How to maximize gains while minimizing risk is the quintessential investing query. But while significantly reducing risk is possible (as I’ll show you in a minute), you cannot remove it entirely. Investors may seek out the “Holy Grail” — a trade with a high return and no risk — but in reality they’re just shifting risk. For example, people who illegally trade on insider information can take huge positions and make an enormous, nearly “guaranteed” reward with seemingly no risk. In reality, the market risk has shifted to a legal one. If caught, the trader faces the potential… Read More
How to maximize gains while minimizing risk is the quintessential investing query. But while significantly reducing risk is possible (as I’ll show you in a minute), you cannot remove it entirely. Investors may seek out the “Holy Grail” — a trade with a high return and no risk — but in reality they’re just shifting risk. For example, people who illegally trade on insider information can take huge positions and make an enormous, nearly “guaranteed” reward with seemingly no risk. In reality, the market risk has shifted to a legal one. If caught, the trader faces the potential disgorgement of those profits and incarceration. The same is true of fraud such as Ponzi schemes like the Bernie Madoff hedge fund scandal. Risk remains — just in a different form. Law-abiding investors must accept that risk and reward are inseparable. The good news is that maximizing return and minimizing risk is possible using a trend-following system. Or should I say, it is possible when you learn to overcome the emotional difficulties which often stand in the way of profitable trend following. In my 20 years of managing money, I’ve found this is the key to success in the markets. Read More