At Monument, we’re tired of financial advisors spewing out jargon and B.S. to the public in an attempt to look smart, sell something, or over-complicate wealth management when people are simply seeking clarity.

Here are real, unfiltered opinions of what we believe all investors should be thinking about right now:

 

1. Your own behavior determines your success more than any other factor, in every area of your life—including finances.

Unless you’re trying to become rich overnight, the day-to-day of wealth management shouldn’t be causing you a spike in adrenaline or a dark spiral into despair—or worse, a series of fear-based decisions and reactive behaviors that cause you to get in your own way, and obstruct the path to wealth.

Look at the market the way you do a weather report—good to know so you can adjust your attire and travel plans as necessary, but it doesn’t have the power to derail your day or undo all your decisions.

 

2. Serious investing is not for your entertainment.

We’ve seen a lot of portfolios over the past decade and have noticed that what a lot of people think is investing, is not. We often see some combination of speculating, gambling and collecting. Just because investing can be entertaining and full of action, does not mean this is where you should seek those thrills.

A lot of financial salespeople use the excitement of investing to pitch a sale. We see this as morally corrupt because when you are enticed to gamble and take unnecessary risks with your portfolio, you are literally risking your future life. Gambling is best saved for a fun trip to Vegas with a limit on how much you could lose. Never confuse investing with entertainment and action.

 

3. There is no place for fear or greed in your investment plan. 

Did you call your advisor in October of 2008 to say you were thinking of selling or investing? How about in November of 2007? Can you recall your emotions in December of 2018?

Most investors, especially those without a wealth strategy, make the same mistake over and over again—they buy high in the face of greed or FOMO, the fear of missing out, and/or they sell low in the face of fear.

Our opinion is that it’s best to base investment decisions on your immediate need for cash and your time horizon. Designing your wealth strategy while exercising patience and discipline are key components to successfully meeting your personal goals and objectives. Always know, “What’s the money for?” and never base your decisions on any fear or greed you may feel.

 

4. Don’t try to get even.

“Mental anchoring,” which is waiting for an investment to “get back to even” before selling it, is not a healthy investing behavior. We have heard it a million times: “As soon as it comes back up to where I bought it, I’ll dump it.” This mental anchoring can be a big mistake.

As they say in military planning, “Hope is not a course of action” and there is no assurance that it will ever recover. And there is opportunity cost associated with holding on for a recovery…and it’s missing out on investments that are better and increasing in value. If you start with $100,000 in a stock and it goes down $10,000, you should be agnostic over which security gets you back to even. In fact, there is a good argument to be made in taxable accounts to take the loss, buy a new security to get you back to even, and write off the $10,000 on your taxes against future capital gains.

Stick to the investment strategy and Investment Policy Statement that are part of any strategic wealth plan and seek advice from an advisor who is well-versed in a wide variety of economic considerations and financial analysis.

 

5. Overconfidence can be dangerous.

75% of all drivers think they are better than the average driver. It’s called “overconfidence” and it’s a problem…mostly because people rarely stop to think about how it affects them. Overconfidence is a major issue when investing, because you become more willing to take on higher risk with your investments and your overall strategy.

Solid long-term strategies are key to avoiding mistakes due to overconfidence. Bull markets, such as the 10 years following the 2008 crisis, can lead to overconfidence. It’s important to be award of this very powerful emotion and understand that solid long-term strategies are key to avoiding mistakes dues to overconfidence.

 

6. Watch out for conflicts of interest.

Recognize that big Wall Street firms are in the business of, among other things, selling products to investors. Sales awards such as “Chairman’s Club” are a key indicator of the sales culture seen in the large firms. Remember that these firms have a responsibility to their shareholders…NOT THEIR CLIENTS! The pressure these firms put on their advisors to grow revenue is immense and can create powerful misalignments, so understand that the advice you get from their salespeople may not always be in your best interest.

The best advice for any investor is to keep asking questions about conflicts, fees, hidden charges, commissions and other incentives—just as you’ve always had to.

 

7. Never trust past performance.

Pay attention to the saying, “Past performance does not guarantee future results.” Reputable studies can easily be found online showing that investments which have outperformed their peers in the past generally do not outperform them in the future. It’s also illogical to assume that past performance can be used as any sort of reliable indicator for the future. Strong past performance is often a matter of chance and timing, especially over the shorter term.

The best two things to keep in mind here are to avoid trying to outsmart the market and to lower the chances of making a decision that could have a catastrophic result (for example, over-concentrating a portfolio in one company).

 

8. Higher yield typically goes hand in hand with higher risk.

If you want a higher yield, you are probably going to take on more risk. Remember the old adage, “There is no free lunch on Wall Street.” As with any investment, the higher the expected return, the higher the risk.

For example, if a stock pays out an annual cash dividend of 8% but the stock decreases in value by 10% over that year, you have a negative return. This does not mean that all stocks with high dividends are bad investments; it simply means you are taking on more risk. As with all things, moderation and awareness are key.

 

9. Always align your capital and expectations with your goals.

At Monument, we believe that your goals are the pillars that drive your financial design. Period. We strongly caution against buying investments from anyone who is not working off of a strategic wealth plan grounded in what you value and where you’re headed next. A common example of this is insurance salespeople trying to sell insurance as an investment without fully understanding the insurable interest (if any) outlined in a wealth plan.

Our opinion is that you can make good financial decisions only within the context of your goals, which are unique to you and you alone. Someone else’s portfolio, built for their specific goals, may not be the right fit for you. Remember, performance is relative…and we believe that performance should be benchmarked against the performance needed to achieve a wealth plan’s calculated probability of success.

Anyone can say they want their portfolio to “make more”, but if that’s their metric for measuring the success of their portfolio, they will never feel secure…or satisfied. Beating the S&P 500 is not a real measure of success and in fact could raise your risk profile well beyond what is needed to achieve your goals.

To look at it another way, when driving down the highway, faster is not always better. If you have an appointment 65 miles away and you need to be there in an hour, 65mph works. Going 85mph doesn’t do anything except increase your chances for getting a ticket or into an accident. Find the right speed and set the cruise control—that’s what a wealth plan should provide you.

 

10. Invest to create something of meaning and purpose.

Your wealth and potential for growth is much more than the sum of its parts. The point isn’t just to have it and watch it ride the market like a roller coaster, wondering what will happen. The point is to create something of meaning and purpose. That said, ask yourself these three questions:

• If you had unlimited money forever, how would you live your life?

• If you found out you will die suddenly eight years from today, would you change your current life? How?

• If you died tomorrow morning at 7:00am, what would you regret?

 

Did these opinions resonate with you? If so, here’s what you should consider doing next.

When you have significant wealth, the stakes change. There’s more to manage, more risk in doing it wrong, and less time to waste.

Your greatest fear isn’t market volatility—it’s not knowing what you’re missing. You need a second brain: an expert partner who meets you at your speed, speaks your language, and makes the financial part of life feel less like a burden and more like a lever.

About Monument Wealth Management

We are a decision partner and “second brain” for successful individuals navigating a new level of financial complexity. Our clients don’t just want better performance—they want to make better decisions and lead more fulfilling lives. We’re here to help them act with intention when each pivotal moment arrives.

We metabolize financial complexity, integrate technical strategy, and deliver clarity —so you can move forward with confidence.

We don’t talk over you. We don’t hide behind jargon. We earn your trust by showing up informed, prepared, and focused on your next move—not ours.