Tuesday, September 07, 2010

Why I don't blog about the stock market anymore?

Someone mentioned in the cbox (the 'infamous' cbox as AK puts it) that how come I don't blog about stocks and shares these days. If you look at the recent posts, it's all about my ramblings and rantings. Whine whine whine...occasionally there'll be the personal finance or insurance topics that interests me greatly, but almost nothing about stocks or shares.


I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing for I suspect that it'll happen to all bloggers one day. Those who felt it but survived gone had gone on to greater heights. Those that felt it and did not survive, well, let's just say their blog's natural lifespan had been reached. I'm sure there are plenty of names in the blogosphere that had its day in the past, but had been gone by now. It's like there's an nuclear explosive - one day it's normal blogging as usual, then the next, only the site remains but there's no more updates. I suppose some blogs even had their infrastructure 'destroyed', meaning that the site can no longer be found and had been taken out with their contents erased.


So...you hear it from me first. I'm no longer as interested in stocks as I had once been in the past. 'No longer interested' is relative, of course. I'm still more interested in stocks then my gf ever will be (haha). Comparing myself in say 2 years ago and the present me, I think the present me is more disinterested and bo chup about the whole market thingy. I mean I still read about market news and read charts and all, but that's because I had to and not because I am inherently interested in it.


It's interesting to note my level of interest waning. It's partly due to my disillusionment about reading books. After you've read shelves of finance books in the library, you'll find that if you've read one, you've read all (figuratively, don't take it literally). The concepts are nearly all the same, so occasionally you'll find a gem that blows your mind, but those are rare and chances are you'll be more likely to find another book that sounds like the one you had read. Food gives nutrients to the body and books gives nutrients to your thoughts. I guess I'm weary about reading finance books now, so my thoughts are seldom about the market.






However, not being interested is different from not having to do it. I think I'll have to do it whether I'm interested or not, as opposed to say putting money in a bank. So while I am practically doing the same stuff with regards to the market as before (I think perhaps more stuff, since I do read charts everyday), I do so without the passion I felt when I first found out what is value investing, what is MA lines, macd histogram... These days, I'm more interested in freeing up my time to do what I like to do, be it playing games, reading or just watching youtube.


Another significant reason why I don't blog so much about the market is that there are people who are doing very much better than me. You can find all their blog links in my site on the top and on the right. Their articles are so much more insightful and more detailed than I can ever do, so I do not see the reason for repeating or trying to re-invent the wheel. I acknowledge that I'm not the best chartist/trader/investor - that much I know. Hence, there's no need to pretend to be good in it just so as to generate more viewership. I'll take a step backwards and try to facilitate traders and investors to meet up in the infamous cbox of mine and to exchange views. That I can do.

23 comments :

Createwealth8888 said...

Time can change and will change anything. I am not surprised at all.

http://createwealth8888.blogspot.com/2010/03/time-can-change-many-things-including.html

AK71 said...

Hi LP,

Growing introspective, I see. Jaded, I see. A break you be needing, I feel. ;)

Blogging's still a new experience, relatively, for me and I do enjoy it (still). So, blog on. One day, I might end up feeling like you.

I do charting now for fun. I have stopped trading for a while now. Less stressful now too. Haha..

Do whatever you feel will make you happy (as long as you are not hurting anyone including yourself). Cheer up. Life is not just about the now and the present, k? :)

Anonymous said...

Hi LP,

I'm new to the investment blogging fraternity so I don't have much experience as you to comment on this. But pls accept my 2 cents.

Sometimes I too feel uninterested in value investing. But, to get my interest back, I always think about why I'm doing all these in the first place. For me, it's to achieve good returns. For u, it might be other reasons.

U may want to take a look at my post on this at http://financiallyfreenow.wordpress.com/2010/06/19/whywhat/

Cheers!

P.S. Could u link me to your blog pls?

Createwealth8888 said...

I strongly agreed with these points in FFnow's post.

"We all have dreams and goals that we all want to achieve."

"Whatever you desire, there must be a compelling reason why u want it. The “what” gives you focus, the “why” gives you the determination, drive and courage to take action."

"For example, you might want to have a $x by the age of x. This is the “what”. If you don’t have a strong enough reason on why you want that amount of money, then you would feel lazy, lack determination to take action and feel that the goal is out-of-reach. Soon, the dream fades away and it remains just as it is – a dream. So a “why” could be that you want to provide for your family the best that they can have, go for a holiday whenever you like, provide for your children’s overseas education, donate to charities and do things you always wanted to without having to worry about money at all. When you have a strong “why”, it drives you forward towards your goal."

I strongly believe without the "what" and "why", I don't think anyone can really make it.

In 2003, I set some bullish progressive goals from 2003 to 2011to make money from the stock market and I even have to endure the failed goal in 2008, under-perform goal in 2009 and this year 2010 goal is likely to be a tough one too.

Next year will be the last year to tally the goals.

Another thing is that some people have failed to come out with an objective method to measure their performance. If they can't really measure it, soon they will give up.

read more if you wish? http://createwealth8888.blogspot.com/2009/12/2009-year-end-performance-review.html

la papillion said...

Hi bro8888,

Indeed, time changed my perspective on the stock market. I can't do it with the passion like I did in the past. I have not figured out if it's a good thing or bad thing...maybe it's better this way, as I'm not affected by the ups and downs, unlike in the past.

I also agree with FFN's post. I think there's another way to reach the same goal than through stock market. Last time, it's solely through the market. I suppose I'm more REALISTIC now after a few years in the market, so I'm no longer hankering after 10-15% returns per year, as I've hoped for in the past.

la papillion said...

Hi AK,

Yes. Yes. Yes. (My reply to your insights).

Maybe I'm too tied up with things that I don't find it so joyful to blog anymore. I blog these days to relieve the thoughts that clogged up my mind. Somehow putting them now will make me think of them in more concrete terms, then I will not think so much about them.

Thanks for cheering me up, I'm not that depressed anymore :)

la papillion said...

Hi FFN,

Investing, to me, is always to get a certain monetary value. In the past, there's a joy in this, but as mentioned in the blog article, this joy is slowly disappearing. I can't even read a proper finance book without skipping through certain parts these days...so it's very different compared to the past.

Will link your site up, np.

Createwealth8888 said...

10-15% returns on investing capital or 10-15% compounded returns on portfolio? Which one are you are refering to?

Createwealth8888 said...

Investing is a marathon race set at 10, 15, 20, 25, and 30 years milestones.

http://createwealth8888.blogspot.com/2010/09/long-term-investing-is-marathon-race-2.html

JW said...

LP,

appears that I have reached the same mindset as you ")

Just that I didn't blog about it.

"I think there's another way to reach the same goal than through stock market. "
-- I have been saying this for half a year. Cookie knows it :)

Sometimes, being too trapped inside the market box isn't a good thing. Mathematically speaking, in the very long run, the gains of the sum of all passive investors is the same as the gains of the sum of all active traders.

http://wealthbuch.blogspot.com/2010/03/are-you-entrapped-in-market-box.html

GANBATTE!

la papillion said...

Hi bro8888,

I believe I'm talking about 10-15% returns on portfolio - as a whole.

la papillion said...

Hi momo,

Indeed...it seems that reaching financial freedom using the stock market is not impossible, it's just very hard to me. I think I will find more joy out of doing it in my active income.

Possibly, I would use the stock market to preserve wealth and eventually to take over my active income...but to make it to FF through stock market? I no longer think that it's possible.

It's a far cry when I'm still a greenhorn, thinking that the world is my oyster and that I can hit 10-15% per yr, thereby needing only 240k over 15 yrs to reach 1 million.

JW said...

LP,

reality does take some time to kick sense in us sometimes :)

The lure of easy money has always been on human's mind throughout history.

Fortunately, we are still young. There's still quite an amount of time on the marathon!

As for me, I still believe dividends as the way to preserve wealth.

Jeremy said...

Dear LP,
Do what you are passionate about in life. If it is teaching, teach. If it is investing, invest. However, in all these things, remember that they will all not last forever, at least it expires when one leaves the world. So, also take time to consider meaning of life, why we are brought to life and what is in store for us after we are gone from this world.

Reaching financial freedom is not difficult. It is just a mindset living. Anyone can do it. Just live below one's means and keep saving and investing prudently and over a sufficient time period, one will surely reach financial freedom.

Do consider the meaning of life too when one is thinking of and getting caught up with wealth creation and obtaining financial freedom. Happiness in life is not restricted by just these things alone.

My few cents worth........ :-)

Createwealth8888 said...

Here are some the world's top investment guru's annualized returns:


http://createwealth8888.blogspot.com/2010/09/get-real-expected-returns-from-stocks.html

Anonymous said...

Maybe FF can be achieved by doing a little bit more than just stocks. Maybe using options on the US stocks u own?

http://financiallyfreenow.wordpress.com/2010/05/14/protective-puts-covered-calls-rolling-options-huh-2/

la papillion said...

Hi momo,

Yes, indeed took some time before I realised the folly of my ways... Anyway, change of methods but not change of direction :)

la papillion said...

Hi Jeremy,

Thanks for reminding me why I am doing the things I'm doing now :) You're very philosophical and stoic about life :)

la papillion said...

Hi FFN,

I am of the thinking that reaching FF thru stock market is not easy at all. Perhaps it's easier if you do it thru active income...I know it would be easier for me anyway. At least with active income, I'm in more control.

That's personal opinion of course, there are pple who are already doing it through stock markets. I just don't think I can be that type.

PanzerGrenadier said...

Hi LP

The saying, "change is permanent," rings true in all of us.

I for one have also stopped going in/out of the market and basically am holding on to a small portfolio that helps beat the dismal fixed deposits rates.

In the meantime, I'm focussing more of my energies on my career as it is the main cash flow generating source for now. ;-)

We need to have different interests, I think your blog is better because it's more about your personality, quirks and character which makes it more interesting than just a run of the mill "another" personal finance blog!

Be well and prosper!

Wealth Journey said...

No statistics, but most people who aren't millionaires and are not good at investing will have a better chance at becoming a millionaire from property investing than stock investing.

la papillion said...

Hi PG,

Thanks for the encouragement :) I think it's my infamous cbox that makes pple come back, haha

la papillion said...

Hi wealthjourney,

I have no numbers, but that is what I observe too..