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Mind Game of the Month

Don't Let Scammers Spoil the Season

The holidays are full of surprises. Most are welcome. But scammers take advantage of the season to deliver some you don't want. When you are busy and distracted, a convincing call or email can catch you off guard.

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The Mind Game, on video.

A short conversation on the holiday scams targeting investors this time of year — and the habits that keep your money safe.

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The usual suspects

Six mental shortcuts that cost real money.

Loss aversion

Losses feel roughly twice as strong as equivalent gains, which is why selling at the bottom feels like relief.

Recency bias

We assume the last twelve months predict the next twelve. They rarely do.

Herding

Crowds provide comfort, not returns. The most crowded trade is usually the most expensive one.

Confirmation bias

We read what we already believe and call it research.

Anchoring

The price you paid is irrelevant to what an investment is worth today, yet it governs the decision anyway.

Action bias

Doing something feels responsible. In investing, doing nothing is frequently the harder and better choice.

Talk it through

A plan is easier to keep when you didn't build it alone.