March Madness and Investing

March Madness is in full swing. Who doesn't love the NCAA Basketball Championship? I still have never won with my bracket picks, and now that my Illini are out, my streak will continue. Oh well, there's always next year... 

But while I was filling out my bracket, I realized there are a few lessons from March Madness that we can apply to the world of investing!

Lesson #1: Forget Perfection, Position Yourself Strategically

The odds of filling out the perfect bracket are pretty low. So are the odds of timing the market correctly.

In completing a bracket, think strategically. Don't pick too many upsets. Awhile back the Journal of Applied Social Psychology published a study about NCAA tournament predictions. The conclusion — simply picking the higher-seeded team in every matchup would have outscored the national average bracket score on ESPN¹.

Successful investing means thinking strategically as well. Stay disciplined and stick to your plan. Keep investment costs low, and minimize taxes when possible. 

Lesson #2: Don’t Let Past Performance Dictate Future Decisions 

Allowing a team’s success in the last few tournaments to influence your bracket picks is not a sound plan.

Investing based on previous performance generally leads to disappointment. It’s fairly common to see an area of the market win big one year, and underperform other areas in the following year. So stay diversified.

Lesson #3: The More You Watch, the More Drama & Emotion You Can Expect

The more you watch March Madness, the more emotional you become about the outcomes. The drama associated with the NCAA tournament is undeniable. 

Watching the markets every day may be entertaining, but the more you watch, the more susceptible you are to making poor investment decisions based on emotion.

Lesson #4: Keep in Mind the Importance of a Great Coach 

There’s no denying that a great coach contributes to the success of a team. Coaches can be calming and analytical during the stress filled time-out with 17 seconds left and the team down by two.

Financial advisors can be great coaches as well.  A trusted partner can help you navigate difficult markets and keep a calm, steady course for long-term success. They can hold you accountable to move forward on all aspects of financial planning.

Good luck with your March Madness brackets!

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1. https://www.sportingnews.com/us/basketball/news/2021-ncaa-tournament-bracket-advice-best-strategy-tips-for-winning-march-madness-picks/w1ppvoqzhc2g10y188lruvusp

The author does not intend to provide investment, legal or tax advice as these materials are for general educational purposes only.  Please consult your legal, tax or investment professional for advice on your particular situation. This material is derived from sources believed to be reliable, but its accuracy and the opinions based thereon are not guaranteed. It is not intended to be a solicitation, offer or recommendation to acquire or dispose of any investment or to engage in any other transaction. Investing involves risk including the possible loss of principal. Past performance does not guarantee future results. Please refer to RRCM’s Form ADV Part 2 for additional disclosures regarding RRCM and its practices.