Wake Up Smarter
The Quiet Discipline Behind Lasting Outperformance Most investors know the value of compounding capital. Fewer live by the idea of compounding cognition. But over time, it’s the latter that often sets the ceiling on the former. Charlie Munger didn’t traffic in hacks or tactics. His edge was mindset. “Go to bed smarter than when you […]
Playfulness Isn’t a Distraction. It’s Strategic Advantage.
In the demanding environment of professional investing, maintaining a steady hand during market dislocation or firm-level stress isn’t just about having the right data or strategy—it’s about how you interpret the moment. A fund manager’s outlook under pressure can color every decision, from capital allocation to team dynamics. So what separates those who pivot with […]
Optimising for Emotions, Not Return?
For all the data, analysis, and modeling in investing, one quietly powerful force often goes unexamined: the personality of the person making the decision. Two fund managers can look at the same set of forecasts and fundamentals, and still diverge wildly in their allocations. Why? A new study by Jiang, Peng, and Yan offers a […]
Why Smart Investors Invest in Reflection
“It matters less that a portfolio manager is right or wrong, rather that they know when they are right and wrong – and in both cases act with conviction by running winners and cutting losers.” MAN Group, Investing in Skill, 2022 This idea—strong opinions, weakly held—is not just a philosophical quip. It’s the statistical embodiment […]
Drama loops or strategy?
In high-stakes environments like investment and finance, we like to think we’re rational, objective, above the fray. But behind every “just business” decision is a human being. And humans fall into patterns. One of the most revealing models I’ve used in coaching is the Drama Triangle. Originally developed by psychologist Stephen Karpman, it describes the […]
Chronic Stress vs Risk Appetite
We like to believe that risk-taking is a rational game. That as traders, allocators, and investors you make decisions based on clear frameworks, stable preferences, and calculated edges. But that’s not always the case. What if your biggest risk factor isn’t on the screen? But what is going inside? Back in 2014, a groundbreaking study […]
Why Peak Performance Looks Calm
Whether you’re running a fund, managing a desk, or steering a team through chaos—there’s something everyone can learn from the way great investors operate under pressure. Because markets are noisy.Trump’s tariffs. AI disruption. Shifting demographics. Cultural whiplash. A landscape that feels more VUCA than ever. And when it gets loud, the pressure to act ramps […]