七個訓練投資的步驟
By: Austin Pryor
談到投資這件事，學習怎麼去投資很簡單，就像大家說的，投資又不像製造火箭那麼難。但是，去做你應該做的事卻是相當地困難。
專業投資者和一般普羅大眾最大的不同在於:情緒管理。因為各種新聞、發生的事件等等，我們的情緒很容易被影響然後做出錯誤的決定。理論上來說，在股票市場裡，我們都想買低賣高，但是情緒往往會阻攔我們。根據經驗，大部分的人都買高賣低。
當市場達到歷史新高時，我們覺得前景一片光明不想賣，心理還想著股價會越來越高。而當股價低的時候，相反的情緒掌控我們，我們感到害怕焦慮，以致於連動都不敢動。
在我的投資書：「健全的心理投資」裡提到，我們不建議人買低賣高。原因是要訓練情緒管理，讓自己成為更好的金錢管家。
要謙卑。我們知道陽光底下沒有新鮮事。神所默示的聖經已經教導我們實用有效的原則。遵守祂的優先次序、指導原則就能得到保護。避免把自己的想法放在神之前。 要有良心。把自己當成管理神所賜資源的好管家。冒不必要的風險會危害祂的資產。身為耶穌的跟隨者，投資理財不只是為了我們自己的緣故，我們增加資產的原因是為了要慷慨地給出去。 做好準備。發展自己的投資計畫。檢視一下個人的目標、風險和計畫其他的部分是否配合得宜？然後按照計畫去做。由你主導而非只是反映市場。 知足。專注在大筆的獲利上可能是很危險的。如提摩太前書6章9-10節所說的:「但那想要發財的人，就陷在迷惑、落在網羅和許多無知有害的私慾裏，叫人沉在敗壞和滅亡中。貪財是萬惡之根。有人貪戀錢財，就被引誘離了真道，用許多愁苦把自己刺透了。」當我們認為自己想獲利的野心是合情合理時，貪心往往是損失的最大原因。 要多樣化。確定你的計畫。「你要分給七人，或分給八人，因為你不知道將來有甚麼災禍臨到地上。」（傳道書11章2節）你將錢投資在一個或是二個機會上可能會帶來更高的利潤，但也可能會遭致損失。只要謹守自己的持份，避免誘惑就不會帶來毀滅性的損失。 要有耐心。從耶穌「三個僕人的比喻」（馬太福音25章14-30節）裡我們知道主人出外旅行「過了許久」。因此致富的策略應該是長期而緩慢的。這也可以讓你去面對市場時高時低的起伏變化，時間是投機者的敵人，卻是投資者的朋友。 負責任的。把你的計畫給你的配偶或是可信賴的基督徒朋友看。每一季去審視它，看看是否按照計畫進行？請小心，在計畫外的誘惑會損壞你須負起的責任。採用這些步驟會幫助你榮耀神，也能幫助你在風險以及獲利當中平衡地前進。如同神在詩篇32章8、10節裡所說的：「 我要教導你，指示你當行的路；我要定睛在你身上勸戒你。惡人必多受苦楚；惟獨倚靠耶和華的必有慈愛四面環繞他。」
Austin Pryor具有超過三十年理財顧問的經驗。他也是「健全心裡投資」的創辦者。他住在美國肯塔基州的路易斯威爾市。他的網址是www.soundmindinvesting.com
省思 / 討論題目
你是否同意學習投資原則很簡單，但事實上做起來很困難呢？解釋一下你的答案。 依你個人的意見、經驗和觀察，情緒是否會影響投資決定？ 你覺得投資或理財時，應該詢問神和參考聖經原則嗎?解釋你的答案。 文章中提到的七個原則，對你而言，哪一個最難做到？註：若你有聖經且想要看有關此主題的其他經文，請看：箴言13章11節、15章16節、23章4-5節、28章20節、30章8-9節;馬太福音6章19-21節、25-34節
SEVEN STEPS TO DISCIPLINED INVESTING
By Austin Pryor
When it comes to investing, learning what you are supposed to do is relatively easy. As they say, it is not rocket science. But doing what you’re supposed to do can be surprisingly hard.
A key quality that separates top professionals in the world of financial investing from the rest of us takes years to develop: emotional self-control. Our emotions interact with news and market events in ways that incline us to act at exactly the wrong time. Theoretically, when it comes to the stock market, we all want to "buy low and sell high," but emotionally, it is difficult to do either. Experience shows most investors do the opposite.
When the market reaches historic highs, we feel optimistic and reluctant to sell, thinking even greater earnings lie ahead. And when the market is low, negative emotions tend to dictate our response. Fears increase, as do our anxieties, so investors choose not to act at all.
In my publication, Sound Mind Investing, we do not recommend attempting to buy and sell at market lows and highs. We mention it only to point out the need to exercise self-discipline in overcoming our emotions and becoming effective money managers. Here are a few suggestions for how to grow in that area:
Be humble. Realize "there is nothing new under the sun," and the instructions God has given in the Bible have proven to be practical and effective. There is safety in following the priorities and guidelines He has provided for our protection. Avoid having more confidence in our own thinking than in His. Be conscientious. See yourself as caretaker of the resources God has given to you. Acknowledge taking undue risks jeopardizes His wealth. As followers of Christ, financial investing is not for ourselves alone – we should strive to responsibly increase our assets to give more generously. Be prepared. Develop a written plan laying out your investment strategy, reflecting your personal goals and desired level of risk. Understand how all the parts of your portfolio fit together and the role that each part plays. Then let buying and selling be dictated solely by your plan. Initiate, do not just react. Be content. A preoccupation with large profits can be dangerous, as 1 Timothy 6:9-10 states: “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.” Be reasonable in your financial ambitions. Surely, more money is lost due to greed than any other single factor. Be diversified. Make sure your plan divides "your portion to seven, or even to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth" (Ecclesiastes 11:2). Higher profits can be made by concentrating your money in one or two opportunities, but staggering losses can also be incurred. By avoiding the temptation to concentrate your holdings, no loss will devastate you. Be patient. Taking a cue from the Jesus” “parable of the talents” (Matthew 25:14-30), where the master was away for "a long time" – adopt a long-term strategy emphasizing get-rich-slowly. This allows you to cope with up-and-down market cycles. Time is an enemy to the speculator, a friend to the investor. Be accountable. Show your plan to your spouse or a trusted Christian friend, and review it with them quarterly to show how you are being faithful in following it. The temptation to take steps outside your strategy will be tempered by the realization they will hold you accountable.Taking these steps will help ensure you are honoring the Lord and His priorities as you strike a balance between the risks and rewards of the marketplace. As God says in Psalm 32:8,10: "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you….“
Austin Pryor has more than three decades of experience in advising investors and is founder of the Sound Mind Investing newsletter and website, www.soundmindinvesting.com. He lives in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.
Reflection/Discussion Questions
Do you agree that in terms of financial investing, learning what you should do might seem relatively easy, but actually doing what you should do is very difficult? Why or why not? How in your opinion – either from personal experience or observation – do emotions affect financial decisions? What do you think about the idea of consulting God and principles given in the Bible for guidance in both personal and corporate financial management? Explain your answer. Which of the “Seven Steps to Disciplined Investing” seem most difficult to you?NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Proverbs 13:11, 15:16, 23:4-5, 28:20, 30:8-9; Matthew 6:19-21, 25-34
