Investing Myths

Are You Playing the Stock Market’s Favourite Game?

February 12, 2015 by Vishal Khandelwal | 2 Comments

One of the most popular questions that a business channel anchor or an analyst asks a company’s management is – “What’s your EPS estimate for the next quarter and year?”

For those who are not aware, EPS is the short form of ‘earnings per share’ and is calculated by dividing a company’s earnings/profits by its total number of shares.

During my initial days as a stock market analyst, even I was guilty of asking similar questions about earnings, though all I wanted to hear from the managements was their long-term outlook (like for 3-5 years) and not for the next quarter or year.

The truth is that the entire investment community is undeniably fixated on the EPS.
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30 Most Dangerous Myths about Money & Investing

April 21, 2014 by Vishal Khandelwal | 2 Comments

Dangerous Myths There is an awful lot of bad advice out there when it comes to managing your money or investing in stock markets.

Like rumours, these myths get told and retold as if they were true. They spread like wildfire even though they are flat out wrong.

Some of these myths are just plain dumb, some are deceptive…but almost all are downright dangerous!

It’s time you know what these dangerous myths are, so that you are in a better position to side-step them.

So let’s get started right here, right now!

That Sinking Feeling Can Destroy Your Wealth

March 21, 2013 by Vishal Khandelwal | 14 Comments

Imagine two scenarios.

Scenario 1: You are looking to watch that latest Hollywood action flick you’ve been waiting for the past six weeks. Going by the pre-release popularity of the movie, you’ve had to pay Rs 500 per ticket, which is almost 3 times the normal price.

However, you are excited for the movie so the cost doesn’t pinch you that much. Now, just a day before your show, a couple of your friends who’ve already watched the movie tell you that it’s not worth watching at all. The hero’s acting is poor, and the story is very predictable and boring.

What do you do? You’ve already spent Rs 1,000 for a couple of tickets for you and your wife.
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30 Excuses That Prevent You from Investing Success

February 8, 2012 by Vishal Khandelwal | 2 Comments

Be honest. How often do you sabotage yourself in your investing journey?

You trick yourself into thinking that keeping up with stock market news, and reading the latest “10 secrets to become a successful investor” post on Safal Niveshak is “working”.

You know better, but some part of you believes that simply reading the article will help you move forward.

That having a deep understanding of the stock markets and how humans behave when it comes to investing will position you better when the ‘right time to invest’ arrives.

But that ‘right’ time never comes.

Confirmation Bias: What’s Your Internal ‘Yes-Man’ Saying?

February 1, 2012 by Vishal Khandelwal | 6 Comments

Confirmation Bias I remember the time when I bought my first car. I went to the showroom with my mind fully made.

I had in fact already imagined myself owning and using that car. When I reached the showroom, I was so much filled with a ‘confirmation’ towards that product that each of its features made me think that I was about to make the right decision.

The chosen car’s design seemed the best amongst all other cars displayed. Its seat covers looked the brightest and softest. Its power steering and power windows seemed the most powerful of all. And its price seemed reasonable.

I had already confirmed the purchase in my mind and was seeing everything fit into that mould now.

You see, the way I behaved while purchasing the car holds true with most other expensive things we buy in life. We first make an emotional decision to buy such things and then try to find rational reasons to justify the purchase.