Tales of a Technician: Of Legacies and Long-term Investing
September 14, 2020
Last Update: July 2021
When I first start trading, I was caught in the trap of “short-termism.” My focus was on what the market was doing over the next few minutes or days. Without realizing it, I was playing in a low probability environment that required a high skill level. Instead of embracing the powerful odds of a rising tide, I was betting on the ebb and flow of each wave.
Then I had kids and everything changed.
Investing for the future becomes clear and present when you start to think about posterity. My time horizon shifted from days and weeks to decades, even multiple generations. Do you know how powerful investing $1 today becomes when you look at the potential for growth over decades? It’s utterly incredible.
For me, the easiest way to embrace bear markets, to look upon them fondly, is to set your sights on the long, long run.
Perks of a Long-term Perspective
- First, it allows you to weather the downturn without panicking and selling your stocks.
- Second, it trains you to buy when stocks are on sale. To those with the proper mindset, sinking prices are viewed as a godsend that triggers greed, not fear.
Rightful Owners
The following quote is attributed to J.P. Morgan,
“In bear markets, stocks return to their rightful owners.”
J. P. Morgan
Warren Buffett, the Oracle of Omaha himself, said something similar.
“The stock market is a device for transferring money from the impatient to the patient.”
Warren Buffett
There’s no way that a trader obsessing over the market’s movement over the next week will hold through a bear market. Their shortsightedness will inevitably shake them out.
If my time horizon is decades, why again should I care if the market suffers a temporary 30% decline? I shouldn’t! It’s a blip on the long-term radar. I find that when such trying times arise, reminding myself of my goals and plan helps to ward off the temptation to panic.
The rightful owners of a stock are those who have the wit and will to withstand the ravages of volatility and bear markets. I want to be one of them.
Never Waste a Crisis
I first heard the phrase, “Never let a good crisis go to waste,” in 2008. It works in the political sphere to get legislation passed when the public is clamoring for action. But it also applies to the field of investing.
Bear markets don’t come around that often. Historically we get a good 20% to 50% decline only once or twice a decade. These rare events usher in golden opportunities to grab equities at fire-sale prices. If my objective for purchasing stocks is to fund my kid’s college in 15 years, then do you think I’d rather buy shares at record highs or 30% off the peak?
Or, if my goal is to grow my wealth to adequate levels to generate sufficient annual income to fund my retirement in a few decades, then which do you think helps me reach that goal quicker?
Why, buying at the massive discount, of course!
Tackle Trading Resources on Portfolio Protection
Continue learning about this powerful options strategy: Portfolio Protection. From free articles to Premium System and Trading Playbook, Tackle Trading has all the resources you need to MASTER this strategy like a PRO.
Portfolio Protection For Beginners [Free Articles]
Long Put: IWM or RUT
In this video tutorial, Coach Matt walks thru how he has been handling the additional macro risk in the market by trading Long Put options on the IWM.
How to add Insurance to your Portfolio
In this video tutorial, Coach Matt takes a look at different ways to protect your portfolio accounts when the market goes south.
Protecting Your Money: Create your own Personal Gold Standard
Everyone invests. Everyone has money. Currency is a form of investment since the gold standard was removed from the currency system.
How to Protect Your Retirement
Coach Matt from Tackle Trading looks at how passive and active investors can insure their retirements against another potential market crash like in the sub-prime crisis of 2008-09.
Tales of a Technician: Tagging the Golden Goose: A Lesson in Portfolio Protection
You’re a goose chaser. Admit it. It’s the gold you seek. And that’s okay. You’re in good company. Most of us round these parts have been searching for the big bird for ages. Some have even tagged one.
Tales of a Technician: A Trick for Financing Portfolio Protection
Come lear a Trick for Financing Portfolio Protection.
I Bought Portfolio Protection…Now What?
Today is the day we layout a game plan for exactly how to manage portfolio protection.
Options Theory: Hedging Basic Series Part 1 – What is Hedging?
What is hedging? Come learn the basics in this 3-part series.
Options Theory: Hedging Basic Series Part 2 – Why do Traders Hedge?
In part one of our new series on hedging, we defined precisely what the concept means. Today we’re turning to the why.
Options Theory: Hedging Basic Series Part 3 – When to Place Your Hedge
With a sound foundation on the what and why of hedging, we’re now ready to dissect the devil. Namely, when do I place my hedge?
Options Theory: Hedging Basic Series Part 4 – How to Hedge a Naked Put
The way that you go about hedging varies depending on what your strategy is. Come learn how to hedge a naughty naked put.
Options Theory: The Protective Put
The options realm is an insurance marketplace where stock owners can acquire protection against loss in their beloved equities.
Options Theory: VIX Spikes and Portfolio Protection
Today I want to talk a bit about the impact VIX spikes have on the cost of portfolio protection.
Tales of a Technician: Managing Protective Puts in a Crash
It’s nailing the management of Protective Puts that separates the men from the boys. Allow me to offer up a few ideas.
Tales of a Technician: How to Trade in a Bear Market
The bears are roaming. And while their sudden emergence likely spelled losses for traders far and wide, the pain doesn’t have to persist. I look at this as a “fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me” situation.
Options Theory: This is What Capitulation Looks Like
Contrarians in a bear market seek signs of capitulation. Specifically, evidence that bulls are throwing in the towel and abandoning their once beloved positions.
Tales of a Technician: Of Legacies and Long-term Investing
Herein we explore the perks of lengthening your time horizon and embracing Long-term Investing.
Options Theory: Protective Put Management
You have questions on how to protect a portfolio. I have some answers. You’ll find them here.
Bear Market Survival Guide [Premium System]
Any investor can survive stock market crashes by using The Bear Market Survival Guide because it includes Wall Street’s best-kept secrets for portfolio protection.
Tackle Trading Playbook [FREE for PRO Members]
PRO Members now have unfettered access to the Tackle Coaches’ personal playbook containing thirty-one powerful trading strategies categorized according to the Options Greeks. Bullish, bearish, or neutral market conditions, this Playbook will help you dial up the right call more often and with greater confidence.
Financial freedom is a journey
Sign up now and gain unfettered access to all of the quality content and powerful Scouting Reports that our Pro Members enjoy for 15-days absolutely free with no strings attached and let us show you what your trading has been missing.
Legal Disclaimer
Tackle Trading LLC (“Tackle Trading”) is providing this website and any related materials, including newsletters, blog posts, videos, social media postings and any other communications (collectively, the “Materials”) on an “as-is” basis. This means that although Tackle Trading strives to make the information accurate, thorough and current, neither Tackle Trading nor the author(s) of the Materials or the moderators guarantee or warrant the Materials or accept liability for any damage, loss or expense arising from the use of the Materials, whether based in tort, contract, or otherwise. Tackle Trading is providing the Materials for educational purposes only. We are not providing legal, accounting, or financial advisory services, and this is not a solicitation or recommendation to buy or sell any stocks, options, or other financial instruments or investments. Examples that address specific assets, stocks, options or other financial instrument transactions are for illustrative purposes only and are not intended to represent specific trades or transactions that we have conducted. In fact, for the purpose of illustration, we may use examples that are different from or contrary to transactions we have conducted or positions we hold. Furthermore, this website and any information or training herein are not intended as a solicitation for any future relationship, business or otherwise, between the users and the moderators. No express or implied warranties are being made with respect to these services and products. By using the Materials, each user agrees to indemnify and hold Tackle Trading harmless from all losses, expenses and costs, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, arising out of or resulting from user’s use of the Materials. In no event shall Tackle Trading or the author(s) or moderators be liable for any direct, special, consequential or incidental damages arising out of or related to the Materials. If this limitation on damages is not enforceable in some states, the total amount of Tackle Trading’s liability to the user or others shall not exceed the amount paid by the user for such Materials.
All investing and trading in the securities market involves a high degree of risk. Any decisions to place trades in the financial markets, including trading in stocks, options or other financial instruments, is a personal decision that should only be made after conducting thorough independent research, including a personal risk and financial assessment, and prior consultation with the user’s investment, legal, tax and accounting advisers, to determine whether such trading or investment is appropriate for that user.
As Benjamin Graham said: “In the short run, the market is a voting machine but in the long run, it is a weighing machine.”
If you invest in good businesses, the weighing machine will appreciate the value of these good investments.
Thanks again for a great reminder to think of the long term.
Love that quote. Thanks for sharing, Fuad.
Great post, Tyler. Thanks!