INVESTORS know the drill: buy and hold, and diversify.
The words have become a mantra in the financial-services industry. Experts tell retail clients to pick their investments with a long-term view, and limit their risk by spreading their money across a range of markets. But do the financial pros practice what they preach? How do they handle their portfolios? An informal survey of Hong Kong-based investment professionals indicates that most profess to follow their own advice.
Even so, they maintain a healthy scepticism about the personal investment patterns of their peers.
For example, William Tatham, divisional director at independent financial adviser Towry Law International, describes his investment style as 'middle of the road'. He says he takes a conservative approach to managing most of his money, but is more aggressive with a small part of it.
'If you spend your whole time advising people on investments, you will tend to believe what you talk about. And therefore, you will end up doing what you recommend your clients do. That is very common,' he said.
Music to the small investor's ears.