Experimented with Investment Strategies

In late January 2018, I started testing investment strategies for our retirement accounts.  I tried both index investing and choosing individual stocks.

Here's an headline summary of the strategies I tried:

• International Index
• S&P 500 Index
• Growth Index
• Value Index
• Dividend Stocks
• Bitcoin Related Stocks
• Smallcap Biotech Stocks
• Midcap Biotech Stocks
• Momentum Stocks
• REIT Stocks
• Trading Fallen Stocks
• Trading Rising Stocks

I ended the test in 2024.  Although, I did a quantitative analysis, I am giving a qualitative summary below.

• My overall return was positive but not a large positive.  Although some strategies lost money, most other strategies were positive and made up for the loss.
• My biggest losing strategy was Trading Fallen Stocks.  I learned that most falling stocks keep falling or don't recover. Unfortunately, I held on to losing stocks instead of cutting my losses early.
• I had a few big wins, but I sold many gains too early for small gains of 10-20% when some would have returned very big gains if I had held.  TSLA was one example that I sold too early instead of holding.
• I did not do better than just investing in the S&P index.  In fact, I didn't come close.
• It was way too much time and effort to manage individual stock portfolio when buying the index did much better for almost no time and effort beside making the purchase.

As a result, going forward, I will be investing mainly in the S&P index and holding for the equity part of our accounts.  I will still trade some individual stocks, but these will be mostly vibe/bet investments that attempt to make a small profit, for a little fun and excitement.  

For more on Reaping the Rewards, check back every Friday for a new segment. 

This is not financial nor investment advice. Please consult a professional advisor.

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