2 weeks ago, I started reading "Fooled by Randomness" by Nassim Taleb.

WOW, It's been mindblowing!

Thanks to @dvassallo 's recommendation.

Inside, there's a part he talks about how to deal with volatility.

Here’s 6 big lessons that are useful in the current market crash:

Lesson #1:
Negative emotions of seeing your stocks drop > Positive emotion from seeing your stocks rise.
"A negative pang is not offset by a positive one...

Some psychologists estimate the negative effect for an average loss to be up to 2.5 the magnitude of a positive one)...
... At the end of every day the dentist will be emotionally drained.

If the unpleasurable minute is worse in reverse pleasure than the pleasurable minute is in pleasure terms, then the dentist incurs a large deficit when examining his performance at a high frequency."
Lesson #2:
When we zoom out and check the prices less frequently, we are less affected by negative emotions.

Because over a longer time horizon, the market tends to rise more than it goes down.
"Consider the situation where the dentist examines his portfolio only upon receiving the monthly account from the brokerage house.

As 67% of his months will be positive, he incurs only four pangs of pain per annum and eight uplifting experiences...
This is the same dentist following the same strategy.

Now consider the dentist looking at his performance only every year.

Over the next 20 years that he is expected to live, he will experience 19 pleasant surprises for every unpleasant one!
Our emotions are not designed to understand the point.

The dentist did better when he dealt with monthly statements rather than more frequent ones.

Perhaps it would be even better for him if he limited himself to yearly statements."
Lesson #3:
When we look at something too closely, we tend to mix up the signal with all the noise.

We end up focusing on all the movements that may not carry much useful information at all!
"Over a short time increment, one observes the variability of the portfolio, not the returns.

In other words, one sees the variance, little else.

I always remind myself that what one observes is at best a combination of variance and returns, not just returns"
Lesson #4:
It’s hard to fight our human emotions of fear.

Instead, it’s wiser to just create an environment where we are not exposed to such noise that affect our decision making.
"Finally, I reckon that I am not immune to such an emotional defect.

But I deal with it by having no access to information, except in rare circumstances.

Again, I prefer to read poetry. If an event is important enough, it will find its way to my ears...
My sole advantage in life is that I know some of my weaknesses.

Mostly that I am incapable of taming my emotions facing news and incapable of seeing a performance with a clear head.

Silence is far better."
Lesson #5:
Don't read the news.

It’s full of noise because of how much data it contains.

Instead, spend more time studying history as it’s more zoomed out.
"The news (the high scale) is full of noise and history (the low scale) is largely stripped of it (though fraught with interpretation problems).

This explains why I prefer not to read the newspaper (outside of the obituary), and why I never chitchat about markets."
Lesson #6:
The actions we take after seeing a loss is different from the actions we take after seeing a gain.

This could cause us to make sub optimal decisions
"What economists did not understand for a long time about positive and negative kicks is that both their biology and their intensity are different.

The degree of rationality in decisions made subsequent to a gain is extremely different from the one after a loss."
If you like this, follow me here at @heymaxkoh

I share how I crossed 7 figures before age 30, and achieved my own version of financial freedom.

Stuff I tweet about:

• My investing strategy
• Books that inspire me
• How I built high income skills i.e. public speaking

More from Max Koh

I'm lucky to attain financial freedom before 30.

I credit Fintwit for my learnings.

Here's 10 key concepts every investor must know:

1. $$ needed to retire
2. Researching a business
3. Reading annual reports
4. Reading earnings calls
5. Criteria of a multi bagger

(Read on...)

6. Holding a multi bagger
7. Economic moats
8. When to buy a stock
9. Earnings vs cashflow
10. Traits of quality companies

Here's my 10 favourite threads on these concepts:

1. How much $$ do you need to retire

Before you start, you must know the end game.

To meet your retirement goals...

How much $$ do you need in your portfolio?

10-K Diver does a good job explaining what's a safe withdrawl rate.

Hint: It's NOT


2. Research a business

Your investment returns are a lagging indicator.

Instead, your research skills are the leading predictor of your results.

Conclusion?

To be a good investor, you must be a great business researcher.

Start with


3. Reading annual reports

This is the bread and butter of a good business analyst.

You cannot just listen to opinions from others.

You must learn to deep dive a business and make your own judgments.

Start with the 10k.

Ming Zhao explains it

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**Thread on Bravery of Sikhs**
(I am forced to do this due to continuous hounding of Sikh Extremists since yesterday)

Rani Jindan Kaur, wife of Maharaja Ranjit Singh had illegitimate relations with Lal Singh (PM of Ranjit Singh). Along with Lal Singh, she attacked Jammu, burnt - https://t.co/EfjAq59AyI


Hindu villages of Jasrota, caused rebellion in Jammu, attacked Kishtwar.

Ancestors of Raja Ranjit Singh, The Sansi Tribe used to give daughters as concubines to Jahangir.


The Ludhiana Political Agency (Later NW Fronties Prov) was formed by less than 4000 British soldiers who advanced from Delhi and reached Ludhiana, receiving submissions of all sikh chiefs along the way. The submission of the troops of Raja of Lahore (Ranjit Singh) at Ambala.

Dabistan a contemporary book on Sikh History tells us that Guru Hargobind broke Naina devi Idol Same source describes Guru Hargobind serving a eunuch
YarKhan. (ref was proudly shared by a sikh on twitter)
Gobind Singh followed Bahadur Shah to Deccan to fight for him.


In Zafarnama, Guru Gobind Singh states that the reason he was in conflict with the Hill Rajas was that while they were worshiping idols, while he was an idol-breaker.

And idiot Hindus place him along Maharana, Prithviraj and Shivaji as saviours of Dharma.
Fake chats claiming to be from the Irish African community are being disseminated by the far right in order to suggest that violence is imminent from #BLM supporters. This is straight out of the QAnon and Proud Boys playbook. Spread the word. Protest safely. #georgenkencho


There is co-ordination across the far right in Ireland now to stir both left and right in the hopes of creating a race war. Think critically! Fascists see the tragic killing of #georgenkencho, the grief of his community and pending investigation as a flashpoint for action.


Across Telegram, Twitter and Facebook disinformation is being peddled on the back of these tragic events. From false photographs to the tactics ofwhite supremacy, the far right is clumsily trying to drive hate against minority groups and figureheads.


Declan Ganley’s Burkean group and the incel wing of National Party (Gearóid Murphy, Mick O’Keeffe & Co.) as well as all the usuals are concerted in their efforts to demonstrate their white supremacist cred. The quiet parts are today being said out loud.


The best thing you can do is challenge disinformation and report posts where engagement isn’t appropriate. Many of these are blatantly racist posts designed to drive recruitment to NP and other Nationalist groups. By all means protest but stay safe.