This segment was broadcast on 10 December 2015. Some information may be out of date.

How overconfidence can make you poorer

And other psychological aspects of investing
  • Applies to shares, property, fixed interest etc
  • Which gender?
  • Overconfidence leads to:
  1. Too little diversification
  2. Frequent trading
  • What to do instead.
  • Many women have their own problem — too little risk
  • Other ways emotions affect investing

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Mary Holm is a freelance journalist, a director of Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL), a seminar presenter and a bestselling author on personal finance. From 2011 to 2019 she was a founding director of the Financial Markets Authority. Her opinions are personal, and do not reflect the position of any organisation in which she holds office. Mary’s advice is of a general nature, and she is not responsible for any loss that any reader may suffer from following it.