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catoismymotor (72.81)

This is why I will never be a great investor:

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January 18, 2010 – Comments (8)

This is why I will never be a great investor:

 

My family comes first. My work is second. Investing is third. It is that simple.

 

Around the time I spend with family and work I take the time to stay up to date with the six companies I know best, the ones I have bought. I have time enough to juggle only those few. That is why I will never be a great investor.

 

What I have become, if not great, is very good. I’m not going to brag about numbers or percentages. There is no real way to back them up with proof. Anyway, I have never liked sounding like a braggart. What I will say is thanks in part to TMF Staff and fellow bloggers I have found a way to blaze my own trail to a really good retirement. And if things work out with an extra large pinch of luck maybe even an early one.

 

Thanks fellow Fools. I’ll see you when the market opens tomorrow.

 

Cato

8 Comments – Post Your Own

#1) On January 18, 2010 at 5:49 PM, neskolf (30.50) wrote:

Cato-

What do you define as a 'great' investor?  Someone who beats the market by a defined margin?  Someone who never loses money?  I'm just curious what your parameters are. 

I share the same priorities as you.  My wife and son are first and foremost.  My job comes second, as well.  This leaves investing third, and I will never have the time to give it the attention and dedication I would like.  But I am a great investor.

Have I made Lynch-like returns?  Nope.  Have I beaten the market?  Marginally, most likely not by enough to justify the limited amount of time I am able to devote.  Have I ever lost money on an investment?  Sure have.  So, how can I call myself a great investor?

Because, I've accepted my self-imposed limitaions and done what I feel is the best I can with them in place.  I'll always believe I can do better, because I think complacency in any endeavor is lethal.  But I am proud of the returns I've generated while being a father, husband, and diligent employee first.  I, too, have a small protfolio in the number of stocks I hold, but I see the returns from each one as the result of the effort I've given.

I'm sure that a lot of people won't share my definition of a great investor, and that's okay.  It works for me; and because I enjoy the effort I put in, it helps to keep me from throwing in the towel and just buying index funds. 

Anyway, just thought I'd offer a perspective in which you may be a great investor, after all.  Fool on!

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#2) On January 18, 2010 at 6:36 PM, soycapital (< 20) wrote:

Good choice, the right order of things.

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#3) On January 18, 2010 at 8:35 PM, ChrisGraley (31.45) wrote:

A great investor simply makes money over the long term. If you do this long enough, you might be able to eliminate #2 altogether.

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#4) On January 18, 2010 at 11:23 PM, catoismymotor (72.81) wrote:

#1 - If I am able to continue as I have for another fifteen or twenty years I might approach being "very-very good". Peter Lynch, Ben Graham and Warren Buffet are/were great. Greatness also comes from working under pressure. They put their reputations and other people's money on the line based on their conclusions. I don't have the huevos to do that.

#2 - Thank you.

#3 - Agreed, but greatness is in the eye of the beholder. One day if I qualify as great by some chart or consensus of opinion I will still think I am only very good because if I could do it, it must not be all that special.

Being able to retire early from the real world would be nice. I would still need some way to stay productive, busy in order to keep from going bugnuts.

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#5) On January 19, 2010 at 8:36 AM, ChrisGraley (31.45) wrote:

Just gives you more time for #3 cato. :)

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#6) On January 19, 2010 at 8:52 AM, catoismymotor (72.81) wrote:

Good point. I do have a few post retirement ideas that would keep me busy and happy. Continuing to invest is definitly one way I will occupy my time.

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#7) On January 19, 2010 at 9:30 AM, thedudeqiq (< 20) wrote:

Tell me, if I just buy the recommended and core stocks up to 15 stocks and sit on them until I'm told to sell, will I make a return? I'm new at this style of investing. Thanks

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#8) On January 19, 2010 at 2:27 PM, carcassgrinder (45.56) wrote:

Cato.....

     The order of your priorities alone tells me that your are a GREAT investor.   And to be honest with you....if the entire investment community had the same priority set as you, I think the entire market would actually operate as a real 'price discovery' market and be very a very stable environment.  \

I  believe the markets were originally intended to be dominated by investors with your priority set.  

 Good Post +1

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