According to one well-regarded study¹, nearly 50 percent more people participated in their employer’s 401(k) plan when they were automatically enrolled as compared to those who had to enroll themselves.

Traditional economics assumes we act rationally when making financial decisions and we always act in alignment with our own economic self-interest.

And yet, there is a plethora of evidence that demonstrates how individual investors often act irrationally when it comes to personal finance. From the standpoint of traditional economics, this might be hard to reconcile, but from the standpoint of human behavior, it makes sense. We are often guided much more by emotions than by rational decision-making. An example of emotion over logic is the challenge of losing weight. As many of us have experienced, it’s often much more difficult than simply applying the mathematics of calories in versus calories out. Likewise, the foundation of solid financial planning is straightforward logically – spend less than you bring in – but much harder to actually implement.

Behavioral finance is a relatively new field within financial planning that applies knowledge about human behavior to the investment world. It provides a framework for understanding how we make financial decisions and our reasons for doing so. Behavioral finance suggests that investors behave irrationally in predictable ways because human psychology affects financial decision-making.

Common Investment Error

There are several common types of investment errors that are both irrational and predictable:

• Recency Bias: Overemphasizing recent events when making decisions. Example: People tend to like stocks after the market has had a strong upward trend and dislike them after a downturn. This often leads to “buying high and selling low,” which is contrary to the mantra for successful investing.
• Anchoring: Fixating on one piece of data or point of view (such as a particular stock price). Example: Store specials designed to get a shopper to buy more than he/ she would otherwise. People tend to buy more items when something is advertised as a quantity of five for $10 rather than $2 each.
• Loss Aversion: People tend to prefer avoiding losses over acquiring gains. Studies have shown losses to be twice as psychologically powerful as gains.² Example: Not wanting to sell an investment at a loss, even if it has a bleak outlook.
• Status Quo Bias: People generally like things to stay the same. Example: People have a tendency to hold on to inherited stocks they would not otherwise buy if it were up to them.

Tips for Overcoming Irrational Financial Decisions

A key question is – how do we change this type of behavior that can sabotage even the best laid plans? One of the preeminent market research companies in the financial services industry, Dalbar, Inc., has concluded that, “attempts to correct irrational investor behavior through education have proved to be futile.”³

Does that mean we have no hope for overcoming these tendencies? No, it just means that self-control strategies and automation are more effective means for combating destructive financial tendencies than knowledge. Sometimes, a course on modern portfolio theory or compound interest is not nearly as helpful as cutting up credit cards, establishing automatic savings plans and setting limits on the number of shopping trips.

Following are five tips that can help you avoid many common financial mistakes:

• Don’t just do something, stand there. Avoid overly scrutinizing your investment portfolio – Often, the more frequently we look at our portfolio, the more likely we are to trade. The more we trade, the more likely we are to destroy value.
• Change the defaults. Similar to conventional wisdom that if you want to lose weight you should buy smaller plates and packages of food, you should change your financial default settings. For instance: If you want to save more, increase the amount of your paycheck that is withheld for your retirement plan, and work with your advisor to make sure new additions are allocated appropriately into a diversified portfolio.
• Automate. Clients who are successful in reaching their goals generally automate as much as possible. Whether your goal is to save an extra $1,000 per month, pay off your debts or give away a certain amount of money, it is recommended to establish some sort of automatic and recurring transfer of funds from your checking account. By automating various savings goals, those goals are given first priority and whatever is left over is available for spending, rather than the other way around.
• Avoid investments you do not understand. An investment manager may have a great track record, but if it is unclear what that manager is doing in order to earn those returns, you may want to avoid that investment. You are less susceptible to making emotional investment decisions if you have confidence in your investments. However, it’s difficult to gain confidence in investments you do not understand. Contact your advisor for help with investment decisions you are unsure about.
• Have a plan. Without a comprehensive financial plan, there is a lack of context to help you understand the consequences of market volatility. You are likely to be more susceptible to reactive, emotional decision-making when it is unclear how a big drop in the value of your accounts will impact your long-term financial situation. Having a plan, on the other hand, provides a more meaningful backdrop to market volatility. With a plan, you know how changes in your account value may alter your ability to reach your goals. You may not be able to control fluctuations in the market, but you can make adjustments to your cash flow, gifting or asset allocation that can positively impact your financial situation.

¹Think Advisor, “Brigitte Madrian’s Power of Suggestion — and How It Improved Retirement” article originally published in “Research Magazine”

²http://psychology.iresearchnet.com/social-psychology/decision-making/loss-aversion/

³https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2014/04/07/investor-education-is-futile-totally-discredited-d/

The information contained herein is not intended to be personal legal, investment or tax advice or a solicitation to buy or sell any security or engage in a particular investment strategy. Nothing herein should be relied upon as such. The views expressed are for commentary purposes only and do not take into account any individual personal, financial, or tax considerations. There is no guarantee that any claims made will come to pass.

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