Howard Marks of Oaktree Capital provides a refuge in the post-truth era. The following gems are from his presentation, 'The Truth about Investing'.
"Over the last few decades, investors' timeframes have shrunk. They've become obsessed with quarterly returns. In fact, technology now enables them to become distracted by returns on a daily basis, and even minute-by-minute. Thus one way to gain an advantage is by ignoring the "noise" created by the manic swings of others and focusing on the things that matter in the long term."
"Any time you think you know something others don't you should examine the basis for that belief. "Does everyone know that?" "Why should I be privy to exceptional information or insight?" "Am I certain I'm right and everyone else is wrong; mightn't it be the opposite?" If it's the result of advice from someone else, you must ask, "Why would anyone give me potentially profitable information?"
"Investors would be wise to accept that they can't see the macro future and restrict themselves to doing things that are within their power. These include gaining insight regarding companies, industries and securities; controlling emotion; and behaving in a contrarian and counter-cyclical manner."
There are 37 other truths in the piece. I strongly recommend that you take time to read them. There's not a fake amongst them.
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