What Should You Sell?

November 4, 2018
In this episode of Financial Decoder, host Mark Riepe, head of the Schwab Center for Financial Research, examines the psychological forces that impact a common investing decision: What should you sell?

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify or copy to your RSS reader.

Transcript Open new window

After you listen

  • To hear more about the impact of loss aversion in high-stakes situations, listen to the "Losses Loom Large" episode of the Choiceology podcast.
  • And for more insights into trading strategies—plus market news and commentary from Schwab experts—check out Schwab Live Daily.
  • To hear more about the impact of loss aversion in high-stakes situations, listen to the "Losses Loom Large" episode of the Choiceology podcast.
  • And for more insights into trading strategies—plus market news and commentary from Schwab experts—check out Schwab Live Daily.

Investors often spend a lot of time and energy trying to decide which investments are the best to buy. But what about when it is time to sell? In this episode of Financial Decoder, Mark shares what the research tells us about the psychology of the sell decision. Choosing to keep or to sell a stock or other investment can be complicated because of something called the disposition effect. Joining Mark in the discussion is Omar Aguilar, chief investment officer for equities at Charles Schwab Investment Management, who talks about the way professional money managers work to mitigate behavioral and cognitive biases.

  • One study, looking at real brokerage accounts of individual investors, found that stocks with an unrealized gain are 50% more likely to be sold than stocks with an unrealized loss. For more information on this study, see "Are Investors Reluctant to Realize Their Losses?" from The Journal of Finance
  •  Another study found that when stocks are inherited, the disposition effect is half as large as it is when stocks are purchased by the investor. You can read more about this study in the Journal of Behavioral Decision Making
  •  Mark also discusses the use of stop-loss orders to reduce the disposition effect. This was studied in detail by researchers in the European Journal of Finance.

Subscribe to Financial Decoder for free on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen.

Financial Decoder is an original podcast from Charles Schwab.

If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating or review on Apple Podcasts.

 

We can help you manage your portfolio.

Generating Income in Your Portfolio

How do investors generate income in their portfolio? Dividends, REITS, Bonds, Covered Calls, and Short Puts are some popular choices. In this webcast we'll briefly define each method and focus on to how to evaluate and find dividend stocks on the Schwab.com platform.

Portfolio Management

Portfolio Management can be a challenge for investors and traders alike. Join this webcast as your education coach illustrates how self-directed investors might tailor their own portfolio-management blueprint, no matter the account size, and how investors who want some guidance in their portfolios can better understand the principles involved and the different asset classes portfolio managers might use. Also, learn how to compare different asset classes using the Schwab.com platform.

Should You Stay Invested During a Market Downturn?

Learn how diversifying your portfolio and having a long-term perspective could help you stay invested during a market downturn.

Charles Schwab Investment Management, Inc., is an affiliate of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

The Schwab Center for Financial Research is a division of Charles Schwab & Co., Inc.

This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment planning advice. Where specific advice is necessary or appropriate, Charles Schwab & Co., Inc. ("Schwab") recommends consultation with a qualified tax advisor, CPA, financial planner or investment manager.

The type of securities and investment strategies mentioned may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review a security transaction for his or her own particular situation.

The information provided here is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice. The investment strategies mentioned here may not be suitable for everyone. Each investor needs to review an investment strategy for his or her own particular situation before making any investment decision.

Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness or reliability cannot be guaranteed.

There is no guarantee that execution of a stop order will be at or near the stop price.

Past performance is no guarantee of future results.

Information on this site is for general informational purposes only and should not be considered individualized recommendations or personalized investment advice. All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market, economic and geo-political conditions.

Investing involves risk, including loss of principal.

Apple Podcasts and the Apple logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries.

Google Podcasts and the Google Podcasts logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

Spotify and the Spotify logo are registered trademarks of Spotify AB.

1118-8PEX