Gaining an edge can make all the difference between success and failure. Understanding your edge can lead to better investment decisions and outcomes. But what is the edge in investing, and how can you develop yours? Let’s answer these two important questions.
What is the Edge?
The edge can be likened to the concept of mathematical expectation in investing. It’s the advantage, insight or a system that allows an investor to outperform the market or other investors. This concept is akin to the player’s edge in gambling, where a positive expectation leads to winning more often than losing, or the house advantage, where the odds favour the house. Having an edge in investing means you have a strategy or approach that, over time, delivers greater profits than losses.
It’s a common misconception among beginners that success in investing comes from having exclusive information, superior analytical skills, or some new indicator. They believe that other investors have found the secret to profitability and are on a quest to discover their solutions. However, the reality is quite different. The key difference between them and successful investors is the edge they possess, which we’ll explore further.
Developing Your Edge
Developing your edge is essentially about creating a well-defined system and a robust money management method. These two pillars, when combined, can help you outperform the market and minimise potential losses. An investing system that is proven to deliver greater profits than losses, along with a good money management method, is your roadmap to capitalising on your edge. Remember, no money management method can rescue a bad investing system.
The most effective systems are simple and sturdy. Complicated systems have more points of failure. Once you’ve developed a successful investing system, avoid making unnecessary changes. If you feel the need to experiment, create a new system instead. As Robert Pretchter put it, “Most traders take a good system and destroy it by trying to make it into a perfect system.” Once you have your investing system in place, focus on setting the rules for money management.
Conclusion
Having an edge in investing is not just about exclusive information or superior analytical skills. It’s mainly about having a well-defined trading system and robust money management method. Developing your edge takes time and effort but brings significant rewards. By honing your skills, refining your approach, and staying disciplined, you can gain the edge needed for success in investing.
Risk Warning: The information in this article is presented for general information and shall be treated as a marketing communication only. This analysis is not a recommendation to sell or buy any instrument. Investing in financial instruments involves a high degree of risk and may not be suitable for all investors. Trading in financial instruments can result in both an increase and a decrease in capital. Please refer to our Risk Disclosure available on our web site for further information.
