Investment for doctors: should you trade shares and currencies?

Quite often I hear doctors talking or enquiring about actively trading shares or even currencies. In this article I would like to explore how investment for doctors should be approached, and whether certain investment strategies are a waste of time (and money).

Investment for doctors versus speculation

One leads to wealth accumulation the other often to wealth destruction: do you know which one leads to which outcome? In simple terms: investors have a long-term timeframe, whereas speculators mainly try to make short-term profits, by actively trading and timing the market. Investors believe that as long as they buy quality investment assets and hold them for the long term (‘time in the market’), they will reap the rewards in terms of achieving good capital growth. Speculating is generally considered to be higher risk. As a doctor you should be focused on prudently investing your hard-earned wealth, although you may ‘gamble’ with some non-essential money if you really want to.

Zero-Sum-Game

Investing in the stock market or currency marker is ultimately a zero-sum-game: for every winner there is a loser. This should be self-evident, as for every trade there needs to be a counter-party. Hence, you need to ask yourself whether you have the skills and knowledge to always be on the winning side of the trade. Even professional fund managers cannot get this right.

Academic evidence

There has been plenty of research in relation to whether it is possible to consistently beat the share market. The results, including research by Nobel Prize winners, are pretty compelling, unless you believe in crystal balls. If you would like to read more about this research, you can find a link to an interesting article by clicking HERE. http://www.businessinsider.com.au/2013-nobel-prize-in-economics-2013-10

Opportunity Cost

As a doctor you earn an income when you see and treat patients. Any activity that distracts you from this comes at a cost. Do you think you can make more money trading shares and currencies as opposed to seeing patients? Or could you in fact lose income (being away or distracted from work while trading) and also capital (making the wrong investments)?

A better investment for doctors

It is my sincere belief that the speculative trading of shares or other financial instruments is not a suitable wealth creation strategy or investment for doctors, or anyone else for that matter. There are no shortcuts when it comes to building wealth. Doctors have a unique opportunity to build sustainable and predictable wealth by having a disciplined cash flow management and investment approach. If you would like to explore how I can help, please get in touch. You can find my details at the bottom of this article.

Email me at yves@affluenceprivate.com.au to receive my free eBook on Investment Fundamentals.

About me

I specialise in medical financial planning and coordinating the financial affairs of medical professionals. I have been recognised as one of the Top 10 financial planners in Perth and Australia. I am a Certified Financial Planner and member of the Financial Planning Association of Australia.

As I understand your time is extremely valuable and scarce, I am able to offer flexible meetings times, including outside business hours and during the weekend. I can even come and meet you somewhere convenient, or talk via videoconference on Skype.

My first consultation is free. I allocate up to 90 minutes to discuss your personal circumstances and to establish how I may best assist you. Where you already have an existing adviser, I would be happy to offer a second opinion. I always quote a fixed dollar fee before we start working together.

Please contact me on yves@affluenceprivate.com.au or call me direct on 0432 885 295. You can follow me on Twitter @YvesSchoof or connect with me on Linkedin to receive new articles.

Disclaimer

Yves Schoof and Affluence Private Wealth are Authorised Representatives of Synchron, AFS Licence No. 243313. The information posted is intended to be general in nature and is not personal financial product advice. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on any information, you should consider the appropriateness of the information provided and the nature of the relevant financial product having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs. In particular, you should seek independent financial advice and read the relevant product disclosure statement (PDS) or other offer document prior to making a decision.

Financial Planning For Dentists

Medico CFO Courses Now RACGP accredited

Podcast: Effective Doctor-Patient Communication

SMSF Borrowing Still Alive And Well For Doctors And Dentists

#Top10financialplannerPerth #financialplanningPerth #estateplanningfordoctors #taxplanningfordoctors #assetprotectionfordoctors #investingfordoctors #doctorsandtax #investmentfordoctors #Perthfinancialplanner #doctorsandfinance #doctorsandinvestment #YvesSchoof #propertyinvestmentfordoctors #AffluencePrivateWealth #financialplannerPerth