The Untold Cost of Chasing Big Investment Swings
The pursuit of high-risk investment “big swings”—often fueled by selective storytelling of successes—is counterproductive
Everyone knows someone with a great investment story. The friend who bought the right stock at the right moment. The uncle who “trusted his gut” and walked away with a tidy gain. The colleague who claims they doubled their money during a coffee break.
Those stories get airtime because they feel good. They make the storyteller look brilliant. They also give the rest of us the impression that big wins are everywhere, just waiting for anyone bold enough to reach out.
What you don’t hear are the misses.
For every tale about catching the perfect wave, there are countless untold stories from people who wiped out. Investments that fizzled. Trends that evaporated. Tips from “a guy who knows a guy” that quietly ate through savings.
Those stories never get shared because they’re uncomfortable and they make no one look clever.
That silence distorts reality. It creates the illusion that everyone else is out there calling their shots with surgeon-like precision. In truth, most of the painful outcomes happen when people invest without the right advice. Not because they are reckless, but because many of the loudest success stories started out as luck dressed up as brilliance.
When markets rise, it’s easy to feel like a genius. When they fall, the silence gets louder. The same people who were proud of their big swing suddenly pivot to lines like “staying the course” or “thinking long term.” Or they simply go very, very quiet.
Real investing is not dramatic. And you shouldn’t want it that way.
It isn’t about guessing correctly once. It’s about a steady, repeatable approach that doesn’t rely on luck, timing, or the next shiny opportunity. But nobody writes glowing features about families who built security through decades of sensible planning and boring consistency. That story does not sell many ads.
At Verecan, we often meet people who feel behind because they never had a big win of their own. What they don’t realize is that the investors they admire usually didn’t either. Sustainable wealth does not come from chasing the elusive “one big opportunity.” It comes from building a plan that does not fall apart when the market zigs instead of zags.
If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re missing out, try this filter: the louder the story, the more pieces are missing. The quiet investors, the ones who stick to a plan and ignore the noise, are the ones who tend to reach their goals.
Big swings make great headlines. When people are honest about how those swings actually turned out, they often make great cautionary tales too. The real skill is spotting the difference before you get pulled into someone else’s highlight reel.
And here’s the truth. Investing is nothing like baseball. It isn’t about chasing homeruns. It’s about getting home in one piece, with the resources you need to live the life you want.
Verecan Capital Management Inc. is a Registered Portfolio Manager. See website for details.
About Ainsley Mackie
Ainsley Mackie, Portfolio Manager, is part of the team at Verecan, where she helps cut through financial jargon with a clear and candid voice. Her thoughts have been featured in national outlets including the Financial Post, The Globe and Mail, and the Toronto Star. In 2020, she received Wealth Professional Magazine’s Award for Excellence in Philanthropy and Community Service, recognizing her ongoing contributions to community and charitable initiatives. Ainsley brings the same approachable style to her work that she does to life in the Kootenays, keeping money matters grounded, human, and practical.
Read more blog posts from Ainsley
The Hidden Cost of ‘Free’ Financial Advice
How Verecan Capital Management champions transparency and trust
Choosing a Financial Planner: Why Balance Beats “Die With Zero”
At Verecan Capital Management Inc., we believe smart planning beats “die with zero.” Find balance—save wisely, enjoy today, and feel secure about tomorrow
