Do you enjoy the process or just the proceeds?

[brobro777]

2 hours ago, Masterofnone said:

I'm curious as to how many of this community who were in the market in 1999-2005 are feeling the same.

I know that I am. I've always been fully invested but am now at 12% cash and have mostly been sitting on my hands.

Not a declaration that the sky is falling, just a percentage play to have some funds to be opportunistic--just feels like things might be rhyming.

And this is made a little bit easier with 4.5% money market rates.

 

Oh yea, maybe not a massive crash but a decade of disappointing returns, sure I think probably happens

 

And the reason may come down to something mundane like falling birth rates everywhere, haha

 

[james22]

3 hours ago, Masterofnone said:

I'm curious as to how many of this community who were in the market in 1999-2005 are feeling the same.

I know that I am. I've always been fully invested but am now at 12% cash and have mostly been sitting on my hands.

Not a declaration that the sky is falling, just a percentage play to have some funds to be opportunistic--just feels like things might be rhyming.

And this is made a little bit easier with 4.5% money market rates.

 

Nah, I know better than to "feel" anything.

[nwoodman]

1 hour ago, Spekulatius said:

Knowing what I own (to some extent) helps me stay invested.

+1, hard to see value in the US markets in aggregate.  I would take a stock picking even if it risked underperforming rather than passively invest in what I consider a fine example of irrational exuberance.

 

In terms of the question posed, I lean more toward the process.  The proceeds have given me many more choices, but the things I enjoy don't cost that much. It's more intellectual scorekeeping than anything else, plus I genuinely enjoy learning and thinking about businesses that aren't my chosen profession.  Charlie's latticework of mental models always resonated.

 

“To the man with only a hammer, every problem looks like a nail.” 

“If you get into the mental habit of relating what you’re reading to the basic structure of the underlying ideas being demonstrated, you gradually accumulate some wisdom.”

 

The wisdom part has not been fully cemented, but the journey has been fascinating.

[james22]

5 minutes ago, nwoodman said:

I genuinely enjoy learning and thinking about businesses that aren't my chosen profession.

 

Investing makes everything interesting: businesses, the economy, politics and policy, the weather, commodities, psychology, etc.

 

https://www.amazon.com/Investing-Liberal-Robert-G-Hagstrom/dp/1587991381

[SharperDingaan]

Proceeds, as it just gives us ability to do more on the business side, which is where we really get our kicks.

 

For us, process is just coming up with a solution to address some problem. Every problem different enough that the process is always changing.

 

SD

 

 

[Gamecock-YT]

Process. Though at times it can feel like a bit of just spinning your wheels when you don't have anything actionable to dig in on. I've always been interested in how money worked. My degree is in finance as well. I started reading the WSJ at an early age, FT in college. 

 

After a certain amount the proceeds are just keeping score. Though it's allowed for a lifestyle I wouldn't have otherwise and also allows for the independence I crave. But even if it didn't allow for the opportunity to make outsized gains, I'd still be interested in business.

 

I think Drunk has a quote: "Number one, passion. I mentioned earlier I was passionate about the business. The problem with this business if you’re not passionate, it is so invigorating to certain individuals, they’re going to work 24/7, and you’re competing against them. So every time you buy something, one of them is selling it. So, if you’re with one of the lazy people that are just doing it for the money, you’re going to get run over by those people."

[This2ShallPass]

Process, I just like it way too much. I was just telling my wife yesterday that I'm growing addicted to this thing. Of course, proceeds are the yardstick to measure and that's the fun part, making more than enough mistakes (markets will humble everybody) and adapting / learning along the way. 

[longlake95]

Both, the journey is fun. The outcome is more fun. 

[John Hjorth]

19 hours ago, Spekulatius said:

Knowing what I own (to some extent) helps me stay invested.

 

On 1/29/2025 at 8:56 PM, 73 Reds said:

+1  Curious - to me anyway - why so many folks like to play a game which is largely stacked against you in favor of pure passive investing, particularly if you value your time, and one in which Mr. Market ultimately decides whether you win or lose.   On the one hand you seek the independence of decision-making but on the other hand you put your complete faith in others, who manage the companies (or bets) in which you invest.  Personally the process, as opposed to the proceeds is only rewarding when I fully direct both through controlling ownership.  

 

There is to me nothing as rewarding as to look up new financial reporting for great companies, reading about them continuing their successes, that I already own a part of. - And then one still have a full universe of companies [several thousands] still to study, sort and think about for the future.