I started selling off some tech several months ago, mainly because I realised that I had too much tech, hidden in general growth funds. The thing is that at the time the prices were at more or less the prices they are today, after the sell off. They will come back again. Just be aware that if you hold growth funds, you hold a lot of tech. And as always, if you sell, you need to have a plan for what you are going to do with the money. Cash is not the answer, now more than ever. I dumped most of the money ina very conservative Vanguard fund, but that’s because I am retired and need to protect what I have.
@PragueAddick. You do mention that cash is not the answer often. I think if investors are concerned about their exposure to markets, then there is nothing wrong with them increasing their weighting of cash, if it helps them sleep better. A number of people have invested more than they may have done so previously in life. It's hard to advise a cash holding without knowing somebody's age, salary, work situation etc.
@PragueAddick. You do mention that cash is not the answer often. I think if investors are concerned about their exposure to markets, then there is nothing wrong with them increasing their weighting of cash, if it helps them sleep better. A number of people have invested more than they may have done so previously in life. It's hard to advise a cash holding without knowing somebody's age, salary, work situation etc.
Well it's not just me that says that, @golfaddick will be along to say it more forcefully; and also James Shack, whose videos @IdleHans flagged up - very good call, that - will explain in very rational terms why as a matter of fact, cash is not the answer if you are investing. But he will also say that everyone has a different approach to risk, and its good to work out your appetite to risk before investing. Put brutally holding cash is not investing. But people need to hold cash for various reasons, as you quite rightly say. I hold quite a lot of cash, or near cash, like Premium Bonds, because I've retired, and due to the course my career and life took, I don't have guaranteed pensions that on their own would sustain my lifestyle. So I need a fair bit of cash, and I need to be more cautious than someone half my age. But another brutal truth for me is that I've always been quite cautious about risks of any kind, so I've probably always held more cash than I needed to.
Definitely James Shack is worth looking at, as he is aiming at younger/less experienced investors, and one of his themes is that investing is also a matter of mental health - so he'd be very sympathetic to what you wrote - while still imploring you not to hold much cash!
Much as I think James Shack talks a lot of sense and gives some interesting insight, I am in the fortunate position of being able to pay off my mortgage as soon as the fixed interest penalty period expires in April. The idea of no longer having that debt will be good for my mental health even though I could potentially generate better returns by investing it. One less thing to worry about.
Bought into ADV last week, 30% up till today’s disastrous RNS, now down 81%, fooking hell.
Completely fucked my SIPP
I sympathise. The thought of investing in AIM oil prospects sends shivers down my spine. Got burned more than once years ago and have left AIM well alone since. You can't trust anything there.
If it helps, I have tended to look at falls horizontally, eg the price hasn't gone down 40%, it's gone back three months. Probably just kidding myself though.
Having congratulated myself on avoiding those nasty/expensive IFAs and set up my own Aviva SIPP and then choosing a low risk bonds-dominated managed option- it just tanked.
Since 20 Nov when I set it all up, it's down 0.5%
I could have put it all under my mattress and cut out many middle men.
Thank God for premium Bonds (another 25 quid this month)
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Oh wait - that hasn't worked in the past!
Make that 7897
Definitely James Shack is worth looking at, as he is aiming at younger/less experienced investors, and one of his themes is that investing is also a matter of mental health - so he'd be very sympathetic to what you wrote - while still imploring you not to hold much cash!
Completely fucked my SIPP
If it helps, I have tended to look at falls horizontally, eg the price hasn't gone down 40%, it's gone back three months. Probably just kidding myself though.
Since 20 Nov when I set it all up, it's down 0.5%
I could have put it all under my mattress and cut out many middle men.
Thank God for premium Bonds (another 25 quid this month)
Some BG are down hugely, the problem is that when you are down near 50%, it's more than dangerous territory.