The title of this article is probably not what you think it is. I'm not introducing an amazingly effective brand-new investing style. We're not launching a Fool Insane Investing service. Quite the opposite, in fact.
I can see why you might've been confused. There's a lot of over-the-top language in the consumer world these days. My bank, for example, now offers "Extreme Checking" accounts. The Age of Understatement this is not.
"Insane Investing" is, rather, the many irrational and sometimes puzzling behaviors we investors often exhibit.
Investors gone mental
Our irrationality rears its ugly head in all kinds of areas. Don't know what I mean? Just consider a stinker in your portfolio. If you've lost $1,000 on one stock, chances are you're waiting for the price to go up again so that you can regain as much of that $1,000 as possible. That's not sensible, though. If you no longer have much confidence in the company -- putting the stock aside -- you'd be better off moving what's left of your money into another stock that you are confident about. (If you're a Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL) shareholder from the glory days of $60 per share, you're probably nodding your head.) You're more likely to make back that $1,000 in the stronger company, right? And does it really matter which stock gets you the $1,000? I thought not.
We're also irrational during the stock-picking process -- and trust me, I'm no exception. I've bought on hunches and on very little research. I've bought mutual funds without examining fees or getting the skinny on the manager. And I've paid the price for my mistakes. I'm mostly reformed now -- but still not perfect.
I know now to perform my due diligence on any potential investment. Or -- if I don't have the time, expertise, or brainpower -- I seek investing ideas from people whose investing styles and track records I respect. So far, that's served me well.
Wise up
You can do the same, if you're interested. The Internet has significantly leveled the playing field in favor of individual investors. Want to read up on SEC filings, management teams, expenses, and more? All you need is the Web and some free time.
You can also check out our Foolish resources. Shannon Zimmerman, analyst of Motley Fool Champion Funds, has an impressive track record thus far. Champion Funds has doubled the market's return since inception, returning 14.36% for subscribers, vs. just 7.11% for its benchmarks.
Shannon's recommended 29 Championship-caliber funds to date. An impressive 27 out of the 29 have made money for subscribers, and nine are up more than 20%. Dodge & Cox International Stock (FUND:DODFX) is one of the standout stars. That fund is up 42% since Shannon gave it the nod, largely because of its largest holdings: GlaxoSmithKline (NYSE:GSK), Sony (NYSE:SNE), Vodafone (NYSE:VOD), and Royal Dutch Petroleum (NYSE:RD).
Will every pick outperform? Of course not. But tapping into the expertise of a resource like Champion Funds puts proven market beaters to work for you. Your money is yours, but investing it doesn't have to be an isolated adventure.
Behavioral economics
There's actually an entire academic field devoted to the concept of people making lousy economic choices. It's called behavioral economics, and it studies why people make less-than-optimal decisions even when they know better.
Don't let insanity get the best of your investing dollars -- you don't want to end up a behavioral economics case study. If you'd like a sane, smart, proven market-beating strategy, Shannon is offering a free 30-day trial to his Champion Funds newsletter service. You'll receive one quality fund recommendation per month, as well as access to all past picks, model portfolios, interviews with fund managers, and the Foolish community discussion boards, where like-minded investors share ideas, wisdom, and insight. Click here to learn more.
Selena Maranjian's favorite discussion boards include Book Club , The Eclectic Library, and Card & Board Games. She does not own shares of any company mentioned in this article. For more about Selena, view her bio and her profile. You might also be interested in these books she has written or co-written: The Motley Fool Money Guide and The Motley Fool Investment Guide for Teens . The Motley Fool is Fools writing for Fools.
