Two "truths" that prevent you from investing successfully

There are plenty of investment strategies—perhaps some you’ve already tried—that just don’t work: Market timing doesn’t work. Nor should you follow fads, trust the media, rely on so-called experts or make big bets on blue-chip stocks or hot sectors.

None of these ideas works, yet many investors persist in relying on them. When one fails, they move to the next, believing (or merely hoping) it will pay off.

Why do investors do this? Because they believe in two basic truths:

1. Stock prices rise and fall.
2. The stock market is risky, volatile and unpredictable.

Do you agree with these statements? Let’s explore them.