A reasonable amount of outperformance over time compounds to make a staggering difference to future wealth. However to achieve such outperformance sustainably over the long term is incredibly rare. This is because most investors are not prepared to do what is required.
Higher returns are achieved by paying lower prices. Lower prices tend to correspond with bad news. So you can improve the odds of investing at bargain prices by purchasing shares at times when investors are despondent about their prospects. In simple terms, "when you buy matters".
The psychological challenge of this approach is overwhelming for many investors, and they revert to more average methods, destined for average outcomes. To buy (or sell) contrary to the crowd is inherently difficult.
This presentation explains why the drivers of investment success are counterintuitive. We will discuss the behavioural challenges, how to overcome them and why, for those that do, contrarian investing can be the most rewarding investment discipline.
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