OLNEST

Behaviour

Outcome bias

Judging a decision by how it turned out rather than by whether it was well made.

How it works

A reckless bet that pays off was still reckless. A well-reasoned decision that loses money can still have been correct given what was knowable.

Because investing outcomes have a large random component over short periods, judging by results teaches the wrong lesson far more often than people assume.

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Educational reference only. Nothing here is investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything, and tax treatment depends on your own circumstances and the country you are in.