5 Surprising Myths about Stock Diversification

Myth about stock diversification
Photo by DDP on Unsplash

Let’s set the record straight about stock diversification. Every time you turn on the financial news, there seems to be an investing strategy or new hot stock tip. Like most people, you probably think that diversifying your stock portfolio is the key to success in the financial market. But is that the case? Or are there other factors you need to consider? In this post, I’ll dispel 5 surprising myths about stock diversification.

So if you’re looking to get started in the stock market, read on! You might be surprised by what you will learn by the end of this post.

Myth #1: A diversified portfolio always performs better than a non-diversified one

I remember one of the “online financial gurus” always mention this phrase: “Diversification always performs better than non-diversification.”

I believed it. And so did everyone else in the course.

But here’s the problem: The statement isn’t true.

You see, the concept behind a diversified portfolio pivot around the simple idea that when you put your eggs in more than one basket, you reduce the risk that you could lose all of them. After all, if one basket falls and breaks, your other baskets might still be upright and intact.

The problem is that many investors take this concept too far. They assume wrongly that the more diversified their portfolio is, the better it will perform. That’s not necessarily true for three reasons:

  1. Stock diversification can’t eliminate the risk altogether. A diversified portfolio may be less risky than a non-diversified portfolio, but it’s not risk-free. Even if you have many different types of investments in your portfolio, a significant market downturn can affect most or all of them.
  2. Stock diversification can also mean spreading your money too thin. If you buy lots of individual stocks, for example, each investment amount is so tiny that it won’t move the needle much if it does well (or poorly). Remember: The more you invest in any asset class, the more significant its impact on your overall returns.
  3. Not all assets are equally good at diversifying each other’s risks. So when certain assets do well along with other assets that do poorly, you may end up with more risk in your portfolio.

Key takeaway: Don’t be fooled into thinking that a diversified portfolio is always the best option. Instead, do your research and make sure you know what you’re buying!

Myth #2: Diversification is only for experienced investors

An experienced investor looking at stock diversification
Experienced investor — Photo by Medienstürmer on Unsplash

I once shied away from investing in stocks because I thought I needed to be a professional investor to succeed. But that’s not true! Diversification is a strategy anyone can use, regardless of their experience level.

In fact, beginner investors can benefit from diversifying their portfolios even more than experienced investors. That’s because beginners don’t have any preconceived notions about what will or won’t work in the market. They’re also less likely to be leaning towards certain types of investments.

Key takeaway: Don’t be afraid to start investing in stocks, even if you’re a beginner. Diversification is a great way to minimize your risk and maximize your potential for returns.

Remember, even if you’re an experienced investor, you may think you don’t need to worry about diversification. But you would be wrong! Diversification is still essential, no matter how much experience you have.

Myth #3: Diversifying works like insurance against market downturns

If you have enough assets in different sectors and industries, then one bad industry won’t hurt your portfolio too much, right?

Not necessarily.

It depends entirely on how likely it is that all of your stocks will fall at once.

For example, if you own only tech stocks, you’re much more likely to lose money in a broad market downturn than a person who owns financials, utilities and tech stocks — unless the tech sector is hit harder than the rest of the market. That’s what happened during the dot-com crash from 2000 to 2002 when the technology-heavy Nasdaq Composite lost 78% of its value in just over two years.

So, before you blindly go out and look for different types of investments, ask yourself what problem diversifying across different types of investments will solve.

If your investment portfolio is overloaded with banking investments, you don’t need to add more banking investments just to diversify. Instead, you might be better off looking at other types of investments, such as real estate or commodities.

Key takeaway: Diversifying for the sake of diversifying is not always a good idea. Make sure you understand how different types of investments interact with each other. Learn more about the different strategies to avoid repeating the same mistake.

Myth #4: Diversification means buying different stocks in every sector

All the sectors
Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

I used to think that I needed to invest in stocks from different sectors to diversify my portfolios. But that’s not always the best strategy! In fact, investing in too many different industries can actually increase your risk.

That’s because not all sectors are created equal. Some sectors are more volatile than others, and they can be more or less correlated with each other. So when you invest in many different industries, you’re taking on a lot of risk without knowing it.

Instead of spreading your money thin across lots of different sectors, focus on investing in a few high-quality industries that have a history of outperforming the market. This will help you reduce your overall risk and maximize your potential for returns.

Key takeaway: Stock diversification may be a great way to reduce your risk, but it’s not always the best strategy for investing in stocks. In fact, investing in too many different sectors can actually increase your risk.

Myth #5: You need a certain amount of money to invest before you can start diversifying

The truth is that you can start diversifying with your very first dollars in the market.

Some people believe that they have to have a certain amount of money or wait until their portfolio reaches a specific level before they can start diversifying. But in reality, all it takes is a few shares of stock. You don’t need $5,000 or even $500 to get started — just a few bucks (depending on the stock price) will do the job.

Why does this myth persist?

It’s probably because most brokers set minimum amounts for initial deposits, leading investors to think they need those amounts so that they can get started. But there’s nothing magical about $1,000 or any other amount — it’s simply the amount the broker requires to open an account.

Key takeaway: You don’t need a lot of money to start diversifying your stock portfolio. You can get started with just a few shares of stock and as little as $1,000 (depending on the broker). So don’t wait!

Conclusion

So, there you have it: 5 myths about stock diversification debunked. Now that you know the truth, you can start diversifying your portfolio confidently. Don’t be afraid to invest in different types of stocks and industries, but make sure you understand how they interact with each other. And most importantly, remember that no one ever got rich by playing it safe. So go out there and take some risks!

Disclaimer: I’m not a financial advisor and cannot legally provide financial advice. Any risk you take in investing money should be taken as just that, a risk. Please do your own research and consult with qualified professional points of view before investing your hard-earned money.