.

 

[Samething]

Boring. My stock picking ability stinks lol. I have a small etrade account to scratch that itch. Buy, hold and rebalance will hopefully keep me out of trouble.

 

[Lsbcal]

See edit above!

 

[Involuntary Retiree]

Above average! But aren't we all?

 

[Lsbcal]

Above average! But aren't we all?

Maybe it's true on this site? Just coming here gets you ahead of the pack.

 

[Nemo2]

Let's say boring.

You're not alone.....we're dividend investors, and our buying/selling is minuscule.

 

[Rianne]

we're dividend investors, and our buying/selling is minuscule.

Us too!

 

[Gumby]

Average, at best. My investing prowess consists of picking a good crop of no load mutual funds 25 years or so ago, putting as much into them as possible since then and letting them grow without interference.

 

[Car-Guy]

I don't think of myself as an investor. I know I'm a gambler.... I never was a very good investor and I'm worse at gambling but it's more fun. Let's see, where's that blowing your dough thread.

 

[OldShooter]

My Schwab guy has told me that I am the most knowledgeable client in his book. I consider that to be very high praise.

I would agree that virtually anyone on this site is going to be above average knowledge as an investor. Too bad, really, but I think the "average" investor leaves a lot on the table by not paying attention and often loses a lot getting snookered by the hucksters.

Re trading frequency, we make a strategy trade once every couple of years on average. We sell, between DW and me, small amounts to supplement our checkbooks maybe 8-12 times a year. Usually those come out of a MM fund.

 

[OldShooter]

Let's say boring. ...

Good for you. I tell my Adult-Ed investing class that investing is boring. If you're not bored, you're not doing it right.

 

[REWahoo]

I chose average because lucky wasn't a choice.

 

[RunningBum]

How about "Good enough for me"? That's all I really care about. When I decided to invest mostly in index stocks I felt I was settling for average and being ok with it. All the other stuff, I just feel like I'm properly informed to make decisions based on good assumptions for all the factors I can think of. I don't concern myself whether I do it better than others, I just want to be satisfied I'm doing my best. I have high standards though, so "good enough for me" means always looking for people doing something better than me so I can learn and adapt their methods for myself.

I didn't vote.

 

[frayne]

Average here, buy and hold mainly index funds. I think one above average attribute I might have is, not to get emotional during markets swings. I can honestly say I have never missed a minute of sleep due to market fluctuations.

 

[NW-Bound]

Average, judging by my own result. Not indexing.

I believe I spend a whole lot more time than the average investor, but it is a pastime to me. I have time, because I do not even watch TV, let alone sports game. And I can read non-fiction books only so much before I forget what I read last week.

 

[Lsbcal]

How about "Good enough for me"? That's all I really care about. When I decided to invest mostly in index stocks I felt I was settling for average and being ok with it. All the other stuff, I just feel like I'm properly informed to make decisions based on good assumptions for all the factors I can think of. I don't concern myself whether I do it better than others, I just want to be satisfied I'm doing my best. I have high standards though, so "good enough for me" means always looking for people doing something better than me so I can learn and adapt their methods for myself.

I didn't vote.

Bad attitude. Don't you want to be a superstar? Where is your competitive spirit RunningBum? Do you let all those wimpy runners pass you on the trails?

Just kidding, of course. There is still time to vote.

BTW, I do look at other investor ideas too. Always being willing to learn and adapt is a good investor trait I think. Might even make you above average.

 

[Bryan Barnfellow]

My Schwab guy has told me that I am the most knowledgeable client in his book. I consider that to be very high praise

Hey, your Schwab guy told me the same thing about me!

 

[Nemo2]

When I said I aspired to be average, I was accused of having delusions of grandeur.

 

[Lsbcal]

Average here, buy and hold mainly index funds. I think one above average attribute I might have is, not to get emotional during markets swings. I can honestly say I have never missed a minute of sleep due to market fluctuations.

I wish I could not get emotional during market swings like you. Maybe it is knowing my parents went through the Great Depression as young adults?

Always concerned that this decline might be the BIG one. I don't loose sleep over this. But I have adapted my investment style to my rational and emotional state. So there is some consistency I hope.

 

[Lsbcal]

Average, judging by my own result. Not indexing.

I believe I spend a whole lot more time than the average investor, but it is a pastime to me. I have time, because I do not even watch TV, let alone sports game. And I can read non-fiction books only so much before I forget what I read last week.

I don't know about average. You are an above average entertaining poster.

 

[Lawrencewendall]

I said above average as I was able to RE at 54, mainly because of my investments . I have 50% in a small/mid cap index (TSP S fund). The other 50% is spread across 22 monthly/quarterly dividend paying stocks (primarily REITS and BDCs.) I had one that went bankrupt and another 4 that stopped their dividends all together but still averaging ~10% annually on dividends. I tend to be a contrarian but the dividends are currently enough to cover mortgage, insurance, property taxes and utilities. I've had some good calls and some bad calls.

 

[NW-Bound]

I don't know about average. You are an above average entertaining poster.

^^^ Thanks.

My wife told me I could make money with a Youtube channel. I don't think I can beat or even match "Bald and Bankrupt" with his travel videos. Perhaps Nemo could, but he's too old now to embark on this endeavor. See, there's a lot of chances in life. You are born too early for the Internet age, you miss out on chances to become rich.

 

[retiredtuna1]

I am a below average investor.