Posted on December 28, 2009. Filed under: Articles |

Four Big Investor Errors

Whether you need to cut your losses or take a profit, read on for some simple tips you can use to help you decide whether to sell.

Great Stock, Battered Sector

Traders/Investors often face the difficult decision to sell a stock that they feel is the best in the market.

When a bear market occurres even Profitable companies with solid business structures will be severely devalued as well.

Lesson: If you own a stock in a sector that is being battered, you should consider selling because even good companies arent safe from the roar of the bear. Buying and selling stock today is easier than ever and relatively cheap.

Emotional Attachment

If you become emotionally attached to your stocks, youll end up paying with losses.

Part of the reason good investors fall prey to this trap is that they put so much work into finding the right stock.

Investors should love a stock when its making money; when it isnt, cut it loose!

Lesson: Emotional attachment to stocks is nothing more than human nature and wanting to be right. Do you want to be right or rich?

Unrealized Profits

A profit isnt a profit until youve taken it off the table.

Many investors like to inflate their egos by viewing their stocks online and relishing how much money theyve made. In reality, you havent made a penny until you press the sell button.

When a stock is shooting for the moon, you may begin to sense its out of control and youre beginning to wonder just how much higher it can possibly go.

This many be a good time to go for the sell one-third or sell half rule. This way, you can take some profit off the table and also keep some stock on the table so that if your stock does hit the moon, you wont be left kicking yourself for selling out of your position.

Lesson: Although the tax rate is substantially steeper for taking a profit if youve held the stock for less than a year, its often better to have part of something than to risk having less or nothing once the year is through.

When to Sell

The real secret to knowing when to sell is to read, read, read and then read some more. Were all busy, but take a few minutes out of the day or week to know whats going on with the market, with the economy and with your stocks in particular. Reading is like insurance: the more you know, the more you are protected.

Lesson: If you have your strategy firmly in place, one simple piece of information can give you the power you need to take action, take a profit or prevent a loss.

Conclusion

There is no exact science to knowing when to sell, only indicators that can give us clues. Learning from the mistakes of others is a great strategy for avoiding making those same mistakes yourself.

If a solid company has a downward spiraling stock price, look for clues as to why and find out what is happening within that sector.

Remember to keep a clear head when evaluating stocks and dont become emotionally attached to them. There are many factors that affect the financial markets, but if youre willing to put in the time and effort to read and research your investments you will be well prepared to take profits and avoid losses.