Stop Reading This Blog.

Admittedly I don’t mean for the headline to apply to every reader. But I don’t mean for it to be just “clickbait” either. I genuinely mean that some of you would be better off unsubscribing from this blog/newsletter.

That probably requires a bit of an explanation.

When I started writing this blog in 2008, the whole idea (i.e., “oblivious” investing) was that:

1. Most people should stop reading/watching financial news, because such sources of information talk constantly about things that have no real significance to a long-term investor, and
2. Most people shouldn’t check their investments very often, because doing so can cause unnecessary stress about short-term fluctuations.

What I’m coming to realize, however, is that there’s a group of people who would be well served by discontinuing their intake of even “good” sources of investing information (e.g., this blog, the Bogleheads forum, etc.).

Specifically, based on correspondence with readers, I’m coming to realize that there are some people (quite a lot, actually) who find themselves second-guessing their own investment decisions whenever they’re confronted with a conflicting suggestion from a credible source. This personal characteristic combined with frequent intake of investment information can lead to a problematic situation.

In short, if:

1. You’re already at a point where you know enough to create and manage a low-cost, diversified portfolio that’s roughly suitable for your risk tolerance, and
2. Reading about investing is making it harder to manage that portfolio (because it makes you constantly doubt your choices)

…then additional reading might be doing more harm than good. (Plus, reading has a cost in that it’s taking up your time.) Of course, the above two points are an evaluation that only you can make. But it’s worth thinking about at least.

One of the most important lessons in investing is that there is no “perfect” portfolio, but there are many “perfectly fine” portfolios. Once you are confident that you have a “perfectly fine” portfolio, just stick with the plan and let the portfolio do what it is meant to do.